NASA Artemis Program

ARTEMIS II
Mission Timeline

The first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Four astronauts will fly around the Moon and back in about 10 days. Here's what happens and when!

🚀 Launch: 4:35 PM MST • April 1, 2026
All times shown in MST
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MISSION ELAPSED TIME
T+0h 00m 00s
Current Milestone
RE-ENTRY TRACKER
EXOSPHERE
THERMOSPHERE
MESOSPHERE
STRATOSPHERE
TROPOSPHERE
400,000 ft (121.9 km)
327,000 ft (100 km) — Kármán Line
180,000 ft (55 km)
100,000 ft (30 km)
22,000 ft — Drogue Chutes
9,000 ft — Pilot Chutes
6,000 ft — Main Chutes
Sea Level
AWAITING ENTRY INTERFACE
SPLASHDOWN!
Welcome Home, Heroes
ORION CAPSULE TELEMETRY
--- from Earth
--- from Moon
◀ ---
Orion Spacecraft
Connecting to telemetry stream...
Source: artemis.cdnspace.ca • NASA Artemis II telemetry
Q & A
Why Do Different Sites Show Different Speeds?
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Here's something that might seem weird: speed doesn't actually mean anything on its own. When you say a car is going 100 km/h, what you really mean is it's going 100 km/h relative to the road. But to the person sitting in the passenger seat? That car's speed is zero — because they're moving together. Speed is always measured relative to something else.

In space, there's no road. There's no ground. So when someone tells you how fast Orion is going, the first question should be: relative to what? Relative to Earth? The Moon? The Sun? Each answer gives you a completely different number — and they're all technically correct. That's why you might see one site say Orion is traveling at 2,900 km/h and another say 107,000 km/h. They're not wrong. They're just measuring from different reference points.

Here's how fast Orion is traveling right now in each reference frame:

Earth-Relative Speed← what this tracker uses
---
How fast Orion is moving relative to the center of Earth. This is the most common metric and the easiest to understand — it tells you how quickly the capsule is closing the gap between deep space and home.
Moon-Relative Speed ---
How fast Orion is moving relative to the Moon. This number is often higher than Earth-relative because the Moon itself is orbiting Earth at ~3,700 km/h — so Orion and the Moon are moving in different directions, making their relative speed larger. This is the metric that matters most during a lunar flyby.
Heliocentric Speed ---
How fast Orion is moving relative to the Sun. This is the big one — it looks massive because Earth itself is whipping around the Sun at ~107,000 km/h, and Orion is along for that ride on top of its own mission speed. You'll sometimes see headlines use this number because it sounds dramatic, but it doesn't tell you much about the actual mission.
Estimated: √(Earth-relative² + Earth's orbital velocity²) — a vector sum, not simple addition

Other frames you might encounter: Ground-Relative (measured against Earth's surface instead of its center — mostly matters during launch and re-entry) and Inertial/ECI (Earth-Centered Inertial — measured relative to a fixed point at Earth's center that doesn't rotate with the planet. This is the frame NASA mission control uses internally because it removes Earth's spin from the math, making orbital calculations cleaner). At lunar distance, both are effectively identical to Earth-relative.

Bottom line: if two sites show different speeds, they're probably measuring from different reference points — not wrong, just different. It's like asking "how fast is a person walking on a moving train?" The answer depends on whether you're asking relative to the train or relative to the ground.

If the Engines Are Off, Why Is Orion's Speed Changing?
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You might notice Orion's speed going up right now even though the crew hasn't fired any engines in days. That seems like it should be impossible — how do you speed up without a push?

The answer is gravity. Right now, Orion is falling toward Earth. Not crashing — falling in a giant arc, the same way a ball thrown in the air speeds up as it falls back down. Earth's gravity is constantly pulling on the capsule, and because Orion is getting closer to Earth with every passing hour, that pull gets stronger and the capsule accelerates.

It works the same way in reverse: on the outbound trip to the Moon, Orion was slowing down the whole way because Earth's gravity was pulling it backward. The capsule went from ~28,000 km/h after launch to just ~1,490 km/h at its farthest point near the Moon. Now on the return, all that lost speed is being given back — like a roller coaster cresting a hill and picking up speed on the way down.

