Summary
Highlights
The broadcast begins 20 minutes before the apogee raise burn, which is scheduled for 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 9 seconds of mission elapsed time. The burn duration is 17 minutes and 52 seconds, placing the Orion spacecraft on a high Earth orbit of 43,000 miles by zero statute miles. This trajectory will lead to a handover from the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites to the Deep Space Network. The crew will confirm the burn execution, and any changes will be reported.
Mission Control Houston provides updated Apogee Raise Burn (ARB) numbers to the crew, indicating a time of ignition (TIG) at 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 7 seconds, with a burn duration (Tego) of 18 minutes, 6 seconds. The handover from TDRS West to East is also updated to occur six minutes earlier at MET 2 hours, 3 minutes, 4 seconds. The team is also preparing for an eclipse powerdown and performing system checks.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman opens the post-launch press conference, announcing the successful liftoff of the Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft and Artemis II crew at 6:35 p.m. on April 1, 2026. He reports a temporary partial loss of communications during a satellite handover, which has since been restored. The Orion spacecraft has successfully separated from the core stage and deployed its solar arrays. The crew of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are safe and in good spirits, preparing for the apogee raise burn and the Translunar Injection.
Isaacman addresses questions regarding the communications issue, stating it occurred during a handover and is under investigation, but comms have been restored. Other minor issues include a toilet controller problem, a closed water tank crossover valve during ascent, and a transient latching current limiter failure due to radiation exposure, all of which are being actively managed. It is emphasized this is a test flight to assess crew interaction with these systems. Astronauts' first meal plans are discussed, noting their busy schedule and physiological adaptation to zero-G.
Questions about the slide wire baskets deploying during launch are answered, confirming it was expected. The mobile launcher's condition is being assessed, with initial observations showing improvements since Artemis I, particularly with the water suppression system. Teams are optimistic about a quicker turnaround time. The upcoming Proximity Operations Demo is on track, with Victor Glover flying and the rest of the crew assisting with procedures and observations.
Administrator Isaacman defines success as the crew returning safely after the ten-day mission, emphasizing the importance of gathering data from the first crewed Orion flight. The perigee and apogee raise burns have been completed, setting up the Translunar Injection (TLI) burn. TLI will commit the spacecraft outbound to the moon and configure it for a gravity assist return. This mission is crucial for testing crew interaction and preparing for integrated operations with a lunar lander for Artemis III.
Pre-launch issues included a flight termination system communication problem, resolved by switching to a different range receiver, and a launch abort system battery temperature sensor anomaly, voted out as an instrumentation error. The post-launch press conference also addresses previous public address system issues during the launch. The Administrator reflects on the immense effort and confidence in the teams and crew, highlighting the pressure of leading America's return to the moon after a 54-year hiatus and the ongoing competition in space exploration.
The Translunar Injection (TLI) burn is scheduled for approximately 6:35 p.m. ET tomorrow. Criteria for proceeding include a fully functional life support system, vehicle health, and redundancy in critical systems like communications and propulsion. The mission management team will meet to review all data before making the final decision. Additionally, CubeSats will be deployed around five hours into the flight from the Orion stage adapter after Orion has cleared the area. These CubeSats will communicate directly with Earth.
The crew is expected to experience a lunar eclipse during their mission, a unique opportunity to observe the sun's corona while maintaining communications. The mission is seen as a crucial "opening act" for a larger program, building towards a sustained human presence on the moon, with lessons learned from Artemis II informing future missions like Artemis III. NASA emphasizes international collaboration, evident through the Canadian astronaut onboard and CubeSats from Artemis Accords partners like South Korea, and future major contributions from JAXA and the Italian Space Agency.
The initial days of the mission present significant challenges due to high crew workload, including disrupted sleep for critical burns. The mission control team is actively monitoring the crew's performance to ensure safety and prevent mistakes. The administrator discusses the importance of inspiring the public, especially younger generations, to engage with space exploration, hoping that the mission will captivate global interest as imagery from the moon is shared.
Alternate mission scenarios, such as staying in Earth orbit for several days, would have been considered if the Space Launch System or upper stage failed to deliver Orion to the correct trajectory or if the TLI burn could not be executed. Based on current predicts, the Apollo distance record is expected to be surpassed on flight day six at approximately 18.5 hours MET, provided all burns proceed as planned. The propellant loading this morning was exceptionally smooth, with hydrogen leaks well below acceptable limits, indicating the effectiveness of recently replaced seals.