Photo: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center / NASA/ Sam Lott / n/a | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons
Artemis II Orion Reentry Plan Adjusted After Heat‑Shield Issue Found on Artemis I
NASA will fly Artemis II with the same Avcoat heat shield that showed post‑flight damage on Artemis I but, rather than replace it (which officials say would have pushed the program by roughly 18 months), has rejiggered Orion’s return from the prior "skip" profile to a lofted, steeper and faster reentry intended to avoid the temperature‑and‑pressure swings that likely caused the Artemis I char‑loss. The change — backed by wind‑tunnel, laser and hyper‑velocity testing and accepted by managers and the crew — comes as Artemis II completes its lunar flyby and prepares for a high‑energy reentry and Pacific splashdown, with recovery forces standing by and heat‑shield and parachute performance closely monitored.
📌 Key Facts
- Artemis II launched April 1, 2026 with a four‑person crew (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen) aboard Orion on NASA’s Space Launch System; the mission performed a translunar injection, used a free‑return figure‑eight trajectory around the Moon, and returned toward Earth after a successful far‑side flyby.
- During the far‑side pass Orion reached a record human distance (~252,756 miles), experienced roughly 40 minutes of communications blackout, observed a near‑hour solar eclipse, and the crew captured high‑resolution 'Earthset' and far‑side images (including the Orientale basin) for science and planning.
- Post‑flight analysis of uncrewed Artemis I found serious Avcoat heat‑shield damage likely caused by trapped hot‑gas expansion in internal layers (a permeability/thermal‑cycling failure mode); NASA kept the same Avcoat shield on Artemis II rather than replacing it because swapping would have delayed the program by roughly 18 months.
- To mitigate the Artemis I failure mode without replacing the shield, NASA and the crew changed Orion’s reentry plan from the prior 'skip' profile to a 'lofted' (steeper/faster) atmospheric entry intended to avoid the temperature and pressure swings that likely caused the Artemis I damage; NASA emphasized extensive testing and analysis and said teams remain closely monitoring heat‑shield and parachute performance during reentry.
- Reentry is a high‑risk, closely watched phase: Orion will hit the atmosphere at roughly 25,000 mph (about 34,965 ft/s) with peak heating near ~5,000°F, include a brief communications blackout during peak heating, and require deployment of drogue and main parachutes for a Pacific splashdown off Southern California (NASA live coverage and Navy recovery operations led by USS John P. Murtha are in place).
- The mission has had only a few manageable anomalies: recurring issues with Orion’s onboard toilet (crews have used collapsible contingency urine devices while engineers attempted a 'bake‑out' and other fixes), minor false leak alerts and small subsystem items that have not threatened overall mission safety.
- Earlier pre‑launch problems—hydrogen fuel leaks and an upper‑stage helium pressurization clog—forced schedule slips from February into April but were resolved before launch; NASA has multiple April launch opportunities and has framed Artemis II as a test flight to gather environmental control and life‑support (ECLSS) and other data to inform Artemis III and the planned 2028 lunar landing campaign.
- Agency leadership framed Artemis as the opening act of a stepped Artemis cadence (including an Artemis III low‑Earth‑orbit lander rehearsal and Artemis IV targeted for a crewed lunar landing in 2028) and stressed that data from Orion’s flight, heat‑shield observations and reentry will drive decisions for future missions.
📊 Relevant Data
NASA's 2025 astronaut candidate class does not include any Black recruits, marking the first time since 1978 that a NASA astronaut class has no Black candidates.
NASA astronaut class appears to be first without Black candidates since 1978 — Mashable
In 2021, Hispanic or Latino workers comprised 9.5% of scientists and engineers in the U.S., compared to 18% of the total U.S. workforce, indicating underrepresentation in these high-skill STEM occupations.
Representation of Demographic Groups in STEM — National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), National Science Foundation (NSF)
There have been fatal accidents during spacecraft reentry, including the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster where 7 astronauts died due to heat shield damage during atmospheric reentry.
List of spaceflight-related accidents and incidents — Wikipedia
📊 Analysis & Commentary (4)
Life Looks Different From the Stars
"A personal, pro‑exploration commentary that connects the imminent Artemis II moon mission to feelings of cosmic perspective, generational curiosity, and the enduring cultural importance of returning humans to the moon despite program delays."
We’re Going Back to the Moon
"An opinion piece taking the NASA Artemis II launch as evidence that the U.S. is serious about returning humans to lunar space — praising the mission’s symbolic and technical gains and crew diversity while warning against political hype, ongoing delays, cost pressures and the need for sober, sustainable program management."
NASA Heads Back to the Moon
"A pro‑Artemis WSJ editorial praises the Artemis II lunar flyby as a generational achievement and warns that sustaining moon landings, a lunar base and a Mars pathway depends on sustained political will and budgetary priority rather than technological limits."
SEN RICK SCOTT: The lesson of Artemis? Purge woke politics and let NASA do its job
"A conservative op‑ed using the Artemis II mission to argue that NASA must be depoliticized—praising Trump‑era space leadership and commercial partnerships while criticizing Biden‑era DEI and climate priorities as distractions that should be purged so NASA can focus on exploration."
📰 Source Timeline (56)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 10, 2026
12:02 PM
VP Vance to lead U.S. team in Iran peace talks. And, Artemis II to return to Earth
New information:
- NPR highlights that NASA testing after the uncrewed Artemis I mission showed the Orion heat shield 'wasn't performing as designed,' raising safety concerns.
- To mitigate that risk, NASA and the Artemis II crew have agreed on a steeper and faster atmospheric entry profile than originally planned.
- The story stresses that 'returning from space always holds a risk,' explicitly tying the modified trajectory choice to managing those risks rather than treating the reentry timeline as routine logistics.
