Feb. 1 (UPI) -- After adjusting its timeline for the last remaining tests of the Artemis II space launch system and Orion capsule because of freezing cold temperatures in Florida, NASA is now pressing ahead in preparation for its launch to the moon.
NASA had planned to start the fueling phase of the wet dress rehearsal for the rocket's launch cadence on Saturday night, but a blast of Arctic air reached all the way down to Kennedy Space Center in Florida making it too cold to load propellants into the ship's fuel tanks.
As a result, the fueling tests were pushed back to Monday -- and launch will now happen no earlier than Feb. 8 -- as the agency held off on powering up the SLS rocket's core stage until Sunday morning.
"NASA continues to press ahead through the countdown for the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal," NASA said in a statement. "Teams monitored all systems throughout the overnight hours [Saturday] during cold temperatures and high winds."
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