NASA Mission
Artemis II
Experience the historic 10-day mission that will take four astronauts farther into space than any humans before them.
NASA Mission
Experience the historic 10-day mission that will take four astronauts farther into space than any humans before them.
Four exceptional individuals chosen to chart a new course for humanity, returning to the lunar vicinity for the first time in over 50 years to test the foundational deep space human exploration capabilities.
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NASA astronaut and decorated naval aviator. Previously served aboard the ISS during Expedition 40/41, logging 165 days in space.
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NASA astronaut and former naval test pilot. Piloted SpaceX Crew Dragon on Crew-1, the first operational crewed mission to the ISS.
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Holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days). Participated in the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir.
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Canadian Space Agency astronaut and former CF-18 fighter pilot. Artemis II will be his first spaceflight, making him the first non-American on a lunar mission.
SLS liftoff from Kennedy Space Center. Solid rocket booster separation, core stage main engine cutoff, and insertion into initial parking orbit.
ICPS (Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage) fires to raise perigee to a stable high Earth orbit. Orion separates from ICPS after disposal burn.
The upper stage performs a disposal maneuver to avoid debris, then separates from Orion, which continues on its own power.
Orion's main engine (European Service Module) fires to break Earth orbit and set a free‑return trajectory toward the Moon.
First half of the 4‑day outbound cruise. Crew checks life support, performs navigation, and passes through Van Allen belts.
Final outbound leg. Orion enters the Moon's gravitational influence. Systems calibrated for lunar flyby.
Orion flies ~4,000 miles above lunar surface. Crew experiences communications blackout, captures Earthrise, sets new human distance record.
Moon's gravity slings Orion back. First return trajectory correction burn (RTC‑1) refines path toward Earth.
Multiple days of return cruise. Crew performs maintenance, science, and prepares for reentry.
Orion demonstrates proximity operations and manual handling quality assessment, proving crew can control spacecraft near other vehicles.
Orion hits Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph. Heat shield withstands 3,000°F. Skip reentry reduces G‑forces.
Parachutes deploy. Capsule splashes down off San Diego. Navy recovery team extracts astronauts. Mission complete.