9:00 AM
Artemis II astronauts are set to return to Earth today. Here's what to expect
New information:
- Detailed same‑day schedule: crew wake time at 11:35 a.m. ET, course‑correction burn at 2:53 p.m. ET, service‑module separation at 7:33 p.m. ET, atmospheric entry at 7:53 p.m. ET with roughly a 13‑minute plunge to splashdown.
- Description of a roughly six‑minute communications blackout with Mission Control during peak heating, as Orion reenters at about 25,000 mph and ~5,000°F.
- Step‑by‑step recovery plan: deployment of multiple parachutes to slow Orion to about 20 mph, approach by a team from USS John P. Murtha, attachment of an inflatable raft to the capsule’s side hatch, on‑scene medical checks by a flight surgeon, and subsequent transport of the crew back to Johnson Space Center in Houston.
- Astronaut Victor Glover’s characterization of reentry as like 'riding a fireball through the atmosphere,' and his comments that 'all the good stuff is coming back with us,' underscoring the mission’s data‑return goals.
8:01 AM
Artemis II nears end of historic mission with splashdown off California coast
New information:
- The Orion spacecraft carrying four Artemis II astronauts is expected to splash down off the San Diego coast on Friday, with U.S. Navy units leading recovery operations in the Pacific.
- The USS John P. Murtha, a San Diego–based Navy landing platform dock, is the specific vessel designated to recover the Orion capsule and crew.
- Local San Diego Navy bases and the San Diego Air and Space Museum are heavily involved, with significant public turnout anticipated along the coastline and at museums for the splashdown.
- NASA’s return profile has the crew coming home after traveling around the Moon and reaching more than 252,000 miles from Earth, with local stakeholders framing the event as a symbolic return to "deep space" exploration.
April 09, 2026
10:15 PM
As Artemis II heads back to Earth, crew is staking their lives on the heat shield
New information:
- Confirms NASA chose to fly Artemis II with the same Avcoat heat shield design used on Artemis I, despite serious post‑flight damage on that earlier mission.
- Details NASA’s internal finding that the Artemis I damage was likely caused by the Avcoat material’s lack of permeability during a phase when internal layers were still extremely hot while external temperatures had dropped, trapping gas that blew off chunks of the char layer.
- Reports that NASA decided not to replace the Artemis II heat shield because it was already installed and swapping it out would have delayed the mission by roughly 18 months or more.
- Explains that, instead of redesigning the shield for Artemis II, NASA is changing the reentry profile from the prior 'skip' trajectory to a 'lofted' profile specifically intended to avoid the temperature and pressure swings that triggered the Artemis I damage mechanism.
- Includes on‑the‑record quotes from Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman describing extensive wind‑tunnel, laser and hyper‑velocity testing and saying the crew is comfortable trusting the shield if they follow the lofted profile, and from NASA associate administrator Amit Kshatriya stating the crew will 'put their lives behind' the agency’s confidence in the system.
7:52 PM
WATCH LIVE: Artemis II crew splashes down on Earth after historic trip around the moon
New information:
- Confirms live NASA coverage of Artemis II reentry and splashdown will begin Friday, April 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
- Details that Orion will reenter at roughly 34,965 feet per second (23,840 mph), with Mission Control closely watching heat‑shield performance after unexpected damage in the 2022 uncrewed test.
- Specifies that U.S. Navy ship USS John P. Murtha and associated aircraft will handle recovery off San Diego, marking the first joint NASA–Defense Department lunar crew recovery since Apollo 17.
- Includes astronauts’ reflections on being out of contact behind the Moon, becoming the most distant humans ever at 252,756 miles from Earth, and witnessing a total solar eclipse from lunar orbit.
April 08, 2026
11:29 PM
NASA releases more dazzling photos, moonshots from Artemis II
New information:
- CBS reports that as of Wednesday, the Artemis II capsule is traveling at about 2,000 miles per hour under Earth's gravity toward a splashdown off Southern California.
- NASA has released additional 'dazzling' photos and moonshots from Artemis II beyond the initial far‑side and Earthset images.
- Weather for the Southern California splashdown zone is being actively tracked by forecasters such as Rob Marciano as part of reentry and recovery planning.
6:47 PM
NASA gears up for Artemis II crew's return to Earth
New information:
- NASA now targets an 8:07 p.m. ET Sunday splashdown for Orion off the Southern California coast near San Diego, with Navy recovery crews heading to the area.
- The crew plans an additional manual piloting session of Orion to further test precise maneuvering that may be needed for future dockings with lunar landers if automation fails.
- NASA scientists at Johnson Space Center are actively reviewing thousands of far‑side photos, videos and audio descriptions, noting Artemis II is the first time humans have seen large portions of the lunar far side in daylight.
- NASA reports only a small number of anomalies so far, including a waste‑disposal issue with the onboard toilet that has complicated dumping liquid waste overboard but not threatened mission safety.
April 07, 2026
5:30 PM
WATCH LIVE: NASA holds daily Artemis II news conference after releasing historic images of Earth
New information:
- NASA scheduled a daily Artemis II news conference for 3:30 p.m. EDT on April 7, 2026, to discuss the mission after releasing the historic images.
- The crew’s ‘Earthset’ photo is explicitly framed as a deliberate echo of Apollo 8’s 1968 ‘Earthrise’ image, tying the two missions symbolically.
- NASA confirms again that splashdown is set for Friday in the Pacific as the crew heads home, reinforcing the mission timeline and status.
4:48 PM
PHOTOS: Boundary-breaking Artemis II captures view of Earthset from moon's far side
New information:
- Confirms the 'Earthset' photo was taken at 6:41 p.m. EDT on April 6, 2026, showing Earth's day side with clouds over Australia and a darkened night side.
- Specifies that Orion’s closest approach to the Moon was about 4,067 miles above the lunar surface around 7 p.m. EDT.
- Clarifies that the spacecraft reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, described here as a new record for human travel in space.
- Details that the solar eclipse totality lasted nearly 54 minutes as Orion, the Moon and the Sun aligned, with the crew using eclipse glasses — reportedly the first use of eclipse viewers at the Moon.