This is why space missions are designed around orbits and gravity rather than constantly running engines. Fuel is heavy and expensive. By using the right trajectory, you can let gravity do most of the work for free.

THE ARTEMIS II CREW
Reid Wiseman
Reid Wiseman
Commander
🇺🇸
50
Age
180
Days in Space
2
Spacewalks
27 yrs
Navy Career
▼
Hometown
Baltimore, Maryland
Education
B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, M.S. in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University
Military Background
U.S. Navy test pilot with 27 years of service. Flew fighter jets in two combat deployments to the Middle East during Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School — one of the hardest programs in the military.
Previous Space Missions
Spent 180 days aboard the ISS on Expedition 40/41 in 2014. Completed two spacewalks totaling nearly 13 hours floating outside the station, and worked on over 300 scientific experiments.
Why He's Cool
First person to command a Moon mission since 1972 — that's a 54-year gap! He's the oldest crew member and leads the first generation of astronauts returning to the Moon. Set a record on the ISS for completing 82 hours of research in a single week.
Victor Glover
Victor Glover
Pilot
🇺🇸
49
Age
168
Days in Space
4
Spacewalks
3,000+
Flight Hours
▼
Hometown
Pomona, California
Education
B.S. in General Engineering from Cal Poly, plus three Master's degrees — in Flight Test Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Military Operational Art and Science. The guy never stopped studying.
Military Background
U.S. Navy fighter pilot who flew F/A-18 Hornets — one of the most iconic fighter jets in the world. Logged over 3,000 flight hours across 40+ different aircraft, completed 400+ carrier landings on aircraft carriers at sea, and flew 24 combat missions. Graduated from the Air Force Test Pilot School.
Previous Space Missions
Pilot of SpaceX Crew-1 — the very first operational Crew Dragon mission (2020–2021). Spent 168 days aboard the ISS, completed 4 spacewalks, and was a two-sport college athlete (football and wrestling) before becoming an astronaut.
Why He's Cool
First African American astronaut to travel beyond Earth orbit — and the first to journey to the Moon. He piloted the very first operational SpaceX crew mission, and now he's piloting humanity's return to the Moon. From Pomona, California to lunar orbit.
Christina Koch
Christina Koch
Mission Specialist
🇺🇸
47
Age
328
Days in Space
6
Spacewalks
42h 15m
EVA Time
▼
Hometown
Grand Rapids, Michigan (grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina)
Education
Double B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Physics from NC State, plus a Master's in Electrical Engineering. Even did a year studying astrophysics in Ghana.
Before NASA
Not a military pilot — she came up through engineering and science. Worked at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, then spent a full winter at the South Pole (Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica), one of the most remote places on Earth. Also worked at Palmer Station in Antarctica. She's no stranger to extreme environments.
Previous Space Missions
ISS Expeditions 59/60/61 (2019) — 328 consecutive days in space, setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Completed 6 spacewalks including the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir. Worked on 210+ experiments.
Why She's Cool
First woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit — and the first woman to fly around the Moon. She spent nearly an entire year straight in space before this, did the first all-women spacewalks, and survived a winter at the South Pole. Basically, she's done everything the hard way and crushed it.
Jeremy Hansen
Jeremy Hansen
Mission Specialist
🇨🇦
50
Age
0
Days in Space
CF-18
Fighter Jet
Col.
RCAF Rank
▼
Hometown
London, Ontario, Canada (grew up on a farm near Ailsa Craig)
Education
B.S. in Space Science (First Class Honours) and M.S. in Physics from the Royal Military College of Canada. His thesis was on satellite tracking.
Military Background
Royal Canadian Air Force Colonel who flew CF-18 fighter jets. Started flying gliders at age 16 through Air Cadets and had his private pilot's license before he turned 18. Went from a small farming town to the cockpit of a fighter jet to lunar orbit.
Space Career
Selected by the Canadian Space Agency in 2009. Served as CAPCOM in NASA Mission Control — the voice astronauts hear from Earth. Became the first non-American to lead a NASA astronaut training class in 2017. Artemis II is his very first spaceflight — and it's going to the Moon.
Why He's Cool
First Canadian — and first non-American — to fly beyond Earth orbit. His mission patch was designed by an Anishinaabe artist and references Indigenous teachings. He's into mountain biking, rock climbing, and sailboat racing. His first-ever spaceflight is a trip around the Moon — talk about starting big.
Crew Status

