NASA Completes SLS Fueling Rehearsal as Chinese Firms Report Propulsion Gains

Overview

• NASA finished loading more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant into the SLS on Feb. 2 at Kennedy’s Pad 39B, completing the most complex phase of the two‑day wet dress rehearsal.
• Liquid‑hydrogen flow was twice halted by leaks at Tail Service Mast Umbilical interfaces, issues the team quickly resolved using lessons from Artemis I.
• Feb. 8 remains the earliest possible Artemis II launch date, with NASA set to judge readiness after a Feb. 3 briefing and other factors such as weather.
• Tianhui Aerospace said its 85‑ton QL‑1 staged‑combustion LOX‑kerosene engine achieved a 10‑second high‑condition hot‑fire with all metrics meeting design targets.
• Mianchao Aerospace reported a successful static hot‑fire of its 2,000 N LOX‑ethanol axial‑plug experimental engine, while Star Glory completed second‑phase ground‑system joint tests in Hainan to support an SQX‑3 first‑half‑2026 debut aiming for orbit insertion with sea recovery.