Artemis I
Robotic missionCompleted
First integrated flight of Space Launch System and Orion around the Moon
Artemis I was the first integrated of NASA's Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and modernized lunar ground systems. The uncrewed mission sent Orion into a distant retrograde orbit around the Moon, tested its heat shield at lunar-return velocity, deployed ten deep-space , and concluded with a successful Pacific after 25 days.
Mission photo archive
Reviewed photographs documenting Artemis I. Every image links to its official NASA catalog record.
Artemis I Launch
NASA’s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agency’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47 a.m. EST, from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
Orion Approaches Moon for Outbound Powered Flyby
art001e000268 (Nov. 21, 2022) A portion of the far side of the Moon looms large just beyond the Orion spacecraft in this image taken on the sixth day of the Artemis I mission by a camera on the tip of one of Orion’s solar arrays. The spacecraft entered the lunar sphere of influence Sunday, Nov. 20, making the Moon, instead of Earth, the main gravitational force acting on the spacecraft. On Monday, Nov. 21, it came within 80 miles of the lunar surface, the closest approach of the uncrewed Artemis I mission, before moving into a distant retrograde orbit around the Moon.
Orion Splashdown
At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean with the USS Portland seen in the distance after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. Orion will be recovered by NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, U.S. Navy and Department of Defense partners aboard the USS Portland.
Launch record
Explore this mission’s launch, including its vehicle, launch site, payload, and outcome.
Artemis I
launch attemptDeep-space attemptcompletedNo reviewed launch image15 connectionsMission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Splashdown
- December 11, 2022[1]
- Vehicle
- Orion spacecraft[1]
- Launch vehicle
- Space Launch System Block 1[1]
- Distance traveled
- Approximately 1.4 million miles[1]
- Maximum distance from Earth
- Approximately 280,000 miles[1]
- Reentry speed
- 24,581 mph (Mach 32)[1]
- Mission type
- Uncrewed lunar [1]
- Secondary payloads
- 10 six-unit [1]
- Crew members
- 0[1]
Trajectory profile
2 sourcesFollow the mission from departure through its flight environment, destination, and final phase. This sequence is not a scale orbital plot.
Mission locations
2 sourcesDocumented surface, test, landing, and recovery locations. Map links use the cited place name or exact coordinates; AstronautAtlas does not geocode or estimate missing positions.
Departure or test site
Launch site
Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B
Mission Purpose
2 sources- Demonstrate Orion's heat shield during a high-speed lunar-return before committing astronauts to the spacecraft.
- Operate Space Launch System, Orion, Exploration Ground Systems, , communications, and recovery teams as one integrated exploration system.
- Exercise Orion navigation, propulsion, power, thermal control, communications, and deep-space operations throughout a lunar-distance mission.
- Deploy ten science and technology payloads from the Orion adapter after .
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Launch
First Space Launch System liftoff
SLS Block 1 launched Orion from Launch Complex 39B and the upper performed .
- Outbound flight
Orion systems checkout
Controllers tested Orion and the European while the spacecraft traveled beyond .
- Lunar operations
Distant retrograde orbit
Orion entered a stable distant retrograde lunar orbit for navigation, propulsion, thermal, power, and communications demonstrations.
- Return
Lunar-velocity
The crew module used a skip-entry profile, deployed parachutes, and splashed down for recovery in the Pacific Ocean.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- November 16, 2022
Launch
The first Space Launch System lifted off with Orion from Kennedy Space Center.
- November 21, 2022
Close lunar
Orion passed roughly 80 miles above the lunar surface while using the Moon's gravity to shape its distant retrograde orbit.
- November 25, 2022
Distant retrograde orbit
Orion entered its planned lunar orbit and continued integrated spacecraft testing.
- November 28, 2022
Maximum distance
Orion traveled approximately 280,000 miles from Earth, farther than any human-rated spacecraft had previously flown.
- December 11, 2022
Orion completed lunar-return and splashed down west of Baja California for recovery.
Open operation record