Home / Science / Artemis II: Humanity's Lunar Return Begins
Artemis II: Humanity's Lunar Return Begins
9 Mar
Summary
- Artemis II is NASA's first crewed lunar mission since Apollo.
- The mission will test key rocket and spacecraft systems.
- Public can track the Orion spacecraft's journey in real-time.
Artemis II is poised to make history as NASA's inaugural crewed lunar mission since the groundbreaking Apollo program. This ambitious endeavor is designed as a critical test flight, spanning approximately 10 days and carrying four astronauts on a trajectory around the Moon.
The mission's primary objective is to validate the performance of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft, alongside essential support systems. These elements are vital for future lunar operations and deep space exploration.
For the first time, the public can actively participate in tracking the mission's progress. NASA has launched the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW), allowing anyone with internet access to monitor Orion's location and view real-time data. This feature will be active from liftoff until the spacecraft's reentry.
AROW provides detailed insights into Orion's position relative to both Earth and the Moon. It will also highlight key mission milestones and information about lunar landing sites from the Apollo era. A companion mobile app enhances this experience with an augmented reality tracker.