Live Flight Day Tracker

FD02
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The Mission Path

🏭Launch Pad
➡️
🌍High Earth Orbit
➡️
🔥TLI Burn
➡️
✨Trans-Lunar Coast
➡️
🌑Lunar Flyby
➡️
✨Trans-Earth Coast
➡️
🌊Splashdown!
Orion YOU ARE HERE

Pre-Flight Mission Plan

Based on NASA’s published timeline. Actual activities may shift during the mission.

FD 1 • APR 1 LIFTOFF! Launch → High Earth Orbit ▼

The SLS rocket roars to life at sunset, sending the Orion capsule and 4 astronauts into a high orbit around Earth!

4:35 PM 🚀 LIFTOFF! The Space Launch System (SLS) lights up the evening sky from Kennedy Space Center.
4:55 PM ☀️ Solar arrays deploy (T+20 min). Orion unfolds its massive solar panels to power the spacecraft.
5:24 PM 💥 Perigee raise maneuver (T+49 min). ICPS upper stage fires to raise the low point of Orion's orbit.
6:23 PM 🔥 Apogee raise burn (T+1h 48m). Another engine firing pushes the high point of the orbit even higher.
7:59 PM 🛰️ Orion separates from ICPS (T+3h 24m). Pilot Victor Glover takes the controls for proximity operations.
9:29 PM ☀️ Solar array wing (SAW) deploys (T+4h 54m). Orion's four massive solar panels unfold to catch the Sun.
9:35 PM 🎮 Proximity Ops Demo (T+5h). Crew tests Orion's ability to maneuver near the spent ICPS stage.
9:37 PM 💥 ICPS disposal burn (T+5h 02m). The spent upper stage fires one last time to safely move away.
12:35 AM 📷 Dock cam & bracket install (T+8h). Setting up cameras that will test docking guidance for Artemis III.
2:41 AM 📡 OpComm initial activation (T+10h 06m). First test of Orion's optical communications laser — beaming data via light!
6:31 AM 🧭 OpNav checkout (T+13h 56m). Testing Orion's optical navigation — using star patterns to determine position in deep space.
8:05 AM 😴 Crew's first sleep in space (T+15h 30m). After a marathon launch day, the crew settles in for their first rest period orbiting Earth.
FD 2 • APR 2 Checkout & Moon Burn! High Earth Orbit → TLI ▼

Systems checks all day in high orbit — then the big moment: firing the engine to head for the Moon!

12:35 PM 🎵 Crew wake-up (T+20h). Mission Control wakes the crew with "Green Light" by John Legend. Time for a full day of checkouts!
10:35 AM 🔍 HEO systems checkouts begin (T+18h). Testing all major systems in the high-Earth-orbit environment.
12:35 PM 🏋️ Exercise test (T+20h). Testing crew exercise equipment — you still have to work out in space!
2:35 PM 🌬️ ECLSS CO2 monitor test (T+22h). Making sure the life support system is scrubbing CO2 properly.
3:35 PM 🩺 Pulse oximetry check (T+23h). Monitoring crew blood-oxygen levels to track how their bodies adapt to microgravity.
4:35 PM 📷 Dock cam & bracket configuration (T+24h). Setting up cameras and hardware for the trip.
5:49 PM 🔥 TRANS-LUNAR INJECTION (TLI) BURN! (T+25h 14m) Orion's engine fires for 5 min 51 sec, boosting to ~39,400 km/h (~24,500 mph) to leave Earth orbit. Moon, here we come!
7:35 PM 📸 NatGeo imaging session (T+1d 03h). National Geographic cameras capture the view of Earth receding behind Orion.
8:35 PM 🌙 Lunar imaging (T+1d 04h). First photos of the Moon from Orion's windows as the crew heads toward it.
11:05 PM 🎬 PAO event (T+1d 06h 30m). Public affairs — crew talks live to the world about the TLI experience!
11:35 PM 🛡️ DSN emergency comm test (T+1d 07h). Testing backup communications through NASA's Deep Space Network.
2:35 AM 😴 Crew sleep begins (T+1d 10h). First full 8.5-hour rest period. Orion quietly carries them toward the Moon overnight.
FD 3 • APR 3 Coasting to the Moon Trans-Lunar ▼

