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Artemis II Launch Thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/nasa@lemmy.world

48 comments fedilink hide all child comments

After over three years, it's finally time for another Artemis launch!

(And the first "Launch Thread" of this community!)

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2026-04-01, 22:35:12 | |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

Stats

Sourced from NextSpaceflight:

☑️ 1st launch from LC-39B this year

☑️ 1232 days, 15:36:16 turnaround for this pad

☑️ 1st SLS launch this year, 2nd overall

☑️ 1st crewed launch of the Orion spacecraft, 3rd overall

☑️ 1st crewed launch beyond LEO since Apollo 17 in 1972, 10th crewed launch beyond LEO overall

Mission info

NextSpaceflight

Artemis II will send four astronauts in the first crewed Orion capsule in a lunar free return trajectory for a 10-day mission. The commander of the mission is Reid Weisman (NASA), the pilot Victor Glover (NASA), and the two mission specialists are Christina Koch (NASA) and Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency, CSA). Christina Koch will become the first woman to venture beyond Low Earth Orbit, and Jeremy Hansen will become the first non-American to achieve the milestone. The Orion capsule used in this mission, CM-003, was named Integrity by the Artemis II astronauts.

Because of the hydrogen boil-off due to the increased time spent in a LEO parking orbit compared to Artemis I, the mission will use a multi-translunar injection (MTLI), or multiple departure burns, to perform the translunar injection burn. The burn will be partially completed by the ICPS 2nd stage before being fully completed by the European Service Module (ESM) on the following orbit.

Artemis II Cubesats

4 CubeSat missions were selected as secondary payloads on Artemis II. They will reside within the Orion Stage Adapter from which they will be deployed after Orion has separated.

The selected cubesats are:

TACHELES from the German space agency DLR

ATENEA from Argentina’s space agency CONAE

K-RadCube from the Korea AeroSpace Administration

Space Weather CubeSat-1 from the Saudi Space Agency

Feel free to post launch updates, discussions, questions, etc. in the comments!

all 49 comments

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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 13 hours ago

Orbital info from Jonathan McDowell:

https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3mii5fbohic2g

Integrity will reach a 70385 km apogee at about 1200 UTC Apr 2, before falling back to perigee where it will make the rocket burn to send it moonward; that burn due at about 2345 UTC Apr 2.

https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3miieglaq322a

Orion has made the USS2 burn to raise its perigee. ICPS remains in a 11 x 70358 km orbit; Orion now in a 118 x 70134 km orbit.

https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3miiehtrsvs2a

The ICPS stage has now made a disposal burn and will reenter over the Pacific east of Hawaii sometime around 2330 UTC Apr 2.

https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3miiel5szw22a

Four cubesats (from Germany, S Korea, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia) were ejected from the ICPS stage at about 0405 UTC.
Each cubesat will need to quickly make a perigee raising burn if they are not to reenter along with the ICPS, which seems a weird mission design choice.

https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3miieln36z22a

Next major Artemis 2 milestone is a perigee-raise rocket burn carried out at 1130 UTC, near apogee. Resulting orbit will be around 191 x 70133 km.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 17 hours ago

They are currently conducting proximity operations between Orion and ICPS.

I wish we could see the screens a bit better... :)

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 14 hours ago

"Stowage question: We are having difficulty locating new comfort garments for Christine and Jeremy."

Translation: "Where did you pack our pyjamas?"

[–] pageflight@piefed.social 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Live view from Orion now showing the astronauts as they prepare for some manouvers.

[–] pageflight@piefed.social 1 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

And separation. Interesting to hear their commentary on the noise levels, one was "much quieter than in the sim." The official broadcast includes the docking cam view.

ETA: More about the rendezvous target guides on the ICP. Someone even published files to 3D print yourself one.

[–] Zoot@reddthat.com 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Thank you for the constant updates! I logged off after the ARB, they were going over checks and finishing their thermal role.

Do you know if they ever fixed the toilet??

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 14 hours ago

Yes, the toilet has been fixed!

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 18 hours ago

ICPS separation confirmed!

[–] mech@feddit.org 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Oh fuck, Artemis is running on Windows 10...

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 5 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Hopefully they opted into "extended support". There's a joke about the mission being delayed past the lifetime of the operating system in here somewhere...

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 21 hours ago

SRB separation confirmed!

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 21 hours ago

Liftoff!

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 21 hours ago

Countdown has resumed, new T-0 scheduled for 18:35:12 EDT.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 21 hours ago

Holding at T-10 minutes.

[–] QuiteQuickQum@lemmy.world 2 points 20 hours ago

Travel well, Travelers!

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Solar array deploy and ~~perigee raise manoeuvre burn~~ in progress.

Edit, correction: Perigee raise manoeuvre burn is scheduled for T+49:52. The onscreen graphics appear to show the ICPS firing right now, but this is not the case.

