The Artemis II mission follows a structured timeline from launch to splashdown. Each phase represents a major step in the Orion spacecraft's journey.
The spacecraft launches aboard the SLS Block 1 rocket from Kennedy Space Center and enters Earth orbit, where systems are checked and orbital adjustment burns are performed before continuing.
After ICPS separation, the crew performs a proximity operations demonstration, manually flying Orion near the spent upper stage to test spacecraft handling in deep space.
Orion performs a burn to leave Earth orbit and begin travelling toward the Moon. This is the critical manoeuvre that puts the spacecraft on its lunar trajectory.
The spacecraft travels through deep space for approximately four days, increasing its distance from Earth while its velocity gradually decreases under Earth's gravitational pull.
Orion passes within approximately 6,000 km of the lunar surface, using the Moon's gravity to redirect back toward Earth. At its maximum distance, the crew will be further from Earth than any humans in history.
After the flyby, the spacecraft begins its four-day journey back to Earth, accelerating as it falls back toward Earth's gravity well.
The mission concludes with crew module separation, re-entry into Earth's atmosphere at approximately 40,000 km/h, and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.
This tracker reflects each phase in real time by showing position, velocity, and distance changes. By following along, you can see exactly when each stage occurs based on the spacecraft's movement.
Follow the Timeline Live