The TLI burn worked! Orion is cruising toward the Moon. The crew settles into daily routines in deep space.

11:05 AM ☕ Crew wake-up (T+1d 18h 30m). Good morning from tens of thousands of kilometres above Earth! Time for daily routines in deep space.
12:35 PM 🏠 "Day in the Life" hygiene demo (T+1d 20h). Showing how astronauts eat, exercise, brush teeth, and manage hygiene in deep space.
3:35 PM 🧭 Optical navigation (OpNav) (T+1d 23h). Testing star-tracker navigation — critical for finding your way in deep space without GPS.
4:35 PM 🔄 OTC-1 trajectory correction burn (T+2d 00h 07m). First course tweak since TLI to keep Orion on target for the Moon.
5:05 PM ⚙️ Flywheel experiment (T+2d 00h 30m). Testing angular momentum in microgravity — physics in action!
6:35 PM 🩺 CPR training & med kit review (T+2d 02h). Practicing emergency medical procedures in microgravity (it's harder than you think!).
7:35 PM 🏋️ Exercise session (T+2d 03h). Crew works out to fight bone and muscle loss — essential in zero-G.
8:35 PM 📷 Dock cam operations (T+2d 04h). Testing camera alignment for future Artemis III lunar docking missions.
10:35 PM 📸 NatGeo content capture (T+2d 06h). Filming documentary footage of life in deep space for National Geographic.
1:05 AM 😴 Crew sleep begins (T+2d 08h 30m). Lights out as Orion silently cruises toward the Moon overnight.
FD 4 • APR 4 Deep Space Operations Trans-Lunar ▼

Deeper into space than any human has been in over 50 years. Time for some serious testing!

11:05 AM ☕ Crew wake-up (T+2d 18h 30m). Deeper into space than any human in over 50 years. A full day of testing ahead!
3:35 PM 📡 OpComm ANU demo (T+2d 21h). Testing Orion's laser communications — beaming data at near-light speed back to Earth.
4:35 PM 🎤 24-hour acoustic test begins (T+2d 22h). Recording cabin noise levels around the clock — important for crew comfort on longer missions.
4:47 PM 🔄 OTC-2 trajectory correction (T+3d 00h 12m). Fine-tuning the flight path toward the Moon.
6:35 PM 📹 Dock cam misalignment test (T+3d 02h). Deliberately offsetting cameras to test how guidance systems handle errors.
7:05 PM 📶 SAW cam-wifi test (T+3d 02h 30m). Testing wireless video from the solar array cameras back to the cabin.
7:35 PM 🧭 Navigation & software demos (T+3d 03h). Testing Orion's star-tracker and deep-space nav systems.
9:35 PM 🛡️ Emergency comm DFTO (T+3d 05h). Practicing backup communications if the primary DSN link goes down.
10:35 PM 🔍 CM/SM survey (T+3d 06h). Crew photographs Orion's service module and heat shield to check for debris damage.
1:05 AM 😴 Crew sleep begins (T+3d 08h 30m). Rest period as Orion continues its silent coast toward the Moon.
FD 5 • APR 5 Entering the Moon's Grip Trans-Lunar ▼

Orion crosses into the Moon's gravitational influence — from here, the Moon is pulling them in!

