Orion spacecraft
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Orion spacecraft.- NASA's initial takeaways from the Artemis II mission, and more science storiesNASA is analyzing the performance of the Artemis II mission, which successfully sent four astronauts to the moon and back. Initial assessments of the Orion spacecraft's heat shield and the SLS rocket indicate they performed well, though issues with the toilet system are being investigated. Astronauts Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman have shared insights and videos from the mission, including a view of Earthset.
- How to watch the Artemis II landingNASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego today at approximately 8:07 PM ET, concluding a nine-day trip around the Moon. The Orion spacecraft, carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, will undergo a critical re-entry phase, facing extreme temperatures. NASA will stream the landing on YouTube and NASA+, with broadcasts also available on Netflix and HBO Max starting at 6:30 PM ET.
- Artemis II arrives in lunar space ahead of its trip around the MoonThe Artemis II spacecraft, carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, has entered the Moon's sphere of influence. The mission is set to loop around the far side of the Moon, taking humans farther from Earth than ever before, surpassing the Apollo 13 record. The crew is preparing for a lunar flyby and observation period, with the spacecraft's closest approach to the Moon expected on April 6.
- NASA shares breathtaking images of Artemis II astronauts taking in the view from Orion's windowsNASA has shared new images of the Artemis II astronauts gazing at Earth from the Orion spacecraft as they prepare for their lunar flyby. The mission is set to reach its farthest point from Earth on Monday, April 6, surpassing the Apollo 13 record. The crew will also witness a solar eclipse as the Moon passes in front of the Sun.
- Watch the first crewed Artemis mission take flightNASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the Artemis program, is scheduled to launch today, April 1, from the Kennedy Space Center. The 10-day mission will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a trip around the moon to study the effects of deep space travel on human health. This marks humanity's first journey into deep space since the Apollo program, with engineers having completed critical checks on the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.