Artemis 2 Launch and Ascent Timeline
Artemis 2 launched on November 16, 2024, atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The initial ascent phase from liftoff to main engine cutoff lasted approximately 8.5 minutes, placing the spacecraft into a preliminary Earth orbit. This phase followed the standard profile used for previous SLS missions.
Translunar Injection and Travel to the Moon
After parking in a temporary Earth orbit, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage performed translunar injection roughly two hours after launch. The spacecraft then traveled approximately 384,400 kilometers to the Moon over a period of several days. This trajectory is similar to the path used during the Apollo missions.
Total Mission Duration and Return
The full Artemis 2 mission lasted about 10 days, with the crew completing a lunar flyby before returning to Earth. Reentry and splashdown occurred in the Pacific Ocean, concluding the test flight. For detailed official mission data, visit NASA Artemis.
