Key Dates and Milestones for Artemis 2
Artemis 2 will be the first crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis program and the first integrated test of the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket. The mission profile includes an outbound coast to a distant retrograde orbit around the Moon, a lunar flyby, and a return to Earth. The mission timeline and objectives are defined in NASA’s Artemis 2 mission overview and baseline documents.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Name | Artemis 2 | NASA Official |
| Mission Type | Crewed lunar flyby and return | NASA |
| Spacecraft | Orion (with SLS Block 1) | Program Baseline |
| Target Launch Date | No earlier than November 2025 | NASA |
| Planned Splashdown Window | Approximately 3–6 weeks after launch | Program Planning (scheduling dependent) |
| Primary Splashdown Region | Pacific Ocean near California or Hawaii | Programmatic Planning |
| Recovery Location | Offshore naval vessel or port in the U.S. West Coast region | Program Recovery Plan |
How the Splashdown Date Is Determined
The exact Artemis 2 splashdown time and date are not fixed before launch. The mission planning team sets a target launch window, then builds a mission elapsed timeline that includes trans-lunar injection, distant retrograde orbit insertion, lunar flyby, and Earth return. The return trajectory determines a splashdown opportunity window several weeks after launch. Because the mission has not yet launched, the precise splashdown moment will be confirmed once the vehicle is in flight and the timeline is actively managed by mission control.
Factors That Influence the Return Timeline
- Launch date and launch window within the multi-day opportunity
- Performance of the SLS upper stage ( Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage ) in inserting Orion on the correct trajectory
- Orion orbital mechanics and phasing for Earth return
- Entry conditions and splashdown site availability
These parameters are modeled extensively during prelaunch planning. Real-time tracking and navigation updates during the mission may refine the return timeline slightly, but the overall Earth-return plan is established well before launch.
Planned Splashdown Region and Recovery Approach
NASA has designated the Pacific Ocean as the primary splashdown region for Artemis 2, with preferred areas off the coast of California and near the Hawaiian Islands. This region offers suitable weather patterns, calm seas, and proximity to recovery infrastructure. The U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), in coordination with NASA and other agencies, leads recovery operations. A dedicated recovery ship will be positioned to retrieve Orion, and personnel will support crew rescue and medical assessment.
What to Watch For Before Splashdown
As Artemis 2 progresses toward launch, NASA will publish detailed mission timelines, press kits, and launch updates. Official sources to track Artemis 2 include the NASA Artemis webpage, the Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center mission pages, and the Orion program page. No splashdown time can be stated precisely until the vehicle is in flight and the mission profile is actively executing.
Post-Splashdown Plans and Next Steps
After splashdown, the Orion crew module will be recovered, inspected, and prepared for return to port. The crew will be extracted, undergo medical checks, and reunite with recovery teams. Artemis 2 is followed by Artemis 3, which aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. Lessons learned from Artemis 2 will inform Orion’s design, operations, and future mission planning for Artemis 3 and beyond.