Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) ✅🚀🛰️"What do scientists hope to learn from NASA's historic Artemis 2 moon flyby?" by @Spacecom - #Science objectives of #NASA #Artemis2 include space medicine, radiation sensors and observations of the far side of the Moon which were not in daylight during any Apollo missions. But the big thing is testing the spacecraft on its first flight with a crew, so that's not all new on Moon landing missions. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/what-do-scientists-hope-to-learn-from-nasas-historic-artemis-2-moon-flyby #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space #rocketry
Now under 2 hours to opening of the launch window for #NASA #Artemis2. Here's what to expect when the rocket launches, whether today or another upcoming launch window. #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
#NASA #Artemis2 coverage says there are no issues with the rocket. But the launch range (Cape Canaveral Space Force Station) is currently "no go" while working a technical issue related to the flight termination system. (Every big rocket has a system to destruct the rocket if it goes off course toward a populated area.) It is not yet known if this can or will be resolved before the launch window closes. If it is, everything else is still go. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
Countdown holding at T-10 minutes for various readings that need another look. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
Pre-launch poll of directors is "go", T-10 minutes and counting: ground launch system computer takes over for terminal count. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
T+01:10 Now beyond the point of maximum dynamic pressure "Max Q". #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
T+8 minutes several sequential events: SLS core stage main engine cutoff and stage separation. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
Now in Earth orbit, coasting up to higher altitude before next rocket burns which will raise perigee (low point of the orbit) and then apogee (high point of the orbit). Next: solar panels will deploy at T+20. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
The fast-paced part of the flight is done and appeared nominal (good). After solar panel deployment and two rocket burns to stabilize in high Earth orbit, they'll assess the readiness of the spacecraft to proceed to the Moon. Watch for the "translunar injection burn" TLI (rocket firing) after T plus one day 1 hour for leaving Earth orbit on a trajectory to circle the Moon. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
T+20:00 Orion solar arrays deployed. This was a necessary test that had to pass in order to continue the mission. (animation erroneously depicts rocket engine firing - it is in coast) #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
"NASA launches 4 astronauts to the moon on historic Artemis 2 voyage, a lunar leap for the 21st century" by @Spacecom - For the first time in over 50 years, astronauts launch on the way to the Moon. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasa-launches-4-astronauts-to-the-moon-on-historic-artemis-2-voyage-a-lunar-leap-for-the-21st-century #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
T+49 minutes: perigee raise maneuver (1381×115 statute miles) - entry to safe orbit. NASA is concluding the NASA+ stream coverage but continues on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR2KK8TEs #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
A little orbital dynamics for those interested in the #NASA #Artemis2 mission:
To raise the perigee (low point) of an orbit, the rockets have to be fired at apogee (high point). That part is done.
Conversely, to raise the apogee (high point), rockets are fired at perigee (low point). That's coming up.
#Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
To raise the perigee (low point) of an orbit, the rockets have to be fired at apogee (high point). That part is done.
Conversely, to raise the apogee (high point), rockets are fired at perigee (low point). That's coming up.
#Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
Views of Earth sent down from Orion as #NASA #Artemis2 approaches the second orbit-raising maneuver when it reaches perigee. #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
"‘Let’s go!’ NASA launches humanity’s first moon voyage in nearly 54 years" by GeekWire / @AlanBoyle - Successful launch of #SLS🚀 & #Orion so far to high Earth orbit. Comparisons made to Apollo 8 of 1968 which tested the Apollo systems around the Moon. This flight will fly around the Moon at a greater distance which means moving more slowly around it. https://www.geekwire.com/2026/nasa-countdown-artemis-moon-2/ #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #space
#NASA #Artemis2 post-launch news conference just concluded. No surprises but plenty of additional details. Statements from managers and answers to questions from reporters will fuel many news articles this evening. #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #SLS🚀 #Orion #space
"Artemis II Flight Update: Apogee Raise Burn Complete, Crew Looks Ahead to Proximity Operations" by #NASA #Artemis - Second orbit-raising maneuver complete. "Blinking fault light" on the toilet is being worked on. Preparation for "proximity operations" after detaching from 2nd stage, testing maneuverability of Orion as if the stage is a docking target like a future lander. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/01/artemis-ii-flight-update-apogee-raise-burn-complete-crew-looks-ahead-to-proximity-operations/ #Artemis2 #Moon🌕️️️️️ #Orion #space