11:05 AM ☕ Crew wake-up (T+3d 18h 30m). The Moon's gravity is growing stronger. Today they cross into its sphere of influence!
11:35 AM 🎤 24-hour acoustic test ends (T+3d 19h). Wrapping up the cabin noise recording started on FD04.
12:35 PM 🪐 Spacesuit operations testing (OCSS) (T+3d 20h). Crew dons flight suits to test depressurization procedures critical for future moonwalks.
3:35 PM 🌬️ Vent cabin to 10.2 psi (T+3d 23h). Lowering cabin pressure to simulate Artemis III EVA prep conditions.
7:35 PM 📚 Entry study & rad shelter demo (T+4d 03h). Crew reviews re-entry procedures and practices building a radiation shelter.
9:58 PM 🔄 OTC-3 trajectory correction (T+4d 05h 23m). Last course tweak before entering the Moon's gravity.
11:34 PM 🌑 Entering the Moon's Sphere of Influence! (T+4d 06h 59m) The Moon's gravity is now the dominant force on Orion.
12:35 AM 📸 NatGeo lunar observations (T+4d 08h). Filming the Moon growing larger through Orion's windows for the documentary.
12:35 AM 😴 Crew sleep begins (T+4d 10h). Tomorrow is the big day — lunar flyby! The crew rests as the Moon looms ever larger.
5:35 AM 🔭 Apollo 13 max distance approaches! (T+4d 13h) Orion is nearing 400,171 km (~248,655 mi) from Earth — the farthest any human has ever been.
⭐ FD 6 • APR 6 LUNAR FLYBY! The Big Day! ▼

THIS IS IT! Orion swings around the far side of the Moon — farther from Earth than any human has ever traveled!

10:50 AM 🎵 "Good Morning Moon" wake-up call! (T+4d 16h 15m) Mission Control plays a wake-up song for the crew on the biggest day of the mission.
1:56 PM 🛸 Passes Apollo 13's distance record! (T+4d 19h 21m) Beyond 400,171 km (~248,655 mi) — farther from Earth than any human ever. Record held since 1970!
2:15 PM ⚙️ Cabin configured for lunar flyby (T+4d 19h 40m). Crew stows loose items and sets up cameras for the close approach.
2:45 PM 🔭 7-hour lunar observation period begins! (T+4d 20h 10m) Crew photographs the lunar surface, craters, and potential Artemis III landing sites.
4:35 PM 📹 Interior views of Orion livestreamed (T+4d 22h). The world gets a live look inside the spacecraft as it approaches the Moon.
6:44 PM 📵 Loss of signal — behind the Moon! (T+5d 00h 09m) Orion disappears behind the lunar far side. Radio blackout begins — the crew is truly on their own.
7:02 PM 🌑 CLOSEST APPROACH TO THE MOON! (T+5d 00h 27m) Orion sweeps ~6,550 km (~4,070 mi) above the lunar surface — the closest point of the entire flyby!
7:07 PM 🌍 FARTHEST POINT FROM EARTH! (T+5d 00h 32m) ~373,300 km (~232,000 mi) from home. The absolute record distance for any human, ever.
7:25 PM 🌅 Signal reacquired — Earthrise! (T+5d 00h 50m) Orion emerges from behind the Moon. The crew witnesses Earthrise over the lunar horizon.
8:35 PM 🌑 Solar eclipse from lunar orbit! (T+5d 02h) The Moon passes between Orion and the Sun — a solar eclipse seen from deep space!
9:20 PM 🔭 Observation period ends (T+5d 02h 45m). Seven hours of stunning lunar photography and science data in the books.
10:50 PM 🎤 Post-flyby media event (T+5d 04h 15m). Crew shares their experience with the world in a live broadcast from deep space.
2:05 AM 😴 Crew sleep begins (T+5d 07h 30m). Rest after the most extraordinary day in human spaceflight in over 50 years.
FD 7 • APR 7 Heading Home Trans-Earth ▼

The Moon fades behind them as Orion's free-return trajectory slings the crew back toward Earth.