- Quotes Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch saying, “It is so great to hear from Earth again,” as the 40‑minute far‑side communications blackout ended.
- Notes that after the seven‑hour lunar flyby the crew received a congratulatory call from President Donald Trump, including his remark that he would ask for their autographs.
2:41 PM
Earthset, moon, eclipse captured in stunning images taken by Artemis II
New information:
- NASA released new Artemis II photos including an ‘Earthset’ image showing Earth dipping behind the Moon, with Australia and Oceania visible and lunar surface in the foreground.
- The ‘Earthset’ image was captured through Orion’s window at 6:41 p.m. ET on April 6, 2026, during the far-side flyby, with the White House posting the image captioned “Humanity, from the other side.”
- Artemis II astronauts observed and photographed a Moon–Sun eclipse visible only from space, experiencing about 54 minutes of totality and wearing eclipse glasses until full coverage.
- Astronaut Victor Glover said the Sun’s corona formed a bright halo around the Moon and described seeing much of the lunar surface lit by Earthshine, calling the view "unreal" and "truly hard to describe."
- NASA shared an additional image highlighting ridged craters and long shadows along the Moon’s day-night boundary as it came into view.
- The article reiterates that the crew is now outbound toward Earth with splashdown expected off the California coast near San Diego on Friday evening.
10:49 AM
Trump's deadline for an Iran deal looms. And, Artemis II crew begins the journey home
New information:
- NPR reports the Artemis II crew is now on their way back to Earth after their lunar flyby, with splashdown expected Friday in the Pacific Ocean off the U.S. West Coast.
- Central Florida Public Media’s Brendan Byrne notes that Orion will reenter Earth’s atmosphere at roughly 25,000 miles per hour, experiencing temperatures up to about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The reentry will be a critical test of Orion’s heat shield and parachute system, which must slow the capsule enough to safely splash down with the crew.
9:00 AM
Artemis II astronauts swung by the moon, broke an Apollo record, and saw an eclipse
New information:
- Orion completed its loop around the Moon and is now headed back to Earth after a successful far‑side flyby.
- During the far‑side pass, Orion reached a closest approach of about 4,067 miles above the lunar surface and a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, beating Apollo 13’s distance record by 4,111 miles.
- Communications with Mission Control were lost for roughly 40 minutes while the spacecraft was behind the Moon, during which the record distance and closest approach occurred.
- The crew conducted visual geological observations of roughly 35 lunar sites, noting color variations such as greenish and brownish hues that could indicate different mineral compositions, and took thousands of photos to support future mission planning.
- The flight path took Orion through a roughly hour‑long solar eclipse as the Moon transited the Sun, giving astronauts an opportunity to study the solar corona around the lunar limb.
- Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen relayed real‑time descriptions of lunar features to scientists in Houston, adding human‑eye observations to existing satellite imagery.
April 05, 2026
9:26 PM
Artemis II astronauts find hidden Easter eggs as they close in on the moon
New information:
- As of the report, Orion was approximately 76,362 nautical miles from the moon and 168,000 miles from Earth, with the crew having shifted from tracking distance from Earth to distance to the moon.
- The crew conducted planned tests of the new Artemis pressure suits after a brief ceremony presenting astronaut wings to Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on his first spaceflight.
- Astronaut Christina Koch and Victor Glover provided detailed visual observations of the moon from roughly 75,000 miles out, including identifying Mare Imbrium by its high‑albedo ring and noting a full‑moon geometry with no visible terminator.
- Commander Reid Wiseman and Koch reported being able to discern lunar topography and terrain features, including craters like Tycho and multi‑ring basin structures from long range, giving mission scientists early 'taste of things to come' ahead of the far‑side pass.
- The crew sent an Easter message from Orion, describing personal holiday traditions and a lighthearted 'egg hunt' using dehydrated scrambled egg packets, underscoring morale and normalcy aboard the spacecraft.
5:50 PM
Artemis II crew take new photo of far side of the moon
New information:
- Artemis II crew captured and NASA released a new photo of the Moon's far side showing the Orientale basin, with the Moon oriented 'upside down' and its South Pole facing upward.
- NASA says this is the first time humans have seen the Orientale basin in full, and the crew will continue to observe it from multiple angles during the lunar flyby.
- Artemis II was about 64,000 miles from the Moon on Sunday and is due to enter the lunar sphere of influence later in the day, with a full day of spacesuit and other flight tests planned.
5:12 PM
What NASA is looking for in the coming days as Artemis II loops around the moon
New information:
- Isaacman specifies that the primary objective in the current phase is gathering data from Orion’s environmental control and life-support (ECLS) system, the first time humans have flown aboard Orion.
- He confirms Artemis III is 'a year away' and framed as a test of the same spacecraft with lunar landers, followed by Artemis IV in 2028 that would transfer crew to landers and return Americans to the lunar surface.
- Artemis II’s crew is expected to surpass the Apollo 13 record for farthest distance from Earth and become the first humans to see some parts of the far side of the moon, with about a 40‑minute communications blackout as they pass behind the moon.
- Isaacman highlights his top concerns as Orion’s life-support performance during the loop and, especially, the thermal protection system and parachute phase on reentry and splashdown.
- He notes the crew will have 'observational responsibilities' with multiple cameras and data collection tasks focused on informing Artemis III and IV.
4:12 PM
Transcript: NASA's Jared Isaacman on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," April 5, 2026
New information:
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says the primary objective for this phase of Artemis II is collecting data on Orion’s Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), emphasizing this is the first crewed flight of the spacecraft and that data will drive Artemis III and IV.
- Isaacman publicly ties NASA’s current lunar campaign to a Trump national space policy that calls for frequent U.S. returns to the moon, an enduring presence, building a moon base, and pursuing nuclear power and propulsion.
