Frequently asked questions

What is Artemis Tracker?

Artemis Tracker is an independent guide to NASA’s Artemis programme, with mission information, educational visualisations, an Artemis II archive and space-themed games. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA, ESA, CSA or their contractors.

When did Artemis II fly?

Artemis II launched on 1 April 2026 and splashed down on 10 April 2026. NASA records its duration as 9 days, 1 hour and 32 minutes. The flight is complete; use the Artemis II archive to revisit it.

Source: NASA source

Who flew on Artemis II?

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch flew with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Source: NASA source

Did Artemis II land on the Moon?

No. Artemis II carried its crew around the Moon and back to Earth without landing on the lunar surface.

Artemis III, planned for 2027, is a crewed demonstration mission in low Earth orbit. Orion will practice rendezvous and docking with test versions of both commercial human landing systems being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Artemis IV, targeted for early 2028, is planned as the first Artemis crewed lunar landing near the Moon’s South Pole.

Sources: NASA source and NASA source

Why was Artemis II important?

Artemis II was the first crewed Artemis flight. It provided experience operating Orion with astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and helped build confidence and operational experience for Artemis III’s Earth-orbit demonstrations and future crewed lunar landing missions.

Source: NASA source

What comes after Artemis II?

• Artemis III (2027): Crewed demonstration mission in low Earth orbit, testing rendezvous and docking between Orion and commercial lunar lander test vehicles from SpaceX and Blue Origin.
• Artemis IV (early 2028): Planned first Artemis crewed lunar landing, targeting the Moon’s South Pole region.
• Artemis V (2028): Planned follow-on lunar surface mission as NASA works toward roughly annual Artemis flights. NASA currently anticipates launch by late 2028.

These are planning targets and may change as spacecraft development and mission preparations progress.

Sources: NASA source ; NASA source ; NASA source

Who is assigned to Artemis III?

NASA has assigned Randy Bresnik as commander, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot, and NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio as mission specialists. Bob Hines is the backup crew member.

Source: NASA source

Has NASA announced an Artemis III launch date?

NASA’s current target is 2027. A target year is not a confirmed launch date or countdown.

Source: NASA source

What is Orion?

Orion is the spacecraft that carries and supports astronauts on Artemis missions and brings them back to Earth. NASA’s Space Launch System launches Orion. Commercial human landing systems are separate vehicles being developed for lunar surface access.

Source: NASA source

Is this a live spacecraft tracker?

Artemis III has not launched. Its mission page follows preparations for the planned flight. Artemis II is complete, so its archive and replay should be read as historical or educational material rather than current spacecraft positions.

How accurate are the visualisations?

Use the visualisations to understand a mission, rather than as navigation or flight-control data. An animated position, a frequently refreshed counter or extra decimal places does not establish measurement accuracy. Consult the linked agency sources for confirmed mission facts. Check the source and status labels alongside each display before interpreting its values.

Where can I watch mission coverage?

Visit NASA’s official mission pages for coverage and recordings. Artemis II launch coverage is historical. Future Artemis coverage schedules will depend on NASA’s announced mission plans.

Source: NASA source

Are games flight simulators?

The site’s Lunar Lander, Moon Trivia and Space Docker games are educational entertainment. They should not be used as a source of spacecraft performance or operational procedures.