Complete Timeline of the Artemis II Mission: Download the Calendar
The Artemis II mission marks humanity's return to the vicinity of the Moon[cite: 562]. Because launch windows in the aerospace industry can vary, we have created this interactive tool[cite: 563].
Just enter the estimated launch date and time, and we will generate an
.ics file with the 45 key mission milestones calculated to the minute, ready to add to your personal calendar[cite: 564].⚙️ Artemis II Mission Simulator
T- 04:20:43
Pad Preparations
🚶♂️ Crew Walkout
Astronauts exit the O&C building and board the Astrovan transport vehicles to the pad.
Phase: PrelaunchAttitude: Pad 39B
Next: 🧑🚀 Capsule Ingress
(Starts in 0d 01:05:43)
(Starts in 0d 01:05:43)
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Below, we explain in detail what happens during each of these critical moments throughout the 9-day mission[cite: 565]. The times are marked in MET (Mission Elapsed Time), which indicates the
Days/Hours:Minutes elapsed from the exact moment of liftoff[cite: 566].1. 🚀 Liftoff (Ascent) - MET 00/00:00 [cite: 567]
The official start of the mission clock[cite: 567]. The RS-25 engines and the SLS rocket boosters come to life to lift the Orion capsule from the Kennedy Space Center[cite: 568].
2. 🌬️ Cabin Depress - MET 00/00:30 [cite: 569]
The crew performs the "Start Cabin Depress DFTO 3, 2" test[cite: 569]. They partially depressurize the cabin to check the proper functioning of their life support spacesuits[cite: 570].
3. 🔥 Perigee Raise Maneuver (ICPS PRM) - MET 00/00:50 [cite: 571]
The cryogenic upper stage (ICPS) performs its first burn to stabilize the initial orbit around Earth[cite: 571].
4. 🔥 Apogee Raise Burn (ARB TIG) - MET 00/01:48 [cite: 572]
The engine fires again for the Apogee Raise Burn (ARB)[cite: 572]. This maneuver elongates the orbit, pushing the furthest point from Earth to thousands of kilometers[cite: 573].
5. 🧑🚀 Doff Survival Suits (Doff OCSS) - MET ~00/02:30 [cite: 574]
Once in a stable orbit, the astronauts take off their heavy orange Orion Crew Survival System suits to be more comfortable in the cabin[cite: 574].
6. 🔗 Orion/ICPS Separation - MET 00/03:24 [cite: 575]
The Orion spacecraft physically disconnects from the upper stage via a spring system (Spring Sep)[cite: 575].
7. 🛰️ Prox Ops Demo (Orion USS) - MET 00/04:52 [cite: 576]
The astronauts test Orion's manual control system using the discarded stage as a visual reference point[cite: 576].
8. 📷 Docking Camera Alignment - MET 00/04:57 [cite: 577]
The Dock Cam Bearing is calibrated and tested[cite: 577]. It is a fundamental rehearsal to verify that optical systems will correctly guide future crews during docking maneuvers[cite: 578].
9. 🗑️ ICPS Disposal Burn - MET 00/05:02 [cite: 579]
The ICPS stage fires its engines one last time to move into a safe trajectory and avoid interfering with Orion[cite: 579].
10. ☀️ Solar Panel Deployment - MET 00/05:27 [cite: 580]
The Service Module deploys its four solar panels (SPL Deploys) to generate the necessary electrical power for the spacecraft[cite: 580].
11. 📡 OpComm Initial Activation - MET 00/10:06 [cite: 581]
The laser optical communications systems (OpComm Intl Act) are activated to test broadband data transmission in space[cite: 581].
12. 🔥 Orion Perigee Raise Burn (PRB) - MET 00/13:45 [cite: 582]
Orion fires its Service Module's main engine to perform a final orbit adjustment before the lunar trip[cite: 582].
13. 💻 HEO Checkouts - MET ~00/22:00 [cite: 583]
Comprehensive tests of the spacecraft's systems in High Earth Orbit (HEO Sys C/Os) are conducted to confirm everything is ready to leave Earth's gravity[cite: 583].
14. 🌬️ CO2 Monitoring - MET ~00/23:00 [cite: 584]
Environmental life support system test (ECLSS CO2 Monitor DFTO) to ensure the air scrubbers are working perfectly[cite: 584].
15. 🚀 Trans-Lunar Injection (Orion TLI) - MET 01/01:37 [cite: 585]
The most exciting burn of the mission[cite: 585]. The main engine pushes the capsule out of low Earth orbit, accelerating it toward the Moon[cite: 586].
16. 🛠️ Bracket Uninstall - MET ~01/03:00 [cite: 587]
The crew uninstalls brackets and cameras used during the ascent (Asc Bracket Uninstall) to free up space in the cabin[cite: 587].
17. 🔍 Spacecraft Inspection (CM/SM Survey) - MET 01/12:00 [cite: 588]
The astronauts use the solar array cameras to examine the spacecraft's exterior and heat shield[cite: 588].
18. 🛠️ Trajectory Correction (OTC-1) - MET 02/00:07 [cite: 589]
First trajectory correction maneuver heading to the Moon (Outbound Trajectory Correction 1)[cite: 589].
19. 🕹️ HERA Command Test - MET ~02/04:00 [cite: 590]
The crew executes the HERA Command DFTO-EM2-00 test, evaluating the radiation interface and hardware systems[cite: 590].
