Artemis II Live Tracker — Real-Time Moon Mission
Track NASA's Artemis II mission in real-time. The first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Where Is the Orion Spacecraft Right Now?
Follow the Orion spacecraft's journey from Earth to the Moon and back with live telemetry data, including speed, distance from Earth, and distance from the Moon. Our interactive trajectory map shows the spacecraft's real-time position along its lunar flyby path.
Artemis II Mission Overview
Artemis II launched on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B aboard NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket — the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA, generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. The mission sends four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon.
Artemis II Crew
- Reid Wiseman — Commander (NASA)
- Victor Glover — Pilot (NASA)
- Christina Koch — Mission Specialist (NASA)
- Jeremy Hansen — Mission Specialist (Canadian Space Agency)
Mission Stages
- On the Pad — SLS stands 322 feet tall on LC-39B, fueled with 733,000 gallons of propellant
- Ignition & Liftoff — Four RS-25 engines and two solid rocket boosters generate 8.8 million pounds of thrust
- Max-Q — Maximum aerodynamic pressure at approximately 35,000 feet altitude
- Booster Separation — Twin SRBs jettisoned at 150,000 feet after burning 2.4 million pounds of propellant
- Core Stage Separation — Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) at 17,000 mph, core stage separates
- Earth Orbit — Up to 24 hours of systems checkout in high Earth orbit
- Trans-Lunar Injection — ICPS RL-10 engine fires for 18 minutes, accelerating to 24,500 mph escape velocity
- Outbound Coast — 4-day journey crossing 240,000 miles of deep space to the Moon
- Lunar Flyby — Closest approach within approximately 4,000 miles of the Moon's far side
- Return Transit — 4-day return journey as Earth's gravity accelerates Orion homeward
- Re-Entry — Capsule hits atmosphere at 24,500 mph (Mach 32), experiencing 5,000°F temperatures
- Splashdown — Three parachutes slow capsule to 20 mph for Pacific Ocean landing off San Diego
Lunar Flyby Timeline — April 6, 2026
- 2:45 PM EDT — Lunar observation period begins
- 6:47 PM EDT — Closest approach to the Moon's far side (~4,000 miles)
- ~20 minutes — Loss of Signal as Moon blocks radio communication
- 9:20 PM EDT — Lunar observations conclude, crew heads home
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Artemis II Orion spacecraft right now?
You can track the Orion spacecraft's real-time position on artemis2tracker.com. The tracker shows live telemetry including speed, distance from Earth, distance from the Moon, and current mission phase.
When is the Artemis II lunar flyby?
The Artemis II lunar flyby occurs on April 6, 2026. The seven-hour flyby window begins at approximately 2:45 PM EDT, with the closest approach at about 6:47 PM EDT.
Who are the Artemis II crew members?
Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch (all NASA), and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency).
How fast is the Orion spacecraft traveling?
Speed varies from 2,000-4,000 mph during coast phases to 24,500 mph at trans-lunar injection and re-entry.
When does Artemis II splashdown?
Splashdown is planned for approximately April 10-11, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California.
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