Artemis II

Mission confirmed and added to the launch manifest

Rocket assembled and transported to the launch pad

Fuelling, systems checks, and final go/no-go polling

Countdown active — T-0 within the launch window

Main engines ignite and the vehicle clears the tower

Maximum aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle

Main engine cutoff and first stage separates

Upper stage engine ignites to continue to orbit

Payload deployed to target orbit — primary mission success

Upper stage burn sends the spacecraft on a trajectory to the Moon

Spacecraft performs a close pass of the Moon using its gravity

Spacecraft begins the journey back to Earth

Crew module re-enters the atmosphere and splashes down safely