Artemis II

Mission

Artemis II on Space Launch System Block 1. Wed 1 Apr 2026, 22:35:12 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Launch Complex 39B. Source: Launch Library 2.

Artemis II is the first crewed mission as part of the Artemis program. Artemis II will send a crew of 4 - 3 Americans and 1 Canadian around the moon and return them back to Earth. The mission will test the core systems of NASA's Orion spacecraft including the critical life support system, among other systems which could not be tested during Artemis I due to the lack of crew onboard.

Mission type

Human Exploration

Orbit

Lunar flyby

Programmes: Artemis

Launch timeline

Times are relative to liftoff.

1. T-2 d 1 h 50 minMon 30 Mar, 22:45 CEST

   Launch Team On Stations

   Launch team arrives to stations

2. T-2 d 1 h 40 minMon 30 Mar, 22:55 CEST

   Prop Load Preparations

   Ground systems preparations for vehicle loading

3. T-2 d 1 h 40 minMon 30 Mar, 22:55 CEST

   Countdown Start

   Countdown clock begins

4. T-1 d 21 h 30 minTue 31 Mar, 03:05 CEST

   Orion Power On

   Orion spacecraft powered up

5. T-1 d 18 h 20 minTue 31 Mar, 06:15 CEST

   Core Stage Power On

   Core stage powered up

6. T-1 d 18 h 10 minTue 31 Mar, 06:25 CEST

   ICPS Power On

   Interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) powered up

7. T-1 d 15 h 45 minTue 31 Mar, 08:50 CEST

   RS-25 Preparations

   Final preparations of the four RS-25 engines

8. T-1 d 11 h 45 minTue 31 Mar, 12:50 CEST

   ICPS Power Off

   Interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) powered down

9. T-1 d 9 h 30 minTue 31 Mar, 15:05 CEST

   Orion Batteries Charging

   Charge Orion flight batteries to 100%

10. T-1 d 7 h 30 minTue 31 Mar, 17:05 CEST

    Core Stage Batteries Charging

    Charge core stage flight batteries

11. T-20 h 15 minWed 1 Apr, 04:20 CEST

    ICPS Power On

    Interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) powered up

12. T-15 hWed 1 Apr, 09:35 CEST

    Pad Closeout

    All non-essential personnel leave the launch pad

13. T-14 h 15 minWed 1 Apr, 10:20 CEST

    Rocket Cavity Inerting

    Air-to-gaseous nitrogen (GN2) changeover and rocket cavity inerting

14. T-13 h 15 minWed 1 Apr, 11:20 CEST

    GLS Activation

    Ground launch sequencer (GLS) activation

15. T-12 h 35 minWed 1 Apr, 12:00 CEST

    Built-In Hold

    Built in countdown hold

16. T-10 h 50 minWed 1 Apr, 13:45 CEST

    Orion Cold Soak

    Orion cold soak

17. T-10 h 50 minWed 1 Apr, 13:45 CEST

    GO for Prop Load

    Launch director verifies go for propellant load

18. T-10 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 13:55 CEST

    Core Stage LH2 Chill

    Core stage LH2 chilldown

19. T-10 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 13:55 CEST

    Core Stage LOX Transfer Chill

    Core stage LOX transfer line chilldown

20. T-10 h 25 minWed 1 Apr, 14:10 CEST

    Core Stage LOX Prop Chill

    Core stage LOX main propulsion system chilldown

21. T-9 h 55 minWed 1 Apr, 14:40 CEST

    Core Stage LH2 Slow Fill

    Core stage LH2 slow fill start

22. T-9 h 50 minWed 1 Apr, 14:45 CEST

    Resume T-Clock

    Resume T-Clock

23. T-9 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 14:55 CEST

    Core Stage LOX Slow Fill

    Core stage LOX slow fill

24. T-9 h 30 minWed 1 Apr, 15:05 CEST

    Core Stage LOX Fast Fill

    Core stage LOX fast fill

25. T-9 h 25 minWed 1 Apr, 15:10 CEST

    Core Stage LH2 Fast Fill

    Core stage LH2 fast fill

26. T-9 h 5 minWed 1 Apr, 15:30 CEST

    ICPS LH2 Chill

    ICPS LH2 chilldown

27. T-8 h 30 minWed 1 Apr, 16:05 CEST

    ICPS LH2 Fast Fill

    ICPS LH2 fast fill start

28. T-8 hWed 1 Apr, 16:35 CEST

    Core Stage LH2 Topping

    Core stage LH2 topping

29. T-7 h 55 minWed 1 Apr, 16:40 CEST

    Core Stage LH2 Replenish

    Core stage LH2 replenish

30. T-7 h 45 minWed 1 Apr, 16:50 CEST

    ICPS LH2 Vent & Relief Test

    ICPS LH2 vent and relief test

31. T-7 h 20 minWed 1 Apr, 17:15 CEST

    ICPS LH2 Topping

    ICPS LH2 tank topping start

32. T-7 h 5 minWed 1 Apr, 17:30 CEST

    ICPS LH2 Replenish

    ICPS LH2 replenish

33. T-6 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 17:55 CEST

    Core Stage LOX Topping

    Core stage LOX topping

34. T-6 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 17:55 CEST

    Orion Comms On

    Orion communications system activated (radio frequency to mission control)