11:05 AM ☕ Crew wake-up (T+5d 18h 30m). The Moon is fading behind them. The long journey home begins in earnest.
12:22 PM 👋 Leaving the Moon's sphere of influence (T+5d 19h 47m). Earth's gravity takes over — homeward bound!
1:35 PM 📋 Off duty / PFCs (T+5d 21h). Post-flyby crew consultations and well-deserved rest.
3:05 PM 🏋️ Min ECLSS exercise test (T+5d 22h 30m). Testing life support at minimal levels during a workout — stressing the CO2 scrubbers.
3:35 PM 🎬 P/TV exercise broadcast (T+5d 23h). Public affairs event — the crew talks to Earth on live TV!
6:35 PM 📷 Dock cam waste water dump (T+6d 02h). Filming water venting into space — it instantly freezes into glittering ice crystals.
7:35 PM 📐 Modal survey (T+6d 03h). Measuring how the spacecraft vibrates to validate structural models.
8:58 PM 🔄 RTC-1 trajectory correction burn (T+6d 04h 23m). Fine-tuning the path home to hit the right re-entry angle.
10:35 PM ⏰ EI-32hr check (T+6d 06h). 32 hours until entry interface — the crew reviews every step of their return.
11:35 PM 📚 Entry study & conference (T+6d 07h). Detailed walkthrough of re-entry procedures with Mission Control.
2:05 AM 😴 Crew sleep begins (T+6d 09h 30m). Extended 9-hour sleep period — sleep shifting to prepare for splashdown timing.
FD 8 • APR 8 Storm Shelter Test Trans-Earth ▼

The crew tests how they'd shelter from a dangerous solar radiation storm in deep space.

11:05 AM ☕ Crew wake-up (T+6d 18h 30m). A busy day of testing ahead — radiation shelters, manual piloting, and family calls.
12:35 PM 🎬 P/TV exercise broadcast (T+6d 20h). Live from 300,000+ km away! The crew goes on camera for a public broadcast while getting their daily exercise in on the ergometer. Viewers on Earth get to see the crew working out in microgravity and hear about life aboard Orion on the journey home.
2:05 PM ✅ FCS checkouts (T+6d 21h 30m). The crew tests every part of the flight control system that will keep them alive during re-entry — reaction control thrusters, attitude jets, and the parachute release mechanisms. Each system is fired and verified one by one. If any of these fail during re-entry, there is no second chance.
2:35 PM 📐 Modal survey (T+6d 22h). Engineers on the ground have spent years building computer models predicting how Orion behaves in space — how heat moves through the hull, how the structure flexes, how vibrations travel through the spacecraft. Now the crew collects real measurements and beams them back so engineers can compare predictions against reality. This data improves the design for every Artemis mission that follows.
5:35 PM 🚫 No PCD DFTO test (T+7d 01h). A deliberately tough test for the propulsion system. The crew fires the engine without the passive cooling device that normally keeps it cool — pushing it to operate in hotter-than-normal conditions. NASA wants to know exactly how the engine performs when stressed, because on a future mission the cooling system might not be available.
6:35 PM ☢️ Radiation shelter demo (T+7d 02h). One of the biggest dangers in deep space is solar radiation. The crew practices building an improvised radiation shelter inside Orion by stacking supplies, bags, and equipment around a central area to create a shield. This is a technique that could save lives on future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, and Artemis II is the first time it is being tested with a real crew in deep space.
8:35 PM 🎮 Manual piloting test (T+7d 04h). One of the most dramatic moments of the mission — an astronaut takes manual control of Orion and hand-flies the spacecraft in deep space. Using a joystick-like controller, they fire individual thrusters to change the capsule's attitude and orientation. If the autopilot ever fails, the crew needs to be able to fly the ship home themselves. This is the ultimate backup test, happening over 200,000 km from Earth.
10:35 PM 📦 Repressurize cabin to 14.7 psi (T+7d 06h). After earlier depressurization tests, the life support system pumps the cabin back to normal sea-level pressure (14.7 psi). The crew monitors the ECLSS environmental control system as it manages the transition, checking for any leaks or anomalies — an important validation that Orion can safely cycle between pressure states for future spacewalks.
12:05 AM 📞 Crew-to-crew (C2C) call (T+7d 07h 30m). A private video call with their families back on Earth — talking to loved ones from over 200,000 km away with a noticeable signal delay. With the intense re-entry sequence now less than two days away, this is one of the last quiet personal moments the crew will have before things get very busy.
2:35 AM 😴 Crew sleep begins (T+7d 10h). Earth is growing larger in the windows. Two more sleeps until home.
FD 9 • APR 9 Getting Ready to Land Trans-Earth ▼

Almost home! The crew studies their re-entry plan and stows everything for the fiery ride through Earth's atmosphere.

