USA : 1st April Artemis II Rocket with 4 people to go round the moon

[arista]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Artemis_II_Preflight_%28NHQ202603200055%29.jpg/960px-Artemis_II_Preflight_%28NHQ202603200055%29.jpg


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Artemis_2_Crew_Portrait.jpg/500px-Artemis_2_Crew_Portrait.jpg


[Artemis II is a planned lunar flyby mission
under the Artemis program,
scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026
from the Kennedy Space Center
in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The ten-day mission will carry NASA astronauts
Reid Wiseman,
Victor Glover, and
Christina Koch,
along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut
Jeremy Hansen,
on a free-return trajectory around the Moon
and back to Earth.
It will be the second flight of the
Space Launch System (SLS)]



There is a lot of danger in this 10-day flight.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_II

[bots]

i've always followed trips to the moon, and i will be watching this one too

[Ammi]

…is this an April Fool mission or an actual one launching tomorrow…?..

[bots]

…is this an April Fool mission or an actual one launching tomorrow…?..

it is actually launching tomorrow ..... it will be on live

[arista]

…is this an April Fool mission or an actual one launching tomorrow…?..



Ammi
I made this thread as all the TV News
keeps showing the mission.

So
Yes, tomorrow it is due to take off

[Ammi]

it is actually launching tomorrow ..... it will be on live

…I mean, I had to ask because of the launch date… :laugh:..

Ammi
I made this thread as all the TV News
keeps showing the mission.

So
Yes, tomorrow it is due to take off

…ok honey, you keep that TV news moving along but I’m keeping my eye on you …:fan:…

[Zizu]

it is actually launching tomorrow ..... it will be on live


Sky said at 11 o’clock but didn’t specify morning or evening and didn’t specify if UK or USA time

[Livia]

We're allowing my son to stay up and watch tomorrow night. He's on Easter break... What's the betting we'll have to wake him? Especially if it's delayed.

[Livia]

Sky said at 11 o’clock but didn’t specify morning or evening and didn’t specify if UK or USA time

PM. It's on Youtube.

[Parmy]

What a pointless mission...


Is one of them going to be sat up front with the driver microphone in hand..and if you look to your left, you can see where they actually touched down 60 years ago.

[Zizu]

PM. It's on Youtube.


Thanks you !

[arista]

Sky said at 11 o’clock but didn’t specify morning or evening and didn’t specify if UK or USA time


It is now said to be Tonight UK Time 11: 25 PM -11:30PM

They have a window of a few days
If the weather is a problem.

[arista]

$93 Billion it costs/

When it goes to the Dark Side of the Moon
For around one hour, they have
No Contact at all with Earth

I hope one of them does not have a fit?


Also on its return
it will zoom into Earth faster
making the heat seals safer

(Astronaut Guest on Ch5 AM Confirmed)

[James]

You will be able to watch here at 11 PM our time.

Tf_UjBMIzNo

[arista]

James these 4 people face Danger

Heat seals could be the problem.


That was on the previous
Non Human Rocket

[arista]

Take off in around 4 hours and 49 minutes

[Zizu]

I think I will record it and watch it when I know it was a success .. can’t face seeing something horrific at the moment ..


I was lucky enough to have seen the original one live although I was made to watch it as I wasn’t aware of the sheer magnitude at the time

[Zizu]

They are apparently aiming for 23:24 hours / 11:24 pm though they have a two hour window ..

[Zizu]

Wow

Taller than Big Ben !!

