NASA Invites Public to Track Artemis II Moon Mission in Real Time

New interactive feature allows anyone to monitor the 10-day journey of the Orion spacecraft around the lunar surface.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:53am

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues and grays depicting the elliptical orbit of the Orion spacecraft around the moon, with sweeping geometric arcs and concentric circles representing the spacecraft's trajectory and the lunar surface.An interactive visualization allows the public to follow the Orion spacecraft's journey around the moon in real time during the Artemis II mission.Today in Orlando

NASA has released a new interactive website called the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW) that allows the public to track the Artemis II mission in real time as a crew of four astronauts travels around the moon inside the Orion spacecraft. The website provides live data on the spacecraft's velocity, distance from Earth and the moon, and its projected trajectory near the lunar surface.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in NASA's Artemis campaign to return humans to the moon. By allowing the public to follow the mission in real time, NASA is aiming to generate excitement and engagement around its lunar exploration efforts.

The details

The AROW platform uses real-time data collected by sensors on the Orion spacecraft, which is transmitted to the Mission Control Center at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston throughout the duration of the flight. Users can monitor specific mission metrics through the interface, including Orion's velocity, mission elapsed time, distance from Earth, and distance from the moon. Visualizations also show the elliptical orbit and the projected trajectory of the spacecraft near the lunar surface.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in 2024.
  • The mission will last approximately 10 days.

The players

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the federal agency responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics, and space research.

Orion Spacecraft

The spacecraft that will carry the Artemis II crew of four astronauts around the moon.

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What’s next

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards NASA's goal of returning humans to the moon. After a successful Artemis II flight, NASA plans to launch the Artemis III mission, which will land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

By allowing the public to follow the Artemis II mission in real time, NASA is aiming to generate excitement and engagement around its ambitious lunar exploration program. The interactive AROW website provides an unprecedented level of access and transparency, allowing anyone with an internet connection to experience the journey to the moon.