- He says NASA has received $10 billion via the Working Families Tax Cut Act ('One Big, Beautiful Bill') and is now embedding NASA subject‑matter experts throughout the supply chain at every prime and subcontractor on the critical path—from rockets and landers to spacesuits—to "drive outcomes" rather than passively overseeing contractors such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.
- Isaacman reiterates a tight schedule: Artemis III in roughly a year to test Orion with lunar landers, followed by Artemis IV in 2028, when NASA plans to use Orion to transfer crews to landers and put Americans back on the lunar surface.
8:59 AM
Artemis II astronauts face toilet trouble as they head toward the moon
New information:
- NASA flight director Judd Frieling said that during the night they again tried to vent Orion’s wastewater tank but encountered problems believed to be caused by ice blocking the vent line.
- Frieling said the crew were directed overnight to use their collapsible contingency urine devices while the issue is addressed.
- Debbie Korth, Orion’s deputy program manager, emphasized that the toilet remains operable for solid waste and that the system has redundancy to get through the mission.
- Mission management team chair John Honeycutt acknowledged widespread public interest in the toilet’s status and described the situation as making an already 'camping in space' experience tougher for the crew, though currently manageable.
- Astronaut Christina Koch reported to mission control that the crew detected a burning‑heater type smell coming from the toilet area and wanted to be sure controllers were tracking earlier engineering notes about it.
April 04, 2026
7:56 PM
NASA troubleshoots Artemis II toilet problem in otherwise smooth flight
New information:
- NASA confirms intermittent problems with Orion’s onboard toilet since launch, including repeated instructions to the crew to avoid using it and rely on collapsible contingency urinals (CCUs).
- Overnight into Saturday, flight controllers were unable to dump stored urine from the toilet system, with engineers suspecting a frozen waste‑water vent line.
- Mission control ordered a specific attitude change to put the vent nozzle into direct sunlight and increased heater temperatures on the nozzle and lines in a ‘bake out’ attempt to thaw suspected ice, temporarily reshuffling the crew’s planned activities.
- NASA communicator Jackie Mahafey informed the crew they had passed the milestone of being closer to the Moon than to Earth, with Christina Koch noting their instruments showed a distance of about 118,000 nautical miles to the Moon and describing growing views of the lunar far side.
- Veteran astronaut Don Pettit publicly explained on X how the CCU bags work using capillary forces, highlighting their role as a contingency when a deep‑space toilet fails.
12:09 AM
Artemis II astronauts nearly halfway to the moon; NASA shares stunning photos from Orion spacecraft
New information:
- NASA’s Lakiesha Hawkins says the Artemis II crew is now more than 100,000 miles from Earth with about 150,000 miles left to reach the Moon after Thursday’s trans-lunar injection burn.
- Commander Reid Wiseman has shared new Orion window photos showing a backlit Earth with visible auroras and zodiacal light, and another image of the Earth’s terminator line between day and night.
- Artemis II Ascent Flight Director Judd Frieling confirms a planned early trajectory-correction burn was canceled because navigation and propulsion performance made it unnecessary; that maneuver will be rolled into a later correction.
- Orion program manager Howard Hu reports all subsystems, including the air revitalization system, are performing well and propellant usage is within 5% of predictions, while one helium pressurization branch has been isolated due to an issue but is redundant and not expected to affect the mission.
April 03, 2026
11:27 PM
Moon-bound Artemis II astronauts enjoy a relaxed day in space
New information:
- NASA canceled a planned outbound trajectory correction (OTC) maneuver because Orion remained almost perfectly on course after translunar injection.
- The crew spent Friday rehearsing basic medical emergency procedures in microgravity, including chest compressions and airway‑obstruction techniques, to inform future Orion missions.
- Commander Reid Wiseman captured and released new deep‑space images showing a full Earth, northern Africa, the Strait of Gibraltar, Brazil’s coast, polar auroras, and a cockpit‑window view emphasizing the crew’s distance from humanity.
- A live video feed from a solar‑array camera showed the moon as a small disk “dead ahead,” and Wiseman reported seeing the full moon out the front windows on waking.
- The article specifies timing for the lunar far‑side pass: Orion goes behind the moon at 6:47 p.m. EDT Monday, passes within about 4,000 miles of the surface at 7:05 p.m., remains out of contact for roughly 40 minutes, and is expected to set a new human distance record by surpassing Apollo 13’s 248,655‑mile mark.
- Christina Koch is quoted saying the trajectory will let the crew see portions of the lunar far side for the first time with human eyes in ways that matter to scientific analysis.
6:22 PM
WATCH LIVE: NASA shares update on Artemis II mission around the moon, 2 days after launch
New information:
- NASA official Lori Glaze formally confirmed at a news conference that, for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, human beings have left Earth orbit.
- The translunar injection burn (“translunar ignition”) occurred about 25 hours after liftoff and was described by Glaze as flawless.
- Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen described the crew pressing their faces to Orion’s windows to watch Earth recede, calling the views “phenomenal” and framing the mission as carried by humanity’s hopes.
- Mission Control described the trajectory as a free‑return lunar figure‑eight loop relying on Earth and lunar gravity, with Orion accelerated to more than 24,000 mph to depart Earth orbit.
- Victor Glover emphasized the symbolic significance of diversity on the crew, saying from orbit that from space humanity looks like “one thing: homo sapiens… we’re all one people.”
- The article reiterates that this crew will fly past the Moon and return without landing, is expected to break the Apollo 13 record for farthest distance from Earth, and may set a new record for fastest reentry speed around April 10.
2:30 PM
NASA shares first photos of Earth taken by Artemis II
New information:
- NASA released the first high‑resolution photos of Earth taken by the Artemis II crew from the Orion capsule, including a full‑disk image showing both Northern and Southern lights and visible zodiacal light.
- The photos were taken by commander Reid Wiseman shortly after the translunar injection burn, with the crew described as "glued to the window" taking pictures as they viewed the globe from pole to pole.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told CBS News this mission is "the opening act" in a series of Artemis flights that will send astronauts to and from the Moon with "great frequency" as the U.S. plans a long‑duration lunar presence.