Scary to think that all the orangey-brown section is FUEL !!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260401/9f8d85b5f3534183448b91700f3b801a.jpg

[James]

🚀 Artemis II – Timeline After Launch

T+0 → Launch
Liftoff aboard Space Launch System

T+8–12 minutes → Earth Orbit insertion
Core stage shutdown and separation
Orion inserted into temporary Earth orbit

T+1.5–2 hours → Translunar Injection (TLI)
Upper stage performs burn to send Orion toward the Moon
Orion separates and begins independent flight

T+1 day → Systems checks & outbound cruise
Life support, navigation, communications fully tested
Crew conducts manual flying demonstrations

T+3–4 days → Lunar flyby (closest approach)
Orion passes behind and around the Moon
Free-return trajectory set for Earth return

T+4–5 days → Begin return to Earth
Spacecraft heads back after lunar swingby

T+8–10 days → Re-entry & splashdown
High-speed atmospheric re-entry
Splashdown in Pacific Ocean

⏱️ Total mission duration
Roughly 8–10 days from launch to splashdown

[Parmy]

Sounds sexy

[Benjamin]

Nasa reports issue with flight termination system as Moon mission prepares to launch

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c4g4ygw0r02t

[Zizu]

Ahhhhh

Over 800 pre flight lift off checks and ONE fault has thrown the whole thing into doubt


Sky reported that an engineer was sent to the ‘garage’ three miles away to get a spare part !!


Can’t help with the nerves of the astronauts

[Zizu]

Sooo


They have now fixed the issue but now further checks will take place


Sounding hopeful as the weather looks to be improving as well

[Parmy]

Ahhhhh

Over 800 pre flight lift off checks and ONE fault has thrown the whole thing into doubt


Sky reported that an engineer was sent to the ‘garage’ three miles away to get a spare part !!


Can’t help with the nerves of the astronauts

I doubt Meghan will miss him.

[Zizu]

Sky reporting that the damaged part has been replaced by a spare part from a Shuttle !!!!??


Yikes

[Zizu]

Scarier than imagined

They are currently sealing the door/hatch with screws so the crew will hear them working and know that ‘ it’s really happening !’


I presumed the hatch would have a quick release in case of emergency

[emoji3]

[Zizu]

They will re - enter the earth’s atmosphere at 20,000 miles per hour ( faster than ever before ) … and the vessel will heat up to 2000 Celsius

[Zizu]

There is now an issue with launch abort system - this could be serious

[LaLaLand]

So excited for this!

[Zizu]

Sooo this mission is going AROUND the moon -not landing on the moon


Apparently they haven’t got the technology to manufacture landing gear as yet !!!

How utterly bizarre


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[arista]

37mins to go

[bots]

Sooo this mission is going AROUND the moon -not landing on the moon


Apparently they haven’t got the technology to manufacture landing gear as yet !!!

How utterly bizarre


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

they are just taking it a step at a time, keeping the budget down until the prove each step. It will be 2029 before they have a lander

[bots]

25 mins till launch

[Zizu]

Interesting to note that all the NASA people are calm and confident but Thomas Moore is trying to hype the story up suggesting ‘it’s touch and go’ .. bladdy media !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Zizu]

NASA have confirmed that last issue has been sorted

All good as we speak


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bots]

the issue they had has been resolved

15 mins

[bots]

they are getting very technical

[bots]

launch countdown paused

[bots]

countdown continuing

[Glenn.]

Am I watching the right one. The countdown I’m watching says over 4hrs

[Glenn.]

It’s ok I found it

[Parmy]

Can't stop thinking about oil prices.

[bots]

amazing launch, its now travelling at 15,000 miles an hour

[Zizu]

Wow just wow


Kinda emphasises just how amazing Apollo Eleven actually was back in 1969 imho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Redway]

…is this an April Fool mission or an actual one launching tomorrow…?..

That’s what I actually thought to begin with.

[arista]

There are reports
that the one New Toilet
It is not working.

[NASA is investigating an issue with
the "Universal Waste Management System"
(the new toilet) aboard the Orion spacecraft.]


Reported on CNN

[Zizu]

There are reports
that the one New Toilet
It is not working.

[NASA is investigating an issue with
the "Universal Waste Management System"
(the new toilet) aboard the Orion spacecraft.]


Reported on CNN


It’s April 2nd now

[Livia]

Had to wake up my son in the end... But it was wonderful to watch him, watching the launch.

