API VERSION: 1.2 API SOURCE: NASA/JPL Horizons API ******************************************************************************* Revised: Apr 20, 2026 Artemis II / Spacecraft (Earth) -1024 19:01 UTC https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/ https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii-press-kit/ BACKGROUND: Four astronauts will fly aboard NASA's Orion 2 spacecraft to confirm the spacecraft's systems operate as designed in preparation for a sustained human presence on the Moon. Artemis II astronauts are NASA's Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist). "Artemis II" refers to a specific mission within the broader Artemis program. "Orion" refers to the spacecraft/capsule the astronauts ride within. The crew has chosen the nickname "Integrity" for the Artemis II Orion capsule. "SLS" refers to the Space Launch System, or rocket launching Orion into space MAJOR EVENTS: Launched April 1 @ 22:35:12 UTC from pad LC-39B at the Kennedy Space Center, USA. Mission length is 9 days. MET column below gives timings of major dynamical events RELATIVE TO LAUNCH. Format is "days/HH:MM:SS" since launch. Given launch time, MET converted to absolute UTC date/time is also given, format "date HH:MM:{SS}". As the mission develops, some times may differ somewhat from planning: Day 1 MET Apr UTC launch 0/00:00 1 22:35:12 - Launch April 1, 22:35:12 UTC launch + 0/00:20 1 22:55 - Orion deploys solar arrays in Earth orbit 0/00:49:50 1 23:25:02 - Perigee raise maneuver (2223 x 185 km) 0/01:47:57 2 00:23:09 - Apogee raise maneuver (70377 km) 0/03:24:18 2 01:59:30 - Orion/ICPS separation 0/04:50 2 03:25 - Orion upper stage separation burn 0/05:00 2 03:35 - ICPS disposal burn for Pacific splashdown 0/05:04 2 03:39 - Cubesats deploy at one minute intervals 0/12:55 2 11:30 - Perigee raise burn Day 2 launch + 1/01:14 2 23:49 - Start Translunar Injection burn (5m 55s) 1/01:19 2 23:54 - End TLI (delta-v= 388 m/s) 1/01:35 3 00:10 - Earth shadow entrance 1/02:41 3 01:17 - Earth shadow exit Day 3 launch + 2/00:08 3 22:43 - [CANCELLED] Trajectory correction burn #1 Day 4 launch + 3/01:08 4 23:43 - [CANCELLED] Trajectory correction burn #2 Day 5 launch + 4/04:28:05 6 03:03:17 - Begin trajectory correction burn #3 (OTC-3) 4/04:28:23 6 03:03:35 End OTC-3 (length 18 sec, delta-v 3 m/s) 4/07:03:32 6 05:38:44 - Orion enters lunar SOI, 62800 km from Moon center (Hill sphere definition) Day 6 launch + 5/00:26 6 23:01 - Closest approach to Moon center (8282 km) 5/00:30 6 23:05 - Maximum distance Earth center (413146.2 km) Day 7 launch + 5/17:47 7 16:23 - Orion exits lunar SOI, 62800 km from Moon center (Hill sphere definition) 6/01:28 8 00:03 - Return trajectory correction burn #1 Total delta-v = 0.49 m/s, length 15 sec. Day 8 launch + 7/04:20 9 02:55 - [CANCELLED] Manual piloting demonstration Oxidizer tank pressure characterization Day 9 launch + 8/04:18 10 02:53 - Return trajectory correction burn #2 Total delta-v = 1.62 m/s, length 9 sec. Day 10 launch + 8/20:18 10 18:53 - Return trajectory correction burn #3 Total delta-v = 1.28 m/s, length 8 sec. 9/00:58 10 23:33 - Orion 2 crew and service module separation 9/01:01 10 23:36 - Crew module raise burn (length 19 sec., total delta-v= 3.0 m/s) 9/01:18 10 23:53 - Entry interface (122 km above Earth) Events by altitude: 11 km : Forward bay cover deploys 7.6 km: Droque parachute deploys 2.9 km: Pilot parachutes deploy @ 2.9 km, pulling out 3 main parachutes 9/01:32 11 00:07 - Splashdown, Pacific Ocean, off Baja Cali. 2.5 hours before sunset 9/01:47 11 00:22 - Orion 2 final power down 9/02:17 11 00:52 - Astronaut egress complete SPACECRAFT DETAILS SLS * Height : 98 meters * Mass at liftoff : 2.61 million kg * Thrust at liftoff : 39.1 million Newtons * Payload to the moon : 27,000 kg Orion module ("Integrity") * Crew + service mod hgt: 7.92 meters * Pressurized volume : 19.6 m^3 * Mass to the Moon : ~27,000 kg * Return mass at landing: ~10,400 kg (6500kg srvc mod, 1000kg adpt. discard) * Propellant usage : ~ 9,000 kg CUBESATS DISPENSED All are 12U CubeSats from international partners tied to the Artemis Accords. Independent missions and trajectories once released on Day 1. 1. ATENEA (Argentina space agency, CONAE) Studies: Radiation environment, shielding techniques, communication systems Goal : Improve future deep-space mission design 2. TACHELES (Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)) Focus : Testing electronics and components Goal : Validating tech for future lunar vehicles and infrastructure 3. K-RadCube (South Korea, Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA)) Mission: Measure space radiation using materials that mimic human tissue Goal : Study biological effects of radiation in space 4. Space Weather CubeSat-1 (Saudi Arabia, Saudi Space Agency) Studies: Solar radiation, magnetic fields, space weather conditions in high Earth orbit SPACECRAFT TRAJECTORY: Post-launch Orion II trajectory data from NASA/JSC navigation (concatenated). Trajectory data starts after nominal ICPS separation, 3h24m18s after launch: Trajectory name Start (TDB) Stop (TDB) ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- Orion_OEM_20260401_0335.V0.1 2026-Apr-02 01:59 2026-Apr-02 03:27 Orion_OEM_20260402_1414.V0.1 2026-Apr-02 03:27 2026-Apr-02 12:45 Orion_OEM_20260403_0318.V0.3 2026-Apr-02 12:45 2026-Apr-03 00:03 EPH_OEM_20260403_1626.V0.1 2026-Apr-03 00:03 2026-Apr-03 17:36 NoBurn_Orion_OEM_20260404_2046.V0.1 2026-Apr-03 17:36 2026-Apr-04 11:58 traj_em2_260404-260406_260405_od011v1 2026-Apr-04 11:58 2026-Apr-05 02:45 Orion_OEM_20260405_1125.V0.1 2026-Apr-05 02:45 2026-Apr-05 04:35 Orion_OEM_20260406_1028.V0.1 2026-Apr-05 04:35 2026-Apr-05 23:59 JPL_od014v1_260406_07_dco096_0515 2026-Apr-05 23:59 2026-Apr-06 17:35 Orion_OEM_20260408_0223.V0.1 2026-Apr-06 17:35 2026-Apr-08 04:38 Orion_OEM_20260408_1023.V0.1 2026-Apr-08 04:38 2026-Apr-08 14:31 Orion_OEM_20260409_0312.V0.1 2026-Apr-08 14:31 2026-Apr-09 09:24 Orion_OEM_20260410_0411.V0.1 2026-Apr-09 09:24 2026-Apr-10 06:24 Orion_OEM_20260410_0908.V0.1 2026-Apr-10 06:24 2026-Apr-10 23:51 ******************************************************************************* No ephemeris for target "Artemis II (spacecraft)" prior to A.D. 2026-APR-02 01:57:23.1193 UT