11:25 AM
Pam Bondi is out at DOJ. And, NASA's Artemis II has left Earth's orbit
New information:
- The NPR newsletter reiterates that NASA’s Artemis II mission has left Earth’s orbit and is en route to the Moon after its translunar injection burn.
- It frames this as a top national story but does not add technical or operational details beyond those already reported in the existing Artemis II coverage.
9:00 AM
NASA's Artemis II has left Earth's orbit, and 4 astronauts now head to the moon
New information:
- NASA confirms Orion’s main engine fired for 5 minutes and 50 seconds at about 115 miles altitude, completing the translunar injection burn that broke Earth orbit.
- Mission commander Reid Wiseman and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen describe the crew’s reaction to the burn, calling the achievement an “unbelievable technical accomplishment” and saying they are now “100% on our way to the moon.”
- NASA officials report minor issues — a water dispensing-system concern and a cabin‑pressurization leak warning — but say they were handled without altering the plan and that the leak alarm was a false indication.
- Flight director Judd Frieling explains the cabin‑leak alert and says controllers quickly verified there was no actual leak, while NASA’s Lori Glaze says the agency is “not tracking any issues of concern.”
- The article specifies that Artemis II will use a lunar gravity assist to sling Orion around the far side of the Moon and return for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego in about eight days.
5:41 AM
Artemis II crew describes life aboard Orion spacecraft on historic journey to the moon and back
New information:
- The four Artemis II astronauts conducted a live interview with Fox News’ Trace Gallagher from Orion shortly after completing the trans‑lunar injection burn.
- Mission specialist Christina Koch described adapting to microgravity, including sleeping in different orientations and the crew’s effort to ‘make this space capsule a home.’
- Pilot Victor Glover recounted the emotional impact of receiving the final ‘go for launch’ and the experience of solid rocket booster ignition, saying he had to balance professionalism with the ‘kid inside’ wanting to cheer.
- Commander Reid Wiseman reiterated that after the trans‑lunar injection burn the crew is now ‘100% on our way to the moon,’ with lunar gravity set to take over in a couple of days as Orion swings around the far side.
- The crew emphasized the performance and hard work of NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems and launch control teams in getting the mission off the ground despite earlier program setbacks.
12:50 AM
NASA's Artemis II crew commits to moon trajectory after critical burn sends Orion into deep space
New information:
- Fox piece emphasizes that the translunar injection burn is the 'most critical engine firing' of the mission and explicitly marks the transition from Earth‑orbit operations to deep‑space travel.
- NASA says Orion is now on a 'free‑return trajectory' that naturally loops around the Moon and brings the spacecraft back to Earth without another major propulsion burn.
- Orion Program Manager Howard Hu reports Orion performed better than expected during crew‑guided maneuvers, praising pilot Victor Glover for doing 'exactly what he needed to do.'
- Article notes the crew completed a prior perigee‑raise burn to set the correct orbital geometry before TLI, a procedural detail not spelled out in the earlier summary.
- Jeremy Hansen’s quoted message to mission control highlights crew morale and frames the burn as proof of 'what we are capable of' globally, adding color on crew perspective.
12:23 AM
Artemis II crew clears Earth orbit, heads for the moon
New information:
- NASA’s Mission Management Team met earlier Thursday and formally cleared Orion and its four‑person crew for the trans‑lunar injection (TLI) burn after reviewing what it called near‑flawless performance.
- The shuttle‑era Orbital Maneuvering System engine on Orion’s service module fired for 5 minutes 50 seconds starting at about 7:50 p.m. EDT, accelerating the spacecraft to roughly 25,000 mph and breaking it free of Earth’s gravity for a four‑day trek to the moon.
- NASA expects Artemis II to take the crew farther from Earth than any humans have traveled before, up to about 252,455 miles as they swing behind the lunar far side, surpassing Apollo 13’s distance record.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says Artemis II will be followed by Artemis III next year in low‑Earth orbit to rehearse rendezvous and docking with SpaceX and Blue Origin landers, and that the agency plans to spend $20 billion over seven years to ramp up to a moon landing roughly every six months and build a base near the lunar south pole.
12:14 AM
Artemis II on course for moon after completing translunar injection burn
New information:
- CBS reiterates that the translunar injection burn was completed Thursday night, confirming the mission is successfully on course to the Moon.
- The segment frames the maneuver as allowing the four-person crew to leave Earth’s orbit and head for the Moon, consistent with NASA’s description.
April 02, 2026
10:25 PM
Artemis II astronauts embark on voyage around the moon
New information:
- NASA used the separated ICPS upper stage as a target so the Artemis II crew could manually fly Orion in a simulated docking approach, testing how the new spacecraft handles under manual control.
- Pilot Victor Glover, a Navy test pilot, hand-flew the maneuver and described the handling and visual cues over the loop, with Houston responding that they "enjoyed your excitement" at seeing the stage out the window.
- The Orion capsule’s toilet initially failed after launch because a fan was not operating, temporarily disabling urine collection; the crew and ground teams rebooted the system and restored normal function.
- The translunar injection burn is described as increasing the spacecraft’s speed by about 800 miles per hour to send Orion on its trajectory around the Moon, and was expected roughly an hour after the interview segment.
9:51 PM
Artemis II crew cleared to depart Earth orbit, head for moon
New information:
- NASA’s Mission Management Team met Thursday and formally cleared the Orion spacecraft and its four‑person crew for the critical trans‑lunar injection (TLI) burn Thursday evening.
- The TLI burn using the shuttle‑heritage Orbital Maneuvering System engine is scheduled for 7:49 p.m. EDT and will last 5 minutes 51 seconds at perigee of a highly elliptical Earth orbit that takes Orion to more than 40,000 miles altitude.
