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NASA Pushes Earliest Artemis II Launch to Feb. 8 as Florida Freeze Disrupts Countdown

An Arctic cold snap in Florida forces schedule changes that compress February’s limited launch window.

Overview

  • NASA shifted the earliest target from February 6 to February 8 after forecasts of near‑freezing temperatures at Cape Canaveral.
  • The weekend wet dress rehearsal was postponed to early next week, with teams planning to set a firm date once conditions improve.
  • Only three viable launch days remain in February, reducing the likelihood of a liftoff this month.
  • Technicians are keeping Orion powered and using heaters to maintain safe temperatures for the capsule and ground hardware.
  • As preparations continue, experts’ critiques persist over Orion’s heat shield and the heavy Axiom lunar suits, with NASA citing trajectory tweaks and other mitigations.