The Artemis 1 flight plan

Artemis 1 will take a highly detailed and complex loop around the Moon and then come back to Earth

1 TransLunar Injection Burn

After entering Earth orbit, rockets will fire for 20 minutes to send the spacecraft towards the Moon.

2 Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

Once this has separated from the main spacecraft, there’s no turning back.

3 Lunar orbit insertion

Artemis 1 will use the Moon’s gravity to slingshot out to a distant lunar orbit.

4 Heading home

Artemis 1 will swing back down towards the lunar surface to help slingshot it home.

5 Return trajectory correction

The spacecraft’s course will be tweaked through rocket burns to aim for Earth.

6 Final Return Trajectory Correction Burn

Final preparations to make sure the spacecraft hits the atmosphere at the right angle.