10:05 AM ☕ Crew wake-up (T+7d 18h 30m). Last full day in space! Every minute counts — re-entry prep, stowage, and final checkouts.
11:05 AM 📚 Entry study (T+7d 19h 30m). The crew opens their re-entry checklists and reviews every single step of the return sequence — from service module separation to atmospheric interface, through the plasma blackout, parachute deployment altitudes, and splashdown procedures. This is the final cramming session before the most dangerous 20 minutes of the entire mission.
12:35 PM 📡 Entry conference with Mission Control (T+7d 21h). A formal go/no-go discussion with Houston. Flight controllers review the health of every system — propulsion, life support, heat shield, communications, parachutes. They also assess weather conditions at the Pacific splashdown zone and confirm the recovery ship is in position. Every team lead must say "go" before the mission can proceed.
2:35 PM 🪐 OCSS suit operations (T+7d 23h). The crew breaks out their Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) suits — the bright orange pressure suits they will wear during re-entry. Each astronaut checks every seal, hose connection, visor mechanism, and communication link. These suits are their last line of defense if the cabin depressurizes during the violent re-entry.
3:35 PM 🎬 PAO & OIG event (T+8d 00h). One of the last live broadcasts from Orion before the cameras get packed away. The crew speaks to the public through NASA's Public Affairs Office and the Office of Inspector General, sharing their experiences from deep space. For many viewers on Earth, this will be the last time they see the crew live before splashdown tomorrow.
6:35 PM 🧳 Entry stow begins (T+8d 02h). Everything inside the capsule must be packed down and secured for up to 3.9 G's of re-entry force. Any loose object becomes a dangerous projectile. The crew methodically stows every tool, camera, food packet, and piece of equipment into secured compartments. Orion transforms from a lived-in workspace into a locked-down re-entry vehicle.
8:35 PM 🎮 Manual piloting DFTO (T+8d 04h). The final test of hand-flying Orion before re-entry. An astronaut takes manual control one more time, practicing the precise attitude control maneuvers they would need if the autopilot fails during the critical re-entry sequence tomorrow. This is the last chance to rehearse — tomorrow it is for real.
9:08 PM 🔄 RTC-2 trajectory correction (T+8d 04h 33m). A carefully calculated engine firing that adjusts Orion's course for a precise re-entry corridor. The capsule must hit a very specific angle when it reaches Earth's atmosphere: too steep and the G-forces could be fatal, too shallow and the capsule skips off the atmosphere back into space.
10:35 PM 📸 NatGeo final content capture (T+8d 06h). National Geographic has been documenting the entire Artemis II mission, and this is their last chance to capture footage before the cameras must be packed away for re-entry. The crew films their final views of deep space through Orion's windows — Earth growing larger by the hour. These images will become part of the historical record of humanity's return to the Moon.
11:35 PM 📋 Entry pad review (T+8d 07h). The "entry pad" is the final set of critical numbers for re-entry — exact engine burn times down to the second, the precise entry angle, altitude markers for each parachute deployment stage, and the expected G-force profile. Mission Control reads up these numbers, the crew copies them down and reads them back. Every digit is confirmed.
2:35 AM 😴 Last sleep in space (T+8d 10h). Tomorrow they come home. The crew rests one final time before the fiery ride through Earth's atmosphere.
FD 10 • APR 10 SPLASHDOWN! Re-Entry & Recovery ▼

Orion hits Earth's atmosphere at ~40,000 km/h, endures 2,760°C heat, deploys parachutes, and splashes into the Pacific Ocean!

