New Delhi: NASA is preparing to launch its Artemis II mission on April 1, marking a major step back into deep space exploration. The launch is scheduled
from Kennedy Space Center at Launch Complex 39B. The two-hour launch window will open at 6:24 PM EDT, which is 3:24 AM in India on April 2.
This mission is important because it will be the first time astronauts travel towards the Moon since the Apollo program. It ends a gap of more than 50 years. If the launch does not happen on April 1 due to weather or technical reasons, backup dates are available daily until April 6.
What happens on launch day?
The launch will follow a fixed plan on the day. Preparations will begin early in the morning, long before the actual liftoff. NASA will start its live coverage hours ahead of the launch window, showing key stages like rocket checks and the countdown.
The launch window will stay open for two hours. This gives the team some flexibility if there are small delays. If the rocket cannot lift off on April 1, similar windows will be available over the next few days until April 6.
How can you watch it live?
People around the world can watch the launch live through different platforms. NASA will stream it on its official services like NASA+ and NASA TV. The live broadcast will begin at 12:50 PM EDT on April 1 and will not have ads.
The launch will also be available on YouTube, where viewers can follow the entire event. Along with that, NASA will share updates, clips, and important moments on its social media accounts. The broadcast is expected to include close visuals of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System before liftoff.
What will this mission actually do?
Artemis II will carry a 10-day mission which is designed to test systems needed for future Moon missions. After launch, the spacecraft will first enter a high Earth orbit and then the astronauts will check life support and communication systems for the first 24 hrs.
After that, the spacecraft will head towards the Moon using a free-return path. It will travel around the far side of the Moon and then come back to Earth. During the mission, it will reach a distance of 400171 kilometres from Earth.
By the end of the journey, the spacecraft will have travelled about 1102400 kilometres before landing in the Pacific Ocean around April 10. This mission is expected to go beyond the distance record set by the Apollo 13 mission, which reached about 399117 kilometres.
