NASA launches Artemis II, first crewed lunar mission in half a century

Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on Artemis II, a high-stakes 10-day journey around the Moon that marks the United States’ boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface this decade, ahead of China’s planned crewed landing.

The mission, the first human lunar flight since the Apollo programme, is expected to last about 10 days. It will send four astronauts on a high-speed journey around the Moon and back, testing critical systems for future lunar landings.

“So after a brief 54-year intermission, NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon. We arrived at this point through a sustained effort, a national commitment, and the work of thousands across the agency, our industry partners and our international allies,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said at a press conference.

Artemis II is designed to pave the way for future missions aimed at returning astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade.

Mission timeline: Day-by-day

Launch day
Artemis II lifted off from Kennedy Space Center aboard the Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket NASA has ever flown. After launch, the Orion crew capsule separated from the rocket’s upper stage and entered a highly elliptical orbit around Earth.

Days 1–2: Earth orbit checkouts
The crew will spend the first one to two days in high Earth orbit conducting extensive systems checks, including Orion’s life-support, propulsion, navigation and communications systems, to ensure the spacecraft is ready for deep space travel.

Translunar injection
Once checkouts are complete, Orion’s propulsion system will perform a critical engine burn known as translunar injection, sending the spacecraft out of Earth orbit and onto a trajectory toward the Moon.

Days 3–4: Coast to the Moon
During the transit, astronauts will continue monitoring spacecraft systems while travelling farther from Earth than any previous human spaceflight. Mission controllers will track communications and navigation performance as Orion moves into deep space.

Moon flyby
Orion will pass behind the Moon on a “free-return” trajectory, a path that naturally swings the spacecraft back toward Earth without requiring additional propulsion. The spacecraft will reach its greatest distance from Earth during this phase.

Days 5–8: Return to Earth
After the lunar flyby, the crew will spend several days heading back while conducting additional deep-space tests, including evaluations of power systems, thermal controls and crew operations far beyond low Earth orbit.

Re-entry and splashdown
As Orion approaches Earth, it will separate key components before plunging into the atmosphere at speeds of about 25,000 miles per hour (40,233 kmph). Testing the capsule’s heat shield during high-energy re-entry is one of the mission’s primary objectives. The spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the crew.