Overview
- Controllers halted the Feb. 3 wet dress rehearsal near T‑5 minutes after sensors flagged a liquid hydrogen leak at the base of the SLS.
- Technicians at Pad 39B removed connection plates and replaced two rubber seals on hydrogen umbilical lines, with follow-up ground checks planned, including some at Stennis.
- Procedures for the next rehearsal have been revised to close Orion’s hatch earlier, keep the crew access arm attached longer, skip non‑essential ground steps, and add fueling margin for troubleshooting.
- Managers are targeting late February to mid‑March launch opportunities, with early March dates such as March 6–9 identified and a discussed no‑earlier‑than March 3 option not yet confirmed.
- The 10‑day flight will send Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a free‑return around the Moon to validate SLS and Orion systems for future surface missions.