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!
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Launch: 4:35 PM MST • April 1, 2026
All times shown in MST
MISSION ELAPSED TIME
T+0h 00m 00s
Current Milestone
THE ARTEMIS II CREW
🇺🇸
Reid Wiseman
Commander
Navy test pilot & NASA astronaut. Spent 165 days aboard the ISS on Expedition 41.
🇺🇸
Victor Glover
Pilot
Navy fighter pilot & test pilot. Flew on SpaceX Crew-1, the first operational Crew Dragon mission.
🇺🇸
Christina Koch
Mission Specialist
Holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at 328 days aboard the ISS.
🇨🇦
Jeremy Hansen
Mission Specialist
Canadian Forces fighter pilot & CSA astronaut. First Canadian to fly beyond low Earth orbit.
Crew Status
FD02
The Mission Path
Launch Pad
➡️
High Earth Orbit
➡️
TLI Burn
➡️
Trans-Lunar Coast
➡️
Lunar Flyby
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Trans-Earth Coast
➡️
Splashdown!
YOU ARE HERE
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.
9:35 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.
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!
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.
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 ~24,500 mph to leave Earth orbit. Moon, here we come!
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.
12:35 PM
"Day in the Life" & flywheel experiment (T+1d 20h). Showing how astronauts eat, exercise, sleep, and work in deep space.
3:35 PM
Meal break (T+1d 23h). Space food! The crew eats rehydrated and thermostabilized meals.
6:35 PM
CPR training demo (T+2d 02h). Practicing emergency medical procedures in microgravity (it's harder than you think!).
7:35 PM
Medical kit review (T+2d 03h). Checking the onboard medical supplies and procedures.
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!
4:47 PM
OTC-2 trajectory correction (T+3d 00h 12m). Fine-tuning the flight path toward the Moon.
6:35 PM
Dock camera measurements (T+3d 02h). Testing imaging systems that will guide future lunar docking.
7:35 PM
Navigation & software demos (T+3d 03h). Testing Orion's star-tracker and deep-space nav systems.
9:35 PM
Large systems inspection (T+3d 05h). Checking Orion's exterior and heat shield from inside.
11:35 PM
Emergency comm test (T+3d 07h). Practicing backup communications if the primary link goes down.
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!
12:35 PM
Spacesuit operations testing (OCSS) (T+3d 20h). Testing suit depressurization procedures critical for future moonwalks.
3:35 PM
Cabin depress ops (T+3d 23h). Lowering cabin pressure to test spacesuit readiness and life support.
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.
⭐ 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!
11:35 AM
Lunar observations begin (T+4d 19h). The Moon fills the windows as Orion approaches!
1:37 PM
Passes Apollo 13's record distance! (T+4d 21h 02m) Beyond 248,655 miles — farther from Earth than any human ever.
5:58 PM
CLOSEST APPROACH TO THE MOON! (T+5d 01h 23m) Orion flies ~4,100 miles above the lunar surface, swinging around the far side.
6:02 PM
FARTHEST POINT FROM EARTH! (T+5d 01h 27m) ~252,000 miles from home. Earth is a tiny blue marble in the blackness.
9:35 PM
Exercise & noise measurements (T+5d 05h). Testing equipment and measuring cabin noise near the Moon.
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.
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.
3:35 PM
P/TV exercise broadcast (T+5d 23h). Public affairs event — the crew talks to Earth on live TV!
8:58 PM
RTC-1 trajectory correction burn (T+6d 04h 23m). Fine-tuning the path home to hit the right re-entry angle.
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.
12:35 PM
P/TV exercise (T+6d 20h). Another public broadcast & workout session.
2:35 PM
Model survey (T+6d 22h). Evaluating thermal and structural models of the spacecraft.
6:35 PM
Radiation shelter demo (T+7d 02h). Crew arranges supplies as shielding against solar particle events.
8:35 PM
Manual piloting test (T+7d 04h). An astronaut takes manual control of Orion — like a video game, but in deep space!
10:35 PM
Repressurize cabin to 14.7 psi (T+7d 06h). Returning to normal sea-level pressure after suit tests.
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
Flight control system checkouts (T+7d 17h 30m). Final test of steering thrusters and parachute systems.
10:35 AM
Entry study (T+7d 18h). Crew reviews every step of the re-entry sequence.
11:35 AM
Entry conference with Mission Control (T+7d 19h). Final go/no-go discussion for re-entry.
6:35 PM
Entry stow (T+8d 02h). Everything packed down and secured for the intense forces of re-entry.
9:08 PM
RTC-2 final trajectory correction (T+8d 04h 33m). Last course adjustment for a precise re-entry angle.
FD 10 • APR 10
SPLASHDOWN!
Re-Entry & Recovery
Orion hits Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph, endures 5,000°F heat, deploys parachutes, and splashes into the Pacific Ocean!
~5:53 PM
Re-entry interface! (T+9d 01h 18m) Orion hits the top of the atmosphere at ~25,000 mph. The heat shield faces 5,000°F — hotter than lava!
~6:02 PM
Parachutes deploy! (T+9d 01h 27m) Eleven parachutes deploy in sequence, slowing Orion from supersonic to ~15 mph.
~6:06 PM
SPLASHDOWN in the Pacific! (T+9d 01h 31m) Navy divers and ships recover the capsule. Welcome home, heroes!
🤩 Cool Facts About Artemis II
Re-entry speed: ~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 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!