9:35 AM ☕ Final wake-up in space (T+8d 17h 00m). This is it — the last morning in orbit. Earth fills the windows. Time to come home.
1:08 PM 🔄 RTC-3 final correction burn (T+8d 20h 33m). The absolute last trajectory adjustment before re-entry. After this burn, the laws of physics take over completely. The capsule is locked onto its re-entry corridor, hurtling toward Earth at increasing speed. Mission Control confirms the trajectory is nominal — from this point on, there are no more engine burns planned until splashdown.
1:35 PM 📋 Cabin configuration for entry (T+8d 21h). The moment the cabin transforms into a re-entry vehicle. Seats are locked into entry positions, harnesses are pulled tight, visors go down. Every crew member verifies their OCSS suit seals and communication links. Orion's computer systems switch to re-entry mode. The crew is strapped in and ready for the most intense 20 minutes of the entire mission.
3:05 PM 📝 Entry checklist (T+8d 22h 30m). The final go/no-go poll with Mission Control. Every flight controller in Houston is asked one last time: is your system ready? Propulsion — go. GNC — go. ECLSS — go. Recovery — go. Flight Director gives the final call: "Orion, Houston. You are go for entry."
5:33 PM ✂️ CM/SM separation! (T+9d 00h 58m) Explosive bolts fire and the crew module separates from the service module that has powered and sustained them for the entire mission. The service module tumbles away and will burn up in the atmosphere. The crew module is now alone, with only its heat shield between the astronauts and 2,760°C temperatures. There is absolutely no turning back.
5:37 PM 🔥 CM raise burn! (T+9d 01h 02m) An 18-second engine firing adjusts the crew module's trajectory for precise atmospheric entry. This is the last powered maneuver of the mission — from here, physics takes over completely.
5:53 PM ☄️ Entry interface! (T+9d 01h 18m) Orion hits the top of Earth's atmosphere at 400,000 ft, traveling approximately 38,400 km/h (~23,900 mph) — the fastest any humans have traveled since Apollo 17 in 1972. The heat shield faces temperatures exceeding 2,760°C (5,000°F). The crew experiences up to 3.9 G's of deceleration and a ~6-minute communications blackout as superheated plasma surrounds the capsule.
~6:03 PM 🪂 Drogue chutes deploy! At ~22,000 ft, two drogue chutes stabilize the capsule. One minute later at ~6,000 ft, three massive main parachutes deploy, slowing Orion from less than 219 km/h (~136 mph) to just 32 km/h (~20 mph).
6:07 PM 🌊 SPLASHDOWN in the Pacific! (T+9d 01h 32m) Orion splashes down in the Pacific Ocean at just 20 mph. Navy divers and recovery ships from the USS are on station to secure the capsule and extract the crew. After 10 days and 694,481 miles (1,117,743 km), the first humans to leave Earth orbit in over 50 years are home. Welcome back, heroes.
7:06 PM 🛶 Crew extraction (T+9d 02h 31m). Recovery divers open Orion's hatch and help the crew out of the capsule. After 10 days in microgravity, standing up takes some getting used to. Exact time is subject to change based on sea conditions.
7:35 PM 🚢 Crew arrives on recovery ship (T+9d 03h 00m). The four astronauts are aboard the USS recovery vessel. NASA+ live coverage concludes. The first crew to fly around the Moon since Apollo 17 is safely home.
8:30 PM 🎤 NASA post-landing press conference (T+9d 03h 55m). NASA leadership and mission managers brief the media on the mission's results and crew health.

🤩 Cool Facts About Artemis II

🏎️ Re-entry speed: ~40,000 km/h (~25,000 mph) — that's fast enough to go from New York to LA in under 6 minutes.
🇨🇦 First Canadian on a Moon mission! Astronaut Jeremy Hansen is the first non-American to fly around the Moon.
🌡️ Heat shield hits 2,760°C (5,000°F) during re-entry — that's roughly half the temperature of the Sun's surface!
⏳ Last crewed Moon mission was in 1972. Artemis II ends a 50+ year gap in human deep-space exploration!
Based on NASA Artemis II Overview Timeline & NASA mission updates • All times approximate in MST (MDT, UTC-6) • Launch: 4:35 PM MST, April 1, 2026