For the first time in over 50 years, humans are returning to the Moon. Today, Monday, April 6, the Artemis II crew will make history by flying around the far side of the lunar surface–marking the closest human approach to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
While the four astronauts won’t be landing on the surface just yet, you can watch the entire journey through their eyes. Here is everything you need to know to catch the livestream today.
What is Artemis II?
The second mission under NASA’s multibillion-dollar moon program, Artemis II is essentially the “test drive” for deep space. Launched on Wednesday, April 1, from Kennedy Space Center, it’s the first time in over five decades that NASA is putting humans on a giant rocket and sending them toward the Moon.
The mission isn’t just about a flyby; it’s about proving that our modern tech–like the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket–can keep a crew alive, healthy, and connected to Earth while traveling hundreds of thousands of miles away.
The Mission: Why Artemis II isn’t Landing on the Moon (Yet)
It might seem strange to go all that way and not step outside, but there’s a very specific reason: Safety and Preparation.
- The “Sling-Shot” Maneuver: Today’s mission is a “Free Return Trajectory.” The crew is using the Moon’s own gravity to whip them around and head straight back to Earth. This will prove that the ship can return safely even if its engines were to fail
- Testing the Tech: This is the first time the life-support systems (the air they breathe and the water they drink) are being used by humans in deep space. NASA needs to ensure everything works perfectly before the next mission, Artemis III, which is the one that will actually land boots on the lunar south pole
- Seeing the “Far Side”: Even though they aren’t landing, the crew will see parts of the Moon’s far side (the side that never faces Earth) that no human has ever seen with their own eyes
When to Watch: Artemis II Flyby Timing
The official NASA livestream begins today at 1 pm ET. The crew is expected to reach the Moon shortly after, with the observation period lasting approximately seven hours.
- Live Coverage Starts: 1 pm ET
- Closest Lunar Approach: 7:02 pm ET (approx. 4,070 miles from the surface)
- Observation Period Ends: 9:20 pm ET
Where to Livestream the Mission
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, NASA has expanded its streaming reach. You can watch the Artemis II flyby on the following platforms:
- Netflix: (via the NASA+ integration)
- NASA+ & NASA YouTube: 24/7 continuous coverage
- Major Streaming Apps: Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Roku
- Social Media: Real-time updates via NASA’s Twitter and Instagram accounts
Today’s Mission Schedule
The mission isn’t just a flyby; the crew will be breaking a 50-year-old record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.
- 1:30 pm: Science Briefing – NASA hosts a conversation with the crew to discuss flyby objectives
- 1:56 pm: Breaking the Record – The crew will surpass the distance record set by Apollo 13 (248,655 miles from Earth)
- 2:45 pm: Seven-hour lunar observation begins
- 6:44 pm: Comms Blackout – Expect a brief loss of signal as Orion passes behind the “dark side” of the Moon
- 7:02 pm: Closest Approach – Orion swings within 4,070 miles of the lunar surface
- 8:35 pm – 9:32 pm: The crew will witness a solar eclipse as the Sun passes behind the Moon from their perspective
Who is on the Artemis II Crew?
This mission features a historic four-person crew representing the next era of space exploration:
- Reid Wiseman (Commander): NASA veteran leading the mission
- Victor Glover (Pilot): The first Black man to venture to the Moon
- Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): The first woman to venture to the Moon
- Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): The first Canadian to venture to the Moon
Track the Spacecraft in Real-Time
If you want to see exactly where the Orion capsule is at any given second, NASA’s “Track Artemis” site provides a live 3D map showing speed, distance from Earth, and its current orientation.
Pro Tip: Keep the livestream open around 7 pm ET. That’s when the Moon will appear roughly the size of a basketball held at arm’s length to the astronauts–and we should see some of the highest-resolution live footage ever captured from deep space.