"Artemis II Flight Day 2: Crew, Houston Poll ‘Go’ for Translunar Injection Burn" by #NASA #Artemis - TLI burn scheduled 7:49pm Eastern/4:49pm Pacific and will last 5min 49sec. Once complete, the speed and direction (trajectory) commits the spacecraft to fly by the Moon. No turning back until the gravity of the Moon turns it around. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/02/artemis-ii-flight-day-2-crew-houston-poll-go-for-translunar-injection-burn/ #Artemis2 #Moon🌕 #Orion #space
Translunar Injection #TLI burn complete. NASA mission coverage reports "looks like a good burn". This positions Orion to fly by the Moon and return to Earth without an additional de-orbit burn. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️ #Orion #space
"Orion moonship fires up its engines to leave Earth behind" by @cosmiclog / @alanboyle - #NASA #Artemis2 highlight of flight day 1 was translunar injection #TLI rocket burn to add speed to leave Earth orbit & fly around the Moon. Problems fixed including a pump on the space toilet that needed water. Alan linked to an article he wrote 13 years ago as NBC Science Editor on how Apollo 10 showed NASA's need for a real toilet. https://cosmiclog.com/2026/04/02/orion-moonship-fires-up-its-engines-to-leave-earth-behind/ #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕️️ #Orion #space
"Hello, World" by #NASA #Artemis - photo📷 by #Artemis2 commander Reid Wiseman🧑🚀 after translunar injection #TLI burn, showing Earth's night side viewed from over the Atlantic near 0°N latitude 0°E longitude, eclipsing the Sun and lit by the nearly-full Moon. Green aurora are at both the north and south. Zodiacal light (dust reflecting sunlight along the solar system's plane) behind the Earth on lower right from this view. https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/hello-world/ #Moon🌖 #Orion #space #astronomy #astrophotography
"Moon-bound astronauts capture glorious views of Earth" by @cosmiclog / @alanboyle - Photos by #NASA #Artemis2 astronauts are delivering on #spacegeek expectations and everyone's sense of wonder from the views they have up there, currently on the way to the Moon. https://cosmiclog.com/2026/04/03/moon-bound-astronauts-capture-glorious-views-of-earth/ #Artemis #Moon🌕️️️️ #Orion #space
"Artemis II Flight Day 4: Deep-Space Flying, Lunar Flyby Prep" by #NASA #Artemis - Astronauts in their role as test pilots did some maneuvers in deep space to test handling qualities of the spacecraft for better training of future crews. Preparation for Monday's busy timeline of 6 hours of closest pass to the Moon. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/04/artemis-ii-flight-day-4-deep-space-flying-lunar-flyby-prep/ #Artemis2 #Moon🌕️️️️ #Orion #space
"Orion crosses the halfway point in journey to the moon" by @cosmiclog / @alanboyle - #NASA #Artemis2 status at half way to the Moon includes more manual piloting tasks for training future crews on spacecraft handling qualities. The crew reported that the Moon's appearance changed enough with part of the far side coming into view that they notice it's different from our familiar view of the Moon from Earth. https://cosmiclog.com/2026/04/04/orion-crosses-the-halfway-point-in-journey-to-the-moon/ #Artemis #Moon🌕 #Orion #space
"Artemis II astronauts will be the first humans to get a full view this strange bullseye on the far side of the Moon" by BBC Sky at Night @skyatnightmag - The massive multi-ring impact basin Mare Orientale is mostly obscured from Earth. It was in darkness on all Apollo flights, preferring full moon (sunlight on the side facing Earth) out of caution. It has been imaged by robotic probes. Monday is first time seen by Human eyes. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-missions/artemis-ii-astronauts-mare-orientale #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕 #Orion #space
"How to watch the Artemis crew fly around the moon" by @cosmiclog / @alanboyle - Timeline of today's lunar fly-by events (listed in US Pacific Time). There are many streaming services offering live video - but NASA Plus is the primary source. https://cosmiclog.com/2026/04/05/how-to-watch-the-artemis-crew-fly-around-the-moon/ #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #Moon🌕 #Orion #space
Heard on the #NASA #Artemis2 coverage: understandably tearful words from commander Reid Wiseman requesting an unnamed crater in their view to be named after his late wife Carroll. Also requested another crater in view to be named for their spacecraft Integrity. After a brief pause, the crew returned to science objectives of the lunar fly-by. #Artemis #Moon🌕 #Orion #space
"Artemis II Flight Day 6: Crew Ready for Lunar Flyby" by #NASA #Artemis - A message recorded by Apollo 8 astronaut and Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell before his passing in 2025 was played to the #Artemis2 crew after waking up for lunar fly-by day. As he intended, the torch has been passed. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-flight-day-6-crew-ready-for-lunar-flyby/ #Moon🌕 #Orion #space
Heard on #NASA #Artemis2 coverage: astronaut Christina Koch observed small newer craters look "so bright compared to the rest of the Moon." The spacecraft internal lighting was turned off to help their eyes adjust better to dim reflected light of the Moon for observations. #Artemis #Moon🌕 #Orion #space
JocelynI was wondering, why this timing wrt to lunar phase? Most of the far side is in the dark. Is grazing light on part of it better than a fully lit far side ?
@cyclotopie They knew they weren't going to get to completely choose the lunar phase because weather could delay launches. So they picked the initial series of launch windows to have increasing light on the far side of the Moon. They ended up with the first launch window so it's early in the set they chose, with less light on the far side but still enough for new science targets not seen by Apollo.
@AstroHawk
Makes sense, thanks!
Makes sense, thanks!