Elon Musk Podcast NASA Artemis Mission Overview News Conference
Nov 29, 2025
Guest
Dan Flores
Guest
Rick (Entry Flight Director)
Guest
Jeff Rattigan
Guest
Judd Freeling
Guest
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson
Guest
Lakeisha Hawkins
Join Lakeisha Hawkins, Nancy's key decision-maker for the Artemis mission, along with Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and ascent flight director Judd Freeling. They delve into the exciting details of the Artemis II mission, discussing the free-return trajectory, countdown procedures, and close lunar observations. The team shares insights on safety priorities and international competition in lunar exploration, while highlighting innovations like ProxOps and recovery operations. A thrilling ride to the Moon awaits!
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Episode notes
Stepped Test Campaign Toward Artemis III
- Artemis II is a stepped test mission building on Artemis I to prepare for a crewed lunar landing on Artemis III.
- The flight will validate new systems like life support, displays, and software while focusing on crew safety and learning.
Use Free-Return Trajectory For Safety
- Use a free-return trajectory as a built-in safety mitigation to return the crew using Earth and Moon gravity.
- Plan translunar injection burns early and accept slight navigation corrections rather than relying on major propulsion contingencies.
Launch Date Is Constraint-Driven
- NASA aims to launch Artemis II no later than April 2026 while trying to accelerate toward an early February window.
- Final launch dates depend on stacking, tests, crew training, trajectory mechanics, and range and space-weather constraints.
