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NASA Launches Public Tracking Tool for Artemis II Moon Mission

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NASA Unveils AROW: Track Artemis II's Crewed Journey to the Moon in Real Time

NASA has introduced the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW), a new platform allowing the public to track the Artemis II mission as its four-astronaut crew orbits the Moon in the Orion spacecraft. The approximately 10-day mission is designed to test the spacecraft's systems with a crew aboard in a deep space environment.

AROW Features and Access

AROW provides real-time data, including Orion's distance from Earth and the Moon, and mission duration. This crucial information is collected by sensors on Orion and transmitted to the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

  • Website Access: Available via NASA's website (www.nasa.gov/trackartemis).
  • Mobile App Access: Available through the NASA app (www.nasa.gov/nasa-app).
  • Data Coverage: Information will be provided from approximately one minute after liftoff through Orion's atmospheric reentry.

Tracking Capabilities

Users of the AROW website can visualize Orion's position relative to Earth and the Moon, follow its mission path, and view key milestones, including historical Apollo landing sites.

The mobile app offers similar features, with the significant addition of an augmented reality (AR) tracker. This innovative AR feature directs users to position their phone to see Orion's current location relative to their position on Earth. It becomes available approximately three hours into the mission, after Orion separates from the rocket's upper stage.

Developer Resources

AROW will also provide state vectors, which are data describing Orion's precise location and movement. These vectors are intended for data enthusiasts, artists, and creatives to develop their own tracking applications or data visualizations.

Additionally, trajectory data, known as an ephemeris, will be available for download after the mission begins. This allows users to track Orion with personal spaceflight software or telescopes, or to create physics models, animations, or other projects.

Artemis II Mission Significance

Artemis II represents NASA's first crewed mission within the Artemis campaign, marking a critical step toward establishing a long-term human presence at the Moon.

This mission is vital for verifying the systems required for future lunar surface exploration, ultimately contributing to preparations for the first crewed mission to Mars.