As NASA launches artemis iimany people are asking a simple question: Where is the spaceship now? Thanks to new tracking tools and live streaming, answers are now available to anyone with a phone or laptop.
Here’s how you can track tasks in real time.
Use NASA tools to track Orion’s position in real time
The easiest way to monitor Artemis 2 is through NASA’s official tracker, the Artemis Live Orbital Website (AROW).
The platform, available on desktop and mobile devices, displays:
- The current position of the Orion spacecraft
- the speed at which it travels through space
- Distance from Earth and Moon (in miles)
The interface also displays key mission milestones and includes background on historic Apollo-era moon landing sites.
For smartphone users, NASAof apps have added augmented reality functionality. By moving your phone, you can visually see where Orion is relative to Earth at any given moment.
How real-time updates actually work
The tracking system relies on sensors on Orion that continuously send data back to Mission Control at Johnson Space Center.
The data began being transmitted about a minute after liftoff and continued throughout the mission until the spacecraft began reentering Earth’s atmosphere about 10 days later, according to NASA.
This means users can follow the spacecraft’s journey from launch to return in almost real-time.
Watch Artemis 2 live through the telescope
In addition to digital trackers, skywatchers can also try observing Orion from Earth. The Virtual Telescope Project will observe the spacecraft in real time once it is visible in the sky.
Founder Gianluca Masi said the team will try to capture Orion “as soon as it becomes visible over Italy,” possibly about four hours after launch if conditions are favorable, Space.com reported.
The livestream is expected to begin at 10:45 a.m. ET, but visibility will depend on weather and track conditions.
Also read: Artemis 2 update: When will 4 NASA astronauts return to Earth? Timeline revealed
Mission Timeline: What Comes Next
Artemis 2 is scheduled to launch from the Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center on April 1 at 6:24 pm EST in a two-hour launch.
According to Space.com, NASA estimates there is an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions for liftoff, and backup launch opportunities will be extended to early April if needed.
Once launched, the mission will last about 10 days and will see a crew of four astronauts fly thousands of miles over the moon before returning to Earth.
Why tracking Artemis 2 is important
Although Artemis 2 will not land on the moon, it will mark the first time humans have traveled around the moon since Apollo 17.
The mission is a critical test flight designed to validate systems for future lunar landings under NASA’s Artemis program: missions that could ultimately establish a sustained human presence on the moon and pave the way for journeys to Mars.
So, where is Artemis 2 now? The answer is constantly changing, and that’s the point.
With live trackers, augmented reality tools, and even telescope live streams, anyone can watch Orion’s path in real time.