- The burn is designed to accelerate Orion to about 25,000 mph to break Earth’s gravity for a four‑day trek to the Moon, with a planned maximum distance of roughly 252,455 miles from Earth as the crew swings behind the lunar far side.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says another Orion crewed mission, Artemis III, is planned in low‑Earth orbit next year to rehearse rendezvous and docking with SpaceX and Blue Origin lunar landers, as part of a $20 billion, seven‑year push toward a Moon landing every six months and a south‑polar base.
9:30 PM
Thursday’s Mini-Report, 4.2.26
New information:
- MS NOW notes that Artemis II’s Orion capsule with four astronauts on board is orbiting tens of thousands of miles above Earth in preparation for heading toward the Moon.
- The article emphasizes visual imagery—a 'breathtaking view of Earth'—from the latest NASA update as the crew prepares to begin the translunar leg.
12:17 PM
Artemis II blasts off, beginning historic moon mission
New information:
- CBS piece emphasizes that the mission will specifically loop around the far side of the Moon — language that helps clarify the trajectory for general audiences.
- Reiterates that this is NASA’s first crewed lunar mission since 1972 in a broadcast news context, underscoring historic framing and public messaging.
9:00 AM
In a thunderous launch, Artemis II astronauts leave Earth. Here's what's next
New information:
- Confirms Artemis II is on a free‑return trajectory that keeps Orion in Earth’s gravitational influence, sending it past the moon to about 5,000 miles above the surface before returning to Earth for splashdown.
- Details that about a day after launch, Orion will perform a translunar injection burn to begin the lunar leg of the mission.
- Reports that the crew has already conducted a proximity operations test in high‑Earth orbit, with pilot Victor Glover manually flying Orion and telling controllers, “Overall guys, this flies very nicely.”
- Quotes Artemis II mission scientist Barbara Cohen explaining that from 5,000 miles the moon will appear “like a basketball held at arm’s length” when the crew passes the far side.
- Notes that this mission is designed to push humans farther into deep space than ever before and to use the astronauts themselves as subjects of biomedical experiments.
4:01 AM
Artemis II crew begins "crazy first day" in space after exhilarating launch
New information:
- After an eight‑minute ascent, two upper‑stage burns placed Artemis II into a highly elliptical 24‑hour Earth orbit to test Orion before heading to the Moon.
- Commander Reid Wiseman said the first 24 hours are a 'crazy first day' focused on checking Orion’s environmental control and life‑support systems, including CO₂ scrubbing, water, and toilet functions.
- Mission specialist Christina Koch reported a fault with Orion’s toilet system shortly after reaching orbit; flight controllers said the toilet 'cannot spin up' and instructed the crew to use contingency bags for urine while engineers work on a fix.
- Pilot Victor Glover manually flew Orion around the spent upper stage to verify handling, describing the capsule’s thrusters as giving 'a little rumble, like driving on a rocky road.'
1:15 AM
Artemis II successfully launches for historic Moon mission
New information:
- Axios pegs the Artemis II launch time at about 6:35 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39B.
- President Trump delivered televised congratulations to NASA and the crew on Wednesday night, calling the four astronauts “brave people” and saying “God bless those four unbelievable astronauts.”
- The article explicitly notes that Artemis II is the first crewed mission for the Orion spacecraft and the second launch of the Space Launch System.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has reshuffled the Artemis schedule so Artemis III will now be a low-Earth-orbit test of SpaceX and/or Blue Origin landers, with the next crewed Moon landing pushed to Artemis IV in 2028.
- The story emphasizes Artemis II’s demographic milestones: Victor Glover and Christina Koch as the first person of color and first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, and Jeremy Hansen as the first non-American to go beyond that mark.
April 01, 2026
11:26 PM
What's the status of the Artemis II rocket?
New information:
- CBS segment reiterates that four astronauts are currently on an "historic, unprecedented mission" flying around the far side of the Moon and back, confirming the mission remains underway after launch.
- The piece frames the mission status in terms of the crew's current trajectory around the Moon rather than only the liftoff event, underscoring continued nominal operations post-launch.
- Features expert commentary from Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute, and on-the-ground reporting from CBS correspondents Cristian Benavides and Kris Van Cleave, adding interpretive context on the mission’s significance and operational status.
10:37 PM
Artemis II launches astronauts around the moon in first deep space mission since Apollo
New information:
- Confirms that Artemis II launched successfully at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 1 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B.
- Restates that this is the first crewed journey beyond low Earth orbit since 1972 and that the crew will fly a multi‑day trajectory around the far side of the Moon before a planned Pacific Ocean splashdown.
- Includes fresh on‑the‑day political reactions, quoting President Donald Trump’s Truth Social statement celebrating the launch and House Speaker Mike Johnson’s public message praying for the crew’s safety and linking the mission to a 'Golden Age' of U.S. spaceflight.
10:30 PM
Artemis II launch sends 4 astronauts on mission around the moon
New information:
- PBS segment reiterates that Artemis II is the first time in more than 50 years the U.S. has sent astronauts back toward the moon.
- Confirms the mission is a roughly 10‑day voyage expected to send the crew farther into space than any humans before them.
- Adds on‑the‑ground color that the launch proceeded from Kennedy Space Center in front of spectators and media, but introduces no material technical or programmatic facts beyond existing coverage.
7:43 PM
Trump hypes moon mission as Artemis II prepares to lift off under pressure from past failures
New information:
- President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday, calling Artemis II "among the most powerful rockets ever built" and saying America is "WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between."
- Trump explicitly ties Artemis to his administration, noting the program was established during his first term in 2017 as part of a broader push to return American astronauts to the Moon.
- Fox reiterates that Artemis II faced earlier delays over fuel and helium leaks but is now scheduled to launch at 6:24 p.m. EST, with Trump framing it as proof the U.S. "dominates" in space.