Edit2: They've just rescheduled the perigee raise manoeuvre to T+49:48.

[–] pageflight@piefed.social 1 points 18 hours ago

Is there a more detailed tracker than https://artemistracker.com/ ?

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 21 hours ago

Nominal MECO, core stage separated!

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Under T-20 minutes now.

There was an issue with one of the two batteries for the launch escape system, but the issue has been cleared. Edit: Most probable conclusion appears to be a faulty sensor, not the battery itself.

Weather looking good.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 19 hours ago

Huh, they're running two simultaneous webcasts now:

NASA's Artemis II Live Mission Coverage (This one is currently a news conference)
NASA's Artemis II Live Views from Orion (This one has mission control and crew audio comms!)

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Sounds like they're setting up the toilet!

"Huston - Integrity, for toilet setup, step 2.5. There was not an installed oxon inlet filter, even with empty oxone, in the hose, when I opened up the filter."

Edit: Okay good, they have spare filters.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The crew are en route to the pad.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Hell yes!

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

ICPS cutoff confirmed, good perigee raise manoeuvre.

Apogee raise burn scheduled for around T+01:48:48.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago

ICPS ignition confirmed.

[–] mech@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Let's hope the untested heat shield holds, despite its previous version blowing chunks in 100 places and melting 3 out of 4 key separation bolts during re-entry.
Can't believe they actually put people on that thing.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What are your thoughts on Eric Berger's take on this? Is changing the reentry profile a reasonable solution?

[–] mech@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

I'm uncomfortable with the fact they put humans on a spacecraft without testing that exact build of heat shield and that exact re-entry profile with an unmanned craft beforehand.
Modifying the heat shield and re-entry profile and putting people on the very first flight with this new configuration doesn't seem very safety-conscious.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Looks like liquid hydrogen has been loaded on both stages, LOX load complete on the core stage, topping off the ICPS.

[–] mech@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Do you think the astronauts have filled their diapers, yet?

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 4 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

I'm gonna give you a semi answer because I think it's a semi serious question.

In my youth I used to fight (in the ring). Your bowels are fully empty in the run up to someone who has trained for years trying to kick the shit out of you in the next few hours so I'd imagine it's the same for heading into space.

[–] mech@feddit.org 4 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

It was a semi-serious question because I know the answer.
They're strapped in for 5+ hours with their legs above their bodies.
Which increases urine production.
And they're well-hydrated to stay alert and concentrated.
It's physiologically impossible to hold your pee in in that situation, and that's fine. NASA planned for it.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 5 points 21 hours ago

There's that and adrenaline makes you pee quite frequently too.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What a deeply interesting question that surely hasn't been asked before on any mission. They have a loo on board (as I've learnt watching the stream).

[–] mech@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago

Yeah, but they can't use it right now.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What's the difference between tanking and fueling? Might be a language issue, not a native speaker.

Also, I am entirely overwhelmed with all these livestreams all showing different views, my brain wants to watch them all at once. Fucking fomo.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

between tanking and fueling?

Mostly two terms for the same process. Technically "tanking" might be slightly more accurate, as oxidiser has to be loaded into the tanks as well as fuel.

entirely overwhelmed with all these livestreams all showing different views

Yeah, we are definitely spoiled for choice on this launch :)

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Looks like it'll be ~90 minutes later than scheduled from that live stream which says just under 4 hours from now.

Edit: they've moved it up so under an hour from this edit

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 22 hours ago

T-1 hour. Crew are onboard Orion.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Nice. I have an alarm set. Thanks for the stream links!

[–] mech@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

So what do the astronauts actually do the entire time?
Since NASA is perfectly capable of flying the spacecraft unmanned on the same mission?

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Eh, they'll be doing a mix of science, public outreach, and testing systems on the spacecraft.

While Orion can fly uncrewed just fine (after all, that's what Artemis I was), there are some observations which are easier to make with a human in the loop.

[–] pageflight@piefed.social 2 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Scott Manley has a nice walkthrough of the whole mission. Some activities: do experiments, use exercise equipment, try out docking maneuvers, practice recognizing / photographing features on the lunar surface as they fly by (essentially as ^ said).

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I'd feel better if they'd push it off until at least tomorrow. April Fool's day is too jinxy.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago

Jeff Foust: https://bsky.app/profile/jfoust.bsky.social/post/3mieosgze3k2l

Artemis 2 weather forecast is 80% go for Wednesday. If launch slips: 70% go Thursday, 75% Friday, 70% Saturday.

[–] mech@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Are there any streams that aren't on youtube?

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It looks like NASA+ will have a livestream on their own player, starting in just under an hour: https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/nasas-artemis-ii-crew-launches-to-the-moon-official-broadcast/

[–] mech@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Thanks!
Edit: Oh well, they just embedded the youtube stream on their website.