Liftoff at 6:35 pm ET on April 2 saw a Space Launch System rocket lift an Orion capsule from Earth, carrying Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
The journey to the moon is not straightforward. After launch, the first stage of the SLS separated, leaving the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) upper stage and the Orion capsule orbiting Earth for 23 hours. Only then did the ICPS separate from the Orion, initiating the true lunar odyssey.
The halfway point occurs on April 6 when Artemis II will travel approximately 10,300 kilometers beyond the moon, breaking previous records set by Apollo 13. The closest approach to the lunar surface will be 7,400 kilometers during a flyby of the far side.
The spacecraft won’t orbit the moon but will use a gravitational slingshot to return Earth, tracing a figure-eight path between the two celestial bodies for an optimized reentry trajectory even in case of engine failure. Reentry is set for April 11, with the capsule ditching into the Pacific Ocean and recovery by the US Navy.
