NASA successfully launched the Artemis II mission, the first manned mission near the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972.
The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday at 6:35 pm ET (10:35 GMT), sending the Orion crew capsule on a 10-day journey.
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Artemis II will not land on the moon’s surface, but will fly a “free return” orbit around the moon to prove that the spacecraft can support a crew on future missions.
The idea is to descend back onto the surface of Earth’s only natural satellite in Artemis IV in 2028.
“It’s a beautiful moonrise,” mission commander and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman said about five minutes after liftoff. “That’s exactly what we’re heading towards.”
Here’s what we know:
what happened?
The Artemis II mission successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a historic journey around the moon. This is the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years.
The launch followed a tense countdown as engineers worked through several technical issues. Hydrogen leaks have delayed missions in the past, so the team closely monitored the rocket during refueling, but no major leaks were detected on launch day.
Engineers also resolved last-minute issues with battery sensors and the rocket’s flight termination system, a critical safety system used to destroy the rocket before it completes its launch mission if it goes off course.
The 32-story rocket was launched early in the evening in front of a large crowd gathered near the launch site. The crew is currently on a mission to orbit the moon and return to Earth.
Launches were planned for as early as February 6 and then March 6, but a hydrogen leak forced NASA to return the rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building for further inspection.
Previously scheduled for November 2024, NASA announced a delay due to technical studies, specifically Orion’s heat shield.
Who is participating in the Artemis II mission?
All three NASA astronauts are veterans of Earth-orbiting scientific expeditions to the International Space Station, but the only Canadian participating in the trip around the moon and back is a spaceflight newcomer.
- Reed Wiseman, 50 years old, commander: A NASA veteran and former International Space Station commander is leading the Artemis II mission. A test pilot turned astronaut, he has leadership and deep spaceflight experience.
- Victor Glover, 49, pilot: The U.S. Navy aviator is the first black astronaut assigned to a moon mission and flew on SpaceX Crew-1.
- Christina Koch, 47, mission specialist: The record holder for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, 328 days, has experience in multiple spacewalks and has expertise in scientific and deep space missions.
- Jeremy Hansen, 50, Mission Specialist: The first Canadian to travel to the moon was a former fighter pilot. His presence symbolizes international cooperation in deep space exploration.
When will the mission reach the moon?
If the mission goes as planned, the capsule is scheduled to arrive on the moon around April 6, the sixth day of the mission.
The Orion capsule with the crew on board will then fly around the moon, reach its closest point, and then begin its return journey to Earth, with splashdown scheduled for April 10, 2026.
What is your mission plan for the next 10 days?
The Artemis II mission is scheduled to last approximately 10 days and follows the following outline:
High Earth orbit for days 1 and 2: The crew will spend the first day or two in high Earth orbit, conducting extensive checks on the spacecraft’s systems.
Once these checks are complete, Orion’s propulsion system will perform a “translunar injection.”
Menstrual ejection is a critical operation performed by the propulsion system of the Orion spacecraft. This operation, which takes place after the crew completes initial system checks in high-Earth orbit, will propel the spacecraft out of Earth orbit and into a direct orbit toward the Moon.
Passing the moon on days 3 and 4: Astronauts will continue to monitor Orion’s systems as they reach the moon over the next few days.
The spacecraft will then pass behind the moon on a “free return” orbit. This is a strategic path that naturally swings the capsule back toward Earth without the need for additional propulsion.
Range of influence of the moon on the 5th day: Orion falls under the Moon’s gravitational pull, which is stronger than Earth’s.
Astronauts spend the first few hours of the day testing their spacesuits, practicing how to put them on quickly, compress them, and secure them to their seats.
Lunar flyby on day 6: This is the day the crew will fly on the moon.
The spacecraft will reach its closest approach, approximately 4,000 to 6,000 miles (6,450 to 9,650 km) above the lunar surface.
Days 7-9 Return: After the flyby, Orion will continue its free return orbit. The crew conducts deep space science, including medical monitoring with programs such as ARCHER.
Day 10 Re-entry and landing: Orion will separate from its service module and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 25,000 mph (40,230 km/h). The mission ends with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
What is NASA’s next mission?
The next mission is Artemis III, currently planned for 2027.
This includes the Orion spacecraft docking in Earth orbit with at least one of NASA’s lunar landers, either Blue Origin’s Blue Moon System or SpaceX’s Starship.
The docking operation is intended to demonstrate how the lander will collect astronauts in orbit before transporting them to the lunar surface.
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