35. T-6 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 17:55 CEST

    ICPS LOX Prop Chill

    ICPS LOX main propulsion system chilldown

36. T-6 h 30 minWed 1 Apr, 18:05 CEST

    ICPS LOX Fast Fill

    ICPS LOX fast fill

37. T-6 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 18:25 CEST

    Closeout Crew Assemble

    Closeout crew assemble

38. T-6 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 18:25 CEST

    Stage Pad Rescue

    Stage pad rescue

39. T-6 h 5 minWed 1 Apr, 18:30 CEST

    Core Stage LOX Replenish

    Core stage LOX replenish

40. T-6 hWed 1 Apr, 18:35 CEST

    Weather Check

    Check of the weather conditions for launch

41. T-5 h 45 minWed 1 Apr, 18:50 CEST

    ICPS LOX Vent & Relief Test

    ICPS LOX vent and relief test

42. T-5 h 30 minWed 1 Apr, 19:05 CEST

    ICPS LOX Topping

    ICPS LOX topping

43. T-5 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 19:25 CEST

    Built-In Hold

    Built in countdown hold

44. T-5 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 19:25 CEST

    Closeout Crew To White Room

    Closeout crew to white room

45. T-5 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 19:25 CEST

    ICPS LOX Replenish

    ICPS LOX replenish

46. T-5 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 19:25 CEST

    All Stages Replenish

    All stages replenish

47. T-4 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 19:55 CEST

    Flight Crew To Pad

    Flight crew deployment to pad

48. T-4 hWed 1 Apr, 20:35 CEST

    Orion Boarding

    Flight crew board Orion

49. T-3 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 20:55 CEST

    Hatch Closure

    Crew module hatch preps and closure

50. T-3 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 21:25 CEST

    Hatch Seal Checks

    Counterbalance mechanism hatch sealpress decay checks

51. T-2 h 20 minWed 1 Apr, 22:15 CEST

    Hatch Closeouts

    Crew module hatch service panel install/closeouts

52. T-1 h 40 minWed 1 Apr, 22:55 CEST

    LAS Hatch Closure

    Launch abort system (LAS) hatch closure for flight

53. T-1 h 10 minWed 1 Apr, 23:25 CEST

    TPS Scan

    Launch director brief – rocket & thermal protection system scan results with the imagery console

54. T-50 minWed 1 Apr, 23:45 CEST

    Pad Clear

    Closeout crew departs the pad

55. T-50 minWed 1 Apr, 23:45 CEST

    Test Director Briefing

    Final test director briefing is held

56. T-40 minWed 1 Apr, 23:55 CEST

    Built-In Hold

    Built in countdown hold

57. T-25 minThu 2 Apr, 00:10 CEST

    Orion Comms Transition

    Transition team to Orion to Earth communication loop following final NTD briefing

