Artemis II: An unprecedented path
Astronauts on NASA's Orion spacecraft will embark on a lunar journey that looks different from the Apollo missions years ago. Here's what's in store.
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TO THE MOON
1. Liftoff: The Orion capsule launches atop a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
2. Low Earth orbit: While circling Earth, Orion’s service module deploys solar arrays
3. Perigee raise maneuver: The SLS rocket’s second stage boosts Orion's path higher
4. Apogee raise burn: A second engine burn pushes Orion into high Earth orbit
5. Orbital testing: After Orion separates from the SLS rocket’s second stage, astronauts take control of the capsule to briefly test its maneuvering abilities
6. Translunar injection: Orion's service module fires its main engine to put the spacecraft on a path to the moon
7. Outbound coasting phase: Orion spends four days heading toward the moon, making small corrections to its trajectory as needed
8. Lunar flyby: The Orion capsule passes just a few thousand miles from the moon's surface
9. Heading toward home: The Orion capsule begins its four-day return trip
10. Service module separation: The Orion capsule jettisons its service module, which is not needed for the final phase of the mission
11. Reentry & splashdown: After reentering the thick inner band of Earth’s atmosphere, Orion deploys a series of parachutes and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean
BACK TO EARTH
10
11
3
2
1
8
7
4
9
5
6
TO THE MOON
1. Liftoff: The Orion capsule launches atop a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
2. Low Earth orbit: While circling Earth, Orion’s service module deploys solar arrays
3. Perigee raise maneuver: The SLS rocket’s second stage boosts Orion's path higher
4. Apogee raise burn: A second engine burn pushes Orion into high Earth orbit
5. Orbital testing: After Orion separates from the SLS rocket’s second stage, astronauts take control of the capsule to briefly test its maneuvering abilities
6. Translunar injection: Orion's service module fires its main engine to put the spacecraft on a path to the moon
7. Outbound coasting phase: Orion spends four days heading toward the moon, making small corrections to its trajectory as needed
8. Lunar flyby: The Orion capsule passes just a few thousand miles from the moon's surface
9. Heading toward home: The Orion capsule begins its four-day return trip
10. Service module separation: The Orion capsule jettisons its service module, which is not needed for the final phase of the mission
11. Reentry & splashdown: After reentering the thick inner band of Earth’s atmosphere, Orion deploys a series of parachutes and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean
BACK TO EARTH
10
11
3
2
1
8
4
7
9
5
6
TO THE MOON
1. Liftoff: The Orion capsule launches atop a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
2. Low Earth orbit: While circling Earth, Orion’s service module deploys solar arrays
3. Perigee raise maneuver: The SLS rocket’s second stage boosts Orion's path higher
4. Apogee raise burn: A second engine burn pushes Orion into high Earth orbit
5. Orbital testing: After Orion separates from the SLS rocket’s second stage, astronauts take control of the capsule to briefly test its maneuvering abilities
6. Translunar injection: Orion's service module fires its main engine to put the spacecraft on a path to the moon
7. Outbound coasting phase: Orion spends four days heading toward the moon, making small corrections to its trajectory as needed
8. Lunar flyby: The Orion capsule passes just a few thousand miles from the moon's surface
9. Heading toward home: The Orion capsule begins its four-day return trip
10. Service module separation: The Orion capsule jettisons its service module, which is not needed for the final phase of the mission
11. Reentry & splashdown: After reentering the thick inner band of Earth’s atmosphere, Orion deploys a series of parachutes and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean
BACK TO EARTH
