COUNTDOWN
9 days 3 hours 15 mins
Launch: Apr 1, 2026 00:21 UTC
Splashdown: ~Apr 11, 2026
Launch: Apr 1, 2026 00:21 UTC
Splashdown: ~Apr 11, 2026
NEXT ACTIVITY
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24/7 live coverage of our Artemis II mission around the Moon continues. Learn where to watch: https://t.co/fAg0bGAqEc https://t.co/y2V6emNkvh
| Countdown | ||||
| L-49:50:00 | Launch team arrives at stations | 10m | ||
| L-49:40:00 | Countdown clock begins | |||
| L-10:00:00 | Weather briefing, readiness assessment | 1h | ||
| L-08:00:00 | Begin propellant loading (756,000 gal) | 8h | ||
| L-04:00:00 | Crew boards Orion | 4h | ||
| L-00:40:00 | Built-in 30-minute hold begins | 30m | ||
| T-00:10:00 | Terminal countdown — switch to internal power | 9m | ||
| T-00:00:33 | Automated Launch Sequencer takes over | 27s | ||
| T-00:00:06 | RS-25 engines start (4 engines sequentially) | 6s | ||
| T-00:00:00 | RS-25s to 109%, SRBs ignite, umbilicals sep, LIFTOFF | |||
| Ascent | ||||
| T+00:00:07 | Tower clear, initiate roll/pitch maneuver | 2s | ||
| T+00:00:55 | Mach 1 | |||
| T+00:01:11 | Max dynamic pressure (Max Q) | |||
| T+00:02:04 | RS-25s commanded to 85% for SRB separation | 4s | ||
| T+00:02:08 | SRB separation (explosive bolts) | 4s | ||
| T+00:02:08 | RS-25s back to 109% | 2s | ||
| T+00:03:28 | LAS jettison | 5s | ||
| T+00:06:10 | SRB Atlantic splashdown (~140 mi off Florida) | 4m | ||
| T+00:07:01 | Max acceleration / Max G | |||
| T+00:08:01 | RS-25s throttle down to 67% | |||
| T+00:08:05 | LAS Atlantic impact | |||
| T+00:08:06 | Core stage MECO (main engine cutoff) | 3s | ||
| T+00:08:18 | Core stage / ICPS separation | 12s | ||
| Earth Orbit & Proximity Ops | ||||
| T+00:49:52 | ICPS perigee raise maneuver (30s burn) | 30s | ||
| T+01:46:37 | ICPS apogee raise burn — into HEO (0x74,080 km) | 20m | ||
| T+02:08:23 | Core stage Pacific splashdown (E of Hawaii) | |||
| T+03:22:46 | ICPS / Orion separation | 1m | ||
| T+03:23:36 | Start proximity ops demo (17 maneuvers, ~70 min) | 1h10m | ||
| T+04:53:15 | Orion departure burn (ESM engine, 2 min) | 2m | ||
| T+04:53:36 | End proximity ops demo | |||
| T+05:00:33 | ICPS disposal burn | 5m | ||
| T+05:20:23 | CubeSat deployment (ATENEA, SW-1, TACHELES, K-Rad) | 10m | ||
| Day 2 • TLI & Outbound | ||||
| T+15:36:00 | Exercise device setup and checkout | 1h | ||
| T+01/01:00:00 | Orion TLI burn — enter lunar free-return trajectory | 18m | ||
| T+01/01:23:01 | ICPS splashdown in Pacific | |||
| T+01/02:06:00 | Mission status briefing (post-TLI) | 30m | ||
| T+01/04:00:00 | Live downlink event | 30m | ||
| Day 3 • Outbound Transit | ||||
| T+01/15:36:00 | First outbound trajectory correction burn (OTC-1) | 5m | ||
| T+01/17:36:00 | CPR demonstration in space | 1h | ||
| T+01/19:36:00 | Deep Space Network emergency comms test | 1h | ||
| T+01/21:06:00 | Mission status briefing | 30m | ||
| T+01/21:36:00 | Rehearsal for Day 6 lunar observations | 2h | ||
| T+02/02:20:00 | Live downlink event | 30m | ||