58. T-17 minThu 2 Apr, 00:18 CEST

    Ready Poll

    Polling ready ahead of terminal count

59. T-15 minThu 2 Apr, 00:20 CEST

    Visors Down

    Flight crew visors down

60. T-14 minThu 2 Apr, 00:21 CEST

    Short Purge

    Flight crew short purge verification

61. T-10 minThu 2 Apr, 00:25 CEST

    Terminal Count

    Start of the terminal countdown towards launch

62. T-8 minThu 2 Apr, 00:27 CEST

    Crew Access Arm Retract

    Retraction of the crew access arm from the rocket

63. T-6 minThu 2 Apr, 00:29 CEST

    Tank Press

    Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels

64. T-6 minThu 2 Apr, 00:29 CEST

    Orion Internal Power

    Orion set to internal power

65. T-6 minThu 2 Apr, 00:29 CEST

    Orion Pyros Arm

    Orion ascent pyros are armed

66. T-5 min 57 sThu 2 Apr, 00:29 CEST

    Core Stage LH2 Replenish End

    Core stage LH2 terminate replenish

67. T-5 min 20 sThu 2 Apr, 00:29 CEST

    LAS Available

    LAS capability is available

68. T-4 min 40 sThu 2 Apr, 00:30 CEST

    LH2 High Flow Bleed Check

    GLS go for LH2 high flow bleed check

69. T-4 min 30 sThu 2 Apr, 00:30 CEST

    FTS Arm

    Flight termination system armed

70. T-4 minThu 2 Apr, 00:31 CEST

    Core Stage LOX Replenish End

    Core stage LOX terminate replenish

71. T-4 minThu 2 Apr, 00:31 CEST

    Core Stage APU Start

    Core stage auxiliary power unit (APU) start

72. T-3 min 30 sThu 2 Apr, 00:31 CEST

    ICPS LOX Replenish End

    ICPS LOX terminate replenish

73. T-3 min 10 sThu 2 Apr, 00:32 CEST

    Purge Sequence 4

    GLS go for purge sequence 4

74. T-2 min 2 sThu 2 Apr, 00:33 CEST

    ICPS Internal Power

    ICPS switches to internal battery power

75. T-2 minThu 2 Apr, 00:33 CEST

    Booster Internal Power

    Booster switches to internal batter power

76. T-1 min 30 sThu 2 Apr, 00:33 CEST

    Core Stage Internal Power

    Core stage switches to internal power

77. T-1 min 20 sThu 2 Apr, 00:33 CEST

    ICPS Terminal Count

    ICPS enters terminal countdown mode

78. T-50 sThu 2 Apr, 00:34 CEST

    ICPS LH2 Replenish End

    ICPS LH2 terminate replenish

79. T-33 sThu 2 Apr, 00:34 CEST

    GO for Launch

    Launch director verifies go for launch

80. T-30 sThu 2 Apr, 00:34 CEST

    Core Stage Terminal Count

    Core stage flight computer to automated launching sequencer

81. T-12 sThu 2 Apr, 00:35 CEST

    Hydrogen Burnoff Igniters

    Hydrogen burn off igniters initiated

82. T-10 sThu 2 Apr, 00:35 CEST

    Core Stage Engine Start

    Core stage engine start

83. T-6.36 sThu 2 Apr, 00:35 CEST

    Ignition

    Start of the engine ignition sequence

84. T-0Thu 2 Apr, 00:35 CEST

    Booster Ignition

    Ignition of the solid rocket boosters.

85. T-0Thu 2 Apr, 00:35 CEST

    Liftoff

    First upwards movement of the rocket

86. T+9 sThu 2 Apr, 00:35 CEST

    Tower Clear

    The launch vehicle clears the launch tower and initiates a roll/pitch maneuver

87. T+56 sThu 2 Apr, 00:36 CEST

    Supersonic

    Vehicle is supersonic

88. T+1 min 10 sThu 2 Apr, 00:36 CEST

    Max-Q

    Maximum dynamic pressure

89. T+2 min 8 sThu 2 Apr, 00:37 CEST

    SRB Separation

    The solid rocket boosters are separated from the launcher.

90. T+3 min 18 sThu 2 Apr, 00:38 CEST

    Launch Escape Jettison

    The launch escape system is no longer needed and is jettisoned.