6:37 PM
Artemis II crew prepares to board Orion capsule
New information:
- CBS segment focuses on the four-person Artemis II crew making final preparations to board the Orion capsule ahead of launch.
- It emphasizes that the boarding and launch are now imminent, framed as the last phase before liftoff for the mission around the Moon.
2:20 PM
NASA's Artemis II Moon mission is set to make space history
New information:
- Confirms Artemis II’s two-hour launch window opens Wednesday at 6:24 p.m. ET, with a backup window Thursday at 7:22 p.m. ET.
- Describes Artemis II explicitly as a roughly 10‑day lunar flyby ‘dress rehearsal’ comparable to Apollo 8 and 10, with three Americans and one Canadian on board.
- Clarifies that NASA has ‘rejiggered’ the schedule so Artemis III will test SpaceX and/or Blue Origin lunar landers in low Earth orbit, with the first crewed Moon landing now targeted for Artemis IV in 2028.
- Includes on‑record comment from NASA Chief Historian Brian Odom that the mission “signals a picking up where we last left off,” reflecting NASA’s own framing of Artemis II’s historical significance.
- Reiterates that the full ‘stack’ had to be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building in February to fix technical issues, underlining the recent pre‑launch troubleshooting.
2:11 PM
WATCH LIVE: Artemis II blasts off on journey sending astronauts around the moon
New information:
- NASA began loading more than 700,000 gallons of hydrogen and oxygen propellant into the SLS on April 1, 2026, hours before an evening liftoff, with live coverage starting at 12:50 p.m. EDT.
- Commander Reid Wiseman posted on X on the eve of launch, saying "It is time to fly," underscoring NASA’s go‑for‑launch posture after previous hydrogen‑leak delays.
- The mission profile is described as a non‑stopping, non‑orbiting lunar fly‑around that will take the crew about 4,000 miles beyond the Moon before a U‑turn and Pacific splashdown, setting a new human distance record.
- The article notes that Christina Koch and Victor Glover are slated to be the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the Moon, and that Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be the first non‑U.S. citizen to launch on a lunar mission.
- King Charles III sent a letter to Hansen calling him a "bridge between nations and generations," and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted that "The next era of exploration begins" on X, reflecting international and institutional framing of the launch.
12:57 PM
Countdown to historic Artemis II launch
New information:
- CBS piece reiterates that Artemis II is expected to launch Wednesday evening, conditional on weather.
- It emphasizes the mission profile in plain terms: a nine-day flight looping around the Moon’s far side and returning to Earth, framed as going farther from Earth than any prior human crew.
- It focuses on current preparations and the countdown rather than technical fueling details.
11:52 AM
Artemis II moon mission counts down to historic flight
New information:
- Launch team has completed the initial poll and approved beginning fueling ('tanking') of the Space Launch System rocket.
- Tanking is scheduled to start at 8:29 a.m. EDT, loading about 756,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into SLS.
- Breakdown of propellant loads: core stage to receive roughly 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen at –423°F and 196,000 gallons of liquid oxygen at –297°F; the upper stage to receive about 17,000 gallons of LH2 and 5,000 gallons of LOX.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (as quoted here) calls Artemis II an "extremely challenging" test flight and says the crew will go farther and potentially faster than any humans before, framing it as the 'opening act' in a series of regular moon missions leading to a 2028 landing and eventual moon base.
9:00 AM
NASA's Artemis II astronauts are hours away from moon launch. Watch it here
New information:
- NPR specifies the Artemis II crew: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
- Launch is targeted for as early as Wednesday, April 1 at 6:24 p.m. Eastern, with a NASA livestream scheduled to begin at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
- NASA officials say the roughly 10‑day mission will take the crew on a figure‑eight trajectory around the moon and back, sending humans the farthest they have ever been from Earth.
- Space Force launch weather officer Mark Burger puts the chance of favorable launch conditions at about 80%, while senior NASA test director Jeff Spaulding describes the expected atmosphere in the firing room during the final 10‑second countdown.
March 31, 2026
7:59 PM
Smooth countdown continues for Artemis II moon mission
New information:
- Engineers plan to start loading about 760,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the 322‑foot SLS starting around 7:34 a.m. ET Wednesday, a process expected to take roughly 5.5 hours.
- NASA officials say they are not working any significant technical problems heading into the final day of the countdown, and they are optimistic that a previously leaking quick‑disconnect fitting repaired after a February dress rehearsal will perform without leaks.
- The Artemis II crew’s detailed pre‑launch schedule is outlined: they will be awakened about two hours after fueling begins, then briefed on weather, suit up in orange pressure suits, and head to Pad 39B for a targeted 6:24 p.m. liftoff at the opening of a two‑hour launch window.
- Weather officers continue to project about an 80% chance of favorable conditions for launch, with only possible brief delays from afternoon clouds or isolated showers.
3:04 PM
WATCH LIVE: NASA holds pre-launch news conference on Artemis II, farthest crewed flight in decades
New information:
- NASA has formally begun the two‑day launch countdown on Monday, March 31, 2026, for the Artemis II mission.
- A pre‑launch news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT on March 31 as part of the countdown activities.
- Launch director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson says the team is in "excellent, excellent shape" and managers report the rocket is doing well after repairs, with forecasters expecting cooperative weather.
- The article reiterates that hydrogen fuel leaks delayed the original February launch target and that a clogged helium pressurization line required a return to the hangar late last month, but that the vehicle returned to the pad about 1½ weeks ago.
- NASA confirms a roughly six‑day primary April launch window (first six days of April) before a stand‑down to the end of the month.
2:07 PM
WATCH: Artemis II is set to orbit the moon. Here's what to know
New information:
- Confirms the Artemis II mission profile as a lunar fly-around that sends the crew several thousand miles beyond the moon before a U-turn back to Earth, with no lunar orbit insertion or landing.
- Details the initial 25-hour high, lopsided Earth orbit and use of the separated upper stage as a visual docking-practice target, keeping Orion at least 10 meters away.