| Day 4 • Outbound Transit | ||||
| T+02/06:35:00 | Live CSA downlink event | 30m | ||
| T+02/15:36:00 | Second outbound trajectory correction burn (OTC-2) | 5m | ||
| T+02/17:36:00 | Lunar geography target review | 2h | ||
| T+02/19:36:00 | Celestial body photography session | 2h | ||
| T+02/22:10:00 | Live downlink event | 30m | ||
| T+02/22:51:00 | Mission status briefing | 30m | ||
| Day 5 • Lunar Sphere | ||||
| T+03/05:50:00 | Live CSA downlink event | 30m | ||
| T+03/13:36:00 | Enter lunar sphere of influence | |||
| T+03/16:36:00 | Orion Crew Survival System spacesuit testing | 2h | ||
| T+03/19:36:00 | Final outbound trajectory correction burn (OTC-3) | 5m | ||
| T+03/21:06:00 | Mission status briefing | 30m | ||
| Day 6 • Lunar Flyby | ||||
| T+04/18:21:00 | Lunar flyby coverage begins | 1h | ||
| T+04/18:36:00 | Possible farthest-from-Earth record | |||
| T+04/19:21:00 | Lunar flyby live coverage | 15m | ||
| T+04/20:36:00 | CLOSEST LUNAR APPROACH (4,000-6,000 mi) | 15m | ||
| T+04/20:51:00 | LOSS OF SIGNAL — behind Moon (30-50 min) | 40m | ||
| T+04/21:31:00 | ACQUISITION OF SIGNAL — exiting far side | 5m | ||
| T+04/21:36:00 | Far side photography and observations | 2h | ||
| T+05/04:15:00 | Live downlink event | 30m | ||
| Day 7 • Return Transit | ||||
| T+05/13:36:00 | Exit lunar sphere of influence | |||
| T+05/15:36:00 | First return trajectory correction burn (RTC-1) | 5m | ||
| T+05/20:05:00 | Crew conversation with ISS | 30m | ||
| T+05/20:36:00 | Scientist debrief with crew | 1h | ||
| T+05/21:36:00 | Mission status briefing | 30m | ||
| Day 8 • Return Transit | ||||
| T+06/15:36:00 | Radiation shelter construction demonstration | 2h | ||
| T+06/17:36:00 | Manual piloting demo (6-DOF attitude control) | 2h | ||
| T+06/19:36:00 | Manual piloting demo (3-DOF attitude control) | 2h | ||
| T+06/21:06:00 | Mission status briefing | 30m | ||
| T+07/00:45:00 | Live CSA downlink event | 30m | ||
| Day 9 • Reentry Prep | ||||
| T+07/15:36:00 | Reentry procedure study | 2h | ||
| T+07/17:36:00 | Second return trajectory correction burn (RTC-2) | 5m | ||
| T+07/18:36:00 | Waste collection system demo | 1h | ||
| T+07/19:36:00 | Orthostatic intolerance garment fit checks | 1h | ||
| T+07/21:06:00 | Mission status briefing | 30m | ||
| T+07/23:35:00 | Crew news conference | 1h | ||
| T+08/01:30:00 | Live downlink event | 30m | ||
| Day 10 • Splashdown | ||||
| T+08/19:36:00 | Final return trajectory correction burn | 5m | ||
| T+08/21:36:00 | Cabin stow, suits on | 2h | ||
| T+09/00:06:00 | Return and splashdown coverage begins | 1h30m | ||
| T+09/01:06:00 | Service module separation | 1m | ||
| T+09/01:21:00 | Atmospheric reentry (~25,000 mph, ~3,000°F) | 10m | ||
| T+09/01:31:00 | Drogue chutes deploy — slow to ~307 mph | 3m | ||
| T+09/01:34:00 | Main parachutes deploy (3) — slow to ~17 mph | 8m | ||
| T+09/01:42:00 | SPLASHDOWN — Pacific Ocean | |||
| T+09/04:11:00 | Post-splashdown news conference (NASA Johnson) | 30m | ||