91. T+8 min 6 sThu 2 Apr, 00:43 CEST

    MECO

    Cut-off of the main engine

92. T+8 min 18 sThu 2 Apr, 00:43 CEST

    Stage 2 Separation

    Separation of the second stage from the first

93. T+8 min 28 sThu 2 Apr, 00:43 CEST

    ICPS RL10 Nozzle Extension

    ICPS RL10 nozzle extension

94. T+20 minThu 2 Apr, 00:55 CEST

    Orion Solar Arrays Deployment

    Orion solar arrays deploy

95. T+49 minThu 2 Apr, 01:24 CEST

    Perigee Raise Burn

    Perigee raise burn

96. T+1 h 47 min 57 sThu 2 Apr, 02:23 CEST

    Apogee Raise Burn

    Apogee raise burn

97. T+3 h 24 min 15 sThu 2 Apr, 03:59 CEST

    Orion Separation

    Orion separates from ICPS

98. T+4 h 35 minThu 2 Apr, 05:10 CEST

    Proximity Operations End

    Proximity operations conclude

99. T+4 h 52 minThu 2 Apr, 05:27 CEST

    Orion Separation Burn

    Orion upper stage separation burn

100. T+5 hThu 2 Apr, 05:35 CEST

     ICPS Disposal Burn

     Disposal burn of ICPS into the Pacific Ocean

101. T+5 h 4 minThu 2 Apr, 05:39 CEST

     CubeSats Deployment

     CubeSats deploy

102. T+13 h 44 minThu 2 Apr, 14:19 CEST

     Perigee Raise Burn

     Perigee raise burn

103. T+1 d 1 h 37 minFri 3 Apr, 02:12 CEST

     Translunar Injection Burn

     Translunar injection burn

104. T+1 d 23 h 25 minSat 4 Apr, 00:00 CEST

     Orbital Trajectory Correction Burn

     Orbital trajectory correction burn

105. T+2 d 7 minSat 4 Apr, 00:42 CEST

     Orbital Trajectory Correction Burn

     Orbital trajectory correction burn

106. T+2 d 2 h 5 minSat 4 Apr, 02:40 CEST

     Crew CPR Demo

     Crew CPR demonstration

107. T+2 d 5 h 25 minSat 4 Apr, 06:00 CEST

     DSN Comms Test

     Communications test through Deep Space Network

108. T+3 d 12 minSun 5 Apr, 00:47 CEST

     Orbital Trajectory Correction Burn

     Orbital trajectory correction burn

109. T+3 d 3 h 40 minSun 5 Apr, 04:15 CEST

     Lunar Flyby Imaging Plan Review

     Review lunar flyby imaging plan

110. T+3 d 5 h 45 minSun 5 Apr, 06:20 CEST

     Lunar Flyby Imaging Plan Review

     Review lunar flyby imaging plan

111. T+3 d 20 h 30 minSun 5 Apr, 21:05 CEST

     Spacesuits Demo

     Rapid spacesuits donning and pressurization demonstration

112. T+4 d 5 h 23 minMon 6 Apr, 05:58 CEST

     Orbital Trajectory Correction Burn

     Orbital trajectory correction burn

113. T+4 d 6 h 59 minMon 6 Apr, 07:34 CEST

     Orion Enters Lunar SOI

     Orion enters lunar sphere of influence

114. T+4 d 22 hMon 6 Apr, 22:35 CEST

     Lunar Flyby

     Lunar flyby and observation begins

115. T+5 d 1 h 23 minTue 7 Apr, 01:58 CEST

     Lunar Closest Approach

     Closest approach to the Moon

116. T+5 d 1 h 26 minTue 7 Apr, 02:01 CEST

     Max Distance To Earth

     Crew reaches maximum distance from Earth for this mission

117. T+5 d 19 h 47 minTue 7 Apr, 20:22 CEST

     Orion Exits Lunar SOI

     Orion exits lunar sphere of influence

118. T+5 d 21 h 10 minTue 7 Apr, 21:45 CEST

     Lunar Flyby Debrief

     Lunar flyby science debrief

119. T+6 d 4 h 23 minWed 8 Apr, 04:58 CEST

     Orbital Trajectory Correction Burn

     Orbital trajectory correction burn

120. T+7 d 1 h 50 minThu 9 Apr, 02:25 CEST

     Radiation Shielding Demo

     Radiation shielding demonstration

121. T+7 d 4 h 20 minThu 9 Apr, 04:55 CEST

     Manual Piloting Demo

     Manual piloting demonstration

122. T+7 d 23 h 15 minThu 9 Apr, 23:50 CEST

     Orthostatic Intolerance Garment Test

     Orthostatic intolerance garment assessment

123. T+8 d 2 h 10 minFri 10 Apr, 02:45 CEST

     Orthostatic Intolerance Garment Test

     Orthostatic intolerance garment assessment

124. T+8 d 4 h 33 minFri 10 Apr, 05:08 CEST

     Orbital Trajectory Correction Burn

     Orbital trajectory correction burn

125. T+8 d 20 h 33 minFri 10 Apr, 21:08 CEST

     Orbital Trajectory Correction Burn

     Orbital trajectory correction burn

126. T+8 d 22 h 30 minFri 10 Apr, 23:05 CEST

     Crew Entry Preparations

     Crew begins working through entry checklist, including donning entry suits

127. T+9 d 1 h 13 minSat 11 Apr, 01:48 CEST

     Orion Service Module Jettison

     Orion crew and service module separation

128. T+9 d 1 h 16 minSat 11 Apr, 01:51 CEST

     Orion Raise Burn

     Orion raise burn

129. T+9 d 1 h 33 minSat 11 Apr, 02:08 CEST

     Atmospheric Entry

     Start of the atmospheric re-entry

130. T+9 d 1 h 46 minSat 11 Apr, 02:21 CEST

     Orion Splashdown

     Orion splashdown

131. T+9 d 1 h 53 minSat 11 Apr, 02:28 CEST

     Orion RCS Safing

     Orion crew module reaction control system safing

132. T+9 d 2 h 1 minSat 11 Apr, 02:36 CEST

     Orion Power Off

     Orion Final power down

Slip history

Changes recorded by Space Right Now

No changes since we started tracking on Sat 10 Oct 2026, 11:18 UTC.

Launch pad

Launch Complex 39B

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (US)

Coordinates: 28.62711233, -80.62101503