- Emphasizes crew composition details: Christina Koch as record-holder for longest single spaceflight by a woman and first all-female spacewalk participant; Victor Glover as first Black astronaut to live on the ISS; Jeremy Hansen as the Canadian rookie; Reid Wiseman as commander and former head of NASA’s astronaut corps.
- Notes that SLS is shorter than Saturn V but more powerful at liftoff due to strap-on boosters, and that it reuses salvaged shuttle engines and hydrogen fuel, which have been the source of repeated hydrogen leak issues.
- Adds that recent hydrogen leaks during a February fueling test and helium-flow issues forced slips from earlier launch windows into April.
12:59 AM
Countdown begins for long-awaited Artemis II moon mission
New information:
- NASA conducted its L‑minus‑two‑day mission management team review Monday and formally polled 'go' to proceed toward the April 1 launch attempt.
- The countdown officially began at 4:44 p.m. EDT Monday, with a targeted liftoff time of 6:24 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 1.
- NASA detailed the fueling plan: the SLS core stage will be loaded with 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and 196,000 gallons of liquid oxygen, while the ICPS upper stage will take about 24,000 additional gallons.
- Launch Director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson’s timeline is specified, including a 7:44 a.m. start to propellant loading and a final 30‑minute built‑in hold at T‑40 minutes before terminal count.
- NASA reaffirmed an 80% chance of favorable weather and laid out the planned trajectory: passing 4,100 miles above the lunar far side next Monday before an April 10 Pacific splashdown off Southern California.
March 30, 2026
8:37 PM
Apollo's impatient old-timers rooting for return to the moon with Artemis II launch
New information:
- Article spotlights Apollo‑era engineers and staff in their 80s and 90s reacting to Artemis II, noting that no large Apollo reunion is planned and many will watch from around Kennedy Space Center.
- Identifies NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (a 43‑year‑old billionaire who previously flew to space) as pushing to speed up Artemis from roughly one flight every three years, which he considers unacceptable.
- Reports Isaacman has added a dedicated Earth‑orbit test flight to practice docking with lunar landers before attempting a landing mission.
- Says Isaacman released a blueprint for a lunar base, including a 'battalion' of drones and rovers, projected to cost about $20 billion over the next seven years, with NASA’s Carlos Garcia‑Galan promising extensive camera coverage to build public excitement.
- Frames the near‑term geopolitical goal as beating China back to the lunar surface, with NASA aiming for a 2028 crewed landing and China targeting 2030.
3:30 PM
NASA is just days away from historic Artemis II moon launch
New information:
- NASA officials say there are no technical issues currently threatening a Wednesday, April 1, 2026 launch attempt; the main concern is weather, with an 80% chance of favorable conditions.
- NASA explicitly confirms multiple launch opportunities through April 6 for Artemis II, not just April 1.
- Acting exploration-systems chief Lori Glaze and ground-systems manager Shawn Quinn both state that preparations are going smoothly and that the team considers itself "very, very close" and "ready."
- The mission profile is reiterated as a roughly 10‑day flight that will send the crew on a looping figure‑eight trajectory more than 230,000 miles from Earth, passing about 4,000–6,000 miles above the lunar surface before returning.
- The NPR piece highlights that Artemis II will be the first time a woman, a person of color, and a non‑American astronaut travel on a mission around the Moon.
9:00 AM
Everything to know about NASA's moon mission launching this week
New information:
- Confirms scheduled Artemis II launch for Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 p.m. EDT on the Space Launch System rocket.
- Details that prior delays were caused first by hydrogen fuel leaks and later by upper‑stage propellant pressurization problems, which NASA now says are resolved.
- Reiterates that this is SLS’s first crewed flight and only its second launch overall, and the first crewed flight of the Orion deep‑space capsule, named Integrity.
- Includes new on‑camera comments from commander Reid Wiseman stressing that Artemis II is a test mission with contingency plans that could range from an early return to a full nine‑day lunar fly‑around.
- Frames Artemis II as part of a step‑by‑step $20 billion, seven‑year Artemis plan described by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, explicitly tying the mission to a U.S. race with China to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a permanent presence.
March 29, 2026
10:39 PM
Artemis II astronauts say they're "ready to go" for moon launch
New information:
- NASA has set the launch countdown to begin at 4:44 p.m. ET Monday, with a targeted liftoff at 6:24 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 1, for Artemis II.
- Mission commander Reid Wiseman emphasized that, despite saying the crew and vehicle are ready, they have “not for one second” assumed the launch will go and are prepared for multiple scrub-and-try-again attempts.
- Forecasters currently predict about an 80% chance of acceptable weather, with high winds and thick clouds as the main concerns.
- Ground systems manager Shawn Quinn said the recent launch countdown pre‑test briefing was “one of the cleanest” they have ever had, with no significant open work.
- If they launch at the opening of the window, the crew’s free‑return trajectory around the moon will take them to roughly 252,799 miles from Earth, about 4,144 miles beyond the Apollo 13 distance record.
March 27, 2026
10:35 PM
How is the Artemis II crew prepares ahead of launch window
New information:
- CBS segment reiterates that the four‑astronaut Artemis II crew has arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final launch preparations.
- Confirms timing that the launch is planned for next week within the existing April 1 window.
- Provides CBS’s framing that this is a 'historic mission to return humans to deep space for the first time in over 50 years,' but adds no operational details beyond what is already known.
10:31 PM
NASA begins final preparations for Artemis II moon rocket launch
New information:
- CBS specifies the four-person Artemis II crew arrived Friday afternoon at Kennedy Space Center after spending two weeks quarantining in Houston.
- The segment characterizes this phase as 'the dawn of a new lunar era for NASA' and frames the mission as a major return to crewed lunar orbit.
- CBS space contributor Christian Davenport appears on 'The Takeout' to preview the mission, adding on‑air expert context though no new technical milestones are detailed in the text.