20. ⚙️ Flywheel Day in the Life - MET ~02/22:00 [cite: 591]
The Flywheel Day in the Life test is performed, verifying the behavior of the capsule's inertial and attitude control systems[cite: 591].
21. 🛠️ Trajectory Correction (OTC-2) - MET 03/00:12 [cite: 592]
Second fine adjustment of the outbound journey using the service module's thrusters[cite: 592].
22. 📞 Emergency Communication Test - MET ~03/06:00 [cite: 593]
The EMER Com DFTO-EM2-22 protocol is carried out to test contingency communication channels with Earth[cite: 593].
23. 📷 Dock Cam Misalign Test - MET 03/15:30 [cite: 594]
Tolerance test on the optical systems (Dock Cam Misalign) to see how the software handles intentional alignment errors[cite: 594].
24. 🛠️ Trajectory Correction (OTC-3) - MET 04/05:23 [cite: 595]
The last correction burn (Outbound Trajectory Correction 3) before reaching the lunar vicinity[cite: 595].
25. 🌑 Lunar Sphere of Influence Entry - MET 04/06:59 [cite: 596]
The Orion spacecraft crosses the mathematical boundary (Lunar SOI Entry) where the Moon's gravity becomes stronger than Earth's[cite: 596].
26. 🏆 Distance Record (Apollo 13) - MET 04/21:02 [cite: 597]
The crew surpasses the maximum distance reached by humans, breaking the historical record set by Apollo 13[cite: 597].
27. 🔭 Lunar Observations - MET ~04/22:00 [cite: 597]
As they approach, the astronauts dedicate time to perform visual observations of the lunar surface (Lunar Obs)[cite: 597].
28. 🌕 Lunar Close Approach - MET 05/01:23 [cite: 598]
Closest point to the surface during the flyby over the far side (Lunar Close Approach)[cite: 598]. Contact with Earth is lost for a few minutes[cite: 599].
29. 🌌 Max Earth Distance - MET 05/01:26 [cite: 599]
Just a few minutes after passing the Moon, the spacecraft reaches the furthest point from Earth in the entire mission (Max Earth Distance)[cite: 599].
30. 📡 SAT Mode Test - MET 05/07:05 [cite: 600]
Comprehensive satellite telecommunications tests (SAT Mode Test) to guarantee the link with the Deep Space Network[cite: 600].
31. 🔍 Spacecraft Inspection 2 (CM/SM Survey) - MET 05/12:45 [cite: 601]
Second complete external review of the capsule to ensure the heat shield remains intact for the return journey[cite: 601].
32. 🌍 Lunar Sphere of Influence Exit (SOI Exit) - MET 05/19:47 [cite: 602]
Orion crosses the gravitational threshold once again[cite: 602]. Earth becomes the dominant celestial body[cite: 603].
33. 🏃♂️ ECLSS Exercise - MET ~05/21:00 [cite: 603]
The astronauts perform the Min ECLSS Exercise, pushing the air scrubber and temperature systems to the limit while doing physical exercise[cite: 603].
34. 🛠️ Return Correction (RTC-1) - MET 06/04:23 [cite: 604]
The Return Trajectory Correction 1 adjusts the initial trajectory to ensure a correct reentry angle[cite: 604].
35. ☢️ Radiation Shelter Demo - MET ~06/22:00 [cite: 605]
The crew executes the Rad Shelter Demo, building the solar storm shelter inside the cabin using supplies and seats[cite: 605].
36. 💧 Urine Venting Test - MET ~07/04:00 [cite: 606]
The liquid expulsion system is tested (Urine venting DFTO EM2-26) venting out into the vacuum of space[cite: 606].
37. 💻 Flight Control Checkouts - MET 07/17:30 [cite: 607]
The crew activates the Flight Control System (FCS Checkouts) to ensure the computers are ready for reentry[cite: 607].
38. 🧑🚀 Suit Up (OSG Don) - MET ~07/21:00 [cite: 608]
The astronauts put on their orange survival suits again (OSG Don DFTO) in preparation for the intense G-forces of landing[cite: 608].
39. 🛠️ Return Correction (RTC-2) - MET 08/04:33 [cite: 609]
A new millimetric fine adjustment on the return path toward the Pacific Ocean[cite: 609].
40. 🌬️ Cabin Repressurization - MET ~08/12:00 [cite: 610]
Air is injected to repressurize the cabin to standard Earth sea-level (Repress to 14.7 psi)[cite: 610].
41. 🎒 Entry Stow - MET ~08/16:00 [cite: 611]
All loose equipment, trash, and experiments are secured firmly in their compartments (Entry Stow) so they don't become projectiles[cite: 611].
42. 🛠️ Return Correction (RTC-3) - MET 08/20:33 [cite: 612]
The last critical adjustment (Return Trajectory Correction 3) before the Service Module is discarded[cite: 612].
43. 🔗 Service Module Separation - MET 09/01:13 [cite: 613]
The European Service Module (ESM) separates and is discarded (CM/SM Sep) to burn up in the atmosphere, leaving the capsule alone[cite: 613].
44. 🔥 Entry Interface (Reentry) - MET 09/01:33 [cite: 614]
The capsule hits the atmosphere at speeds approaching Mach 32 (Entry Interface)[cite: 614]. The heat shield endures extreme temperatures, and the radio signal is temporarily lost[cite: 615].
45. 🌊 Splashdown - MET 09/01:46 [cite: 616]
After deploying the parachutes, the Orion capsule impacts the waters of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California[cite: 616]. End of the mission[cite: 617].
References
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