[arista]

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/artemis-ii-crew-troubleshoot-orion-toilet-in-latest-live-mission-update

Good job, the Toilet
has now been fixed

[Zizu]

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/artemis-ii-crew-troubleshoot-orion-toilet-in-latest-live-mission-update

Good job, the Toilet
has now been fixed


Surely that was an April Fool ?

[arista]

Surely that was an April Fool ?


No
Malfunctions are common

[Crimson Dynamo]

The distance is more than you may think

If Earth was a ball 8 inches in diameter, the moon would be 2 inches across and orbit 20 feet away.

[Zizu]

No
Malfunctions are common


Well why share something so insignificant when there are a thousand other interesting things to share

[arista]

Well why share something so insignificant when there are a thousand other interesting things to share

It was on Every News.


This is a First,
Never before was there a toilet


So, as it took off, it was not working
now it is

[Zizu]

It was on Every News.


This is a First,
Never before was there a toilet


So, as it took off, it was not working
now it is


I just don’t want to know that these super heroic people are going to the toilet full stop .. never mind going in plastic bags


There’s so much else to keep us enthralled

[LaLaLand]

I’ve been checking updates all day, fascinates me all this stuff. The NASA Orion camera has been a bit patchy though - just a blank, blue screen for most of the afternoon.

[Zizu]

I’ve been checking updates all day, fascinates me all this stuff. The NASA Orion camera has been a bit patchy though - just a blank, blue screen for most of the afternoon.


Same .. apart from toileting issues

[emoji3]

[arista]

Yes, on their return (10days)
it is due to come in faster

[James]

🚀 Artemis II – Timeline After Launch

T+0 → Launch
Liftoff aboard Space Launch System

T+8–12 minutes → Earth Orbit insertion
Core stage shutdown and separation
Orion inserted into temporary Earth orbit

T+1.5–2 hours → Translunar Injection (TLI)
Upper stage performs burn to send Orion toward the Moon
Orion separates and begins independent flight

T+1 day → Systems checks & outbound cruise
Life support, navigation, communications fully tested
Crew conducts manual flying demonstrations

T+3–4 days → Lunar flyby (closest approach)
Orion passes behind and around the Moon
Free-return trajectory set for Earth return

T+4–5 days → Begin return to Earth
Spacecraft heads back after lunar swingby

T+8–10 days → Re-entry & splashdown
High-speed atmospheric re-entry
Splashdown in Pacific Ocean

⏱️ Total mission duration
Roughly 8–10 days from launch to splashdown

ChatGPT was a bit inaccurate here. :p I couldn't find a timeline for this when I searched on Google.

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-0abe6091-8faf-4cfa-9768-20f6540fcf29.jpeg

[Zizu]

That damn toilet apparently cost £17.4 million




Someone please explain

[bots]

That damn toilet apparently cost £17.4 million




Someone please explain

it's not a mass produced item, and it has to be super lightweight.

[Ammi]

it's not a mass produced item

…I did actually Google ‘loos for space rockets retail suppliers’ and Portaloos Hire came up…all online suppliers anyway, nothing on the high street that I could find…which is good because a high street supplier would probably be loo-ted atm…

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHg5YnMzZHV2cDU4ZGgxYWx2MmJsMjR 5ejZ3dGZzbGplcXV0NjZwYSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/2A5zXgev7BleyIlvD2/giphy.gif

[bots]

…I did actually Google ‘loos for space rockets retail suppliers’ and Portaloos Hire came up…all online suppliers anyway, nothing on the high street that I could find…which is good because a high street supplier would probably be loo-ted atm…

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHg5YnMzZHV2cDU4ZGgxYWx2MmJsMjR 5ejZ3dGZzbGplcXV0NjZwYSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/2A5zXgev7BleyIlvD2/giphy.gif

It certainly wont be armitage shanks :laugh:

[Zizu]

it's not a mass produced item, and it has to be super lightweight.


I could make one out of Aero bubbles for less than 17 million quid !!

[emoji3]