Space Weather Support

To coincide with the upcoming launch of Artemis II, Open Sky Live has temporarily expanded its monitoring capabilities from terrestrial weather to deep-space environment tracking. This limited-time suite provides a direct window into the conditions astronauts will face as they travel to the Moon.

Key Features:

• T-Minus Launch Countdown: A real-time clock tracking the mission’s window to the scheduled April 1, 2026 liftoff.

• Cislunar Physics Simulator: An interactive engine demonstrating the thermal and radiation impacts of a lunar flyby. Users can observe how the Moon’s shadow (umbra) provides radiation shielding while causing extreme temperature drops.

• Solar Wind & Kp-Index Tracking: Live data on solar particle speeds and geomagnetic activity, providing insight into potential communications interference and orbital drag.

• Radiation Flux Monitoring: Real-time tracking of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and Solar Proton Events (SPEs) to visualize the "Safe Haven" protocols used by the crew.

• DSN Status Link: A live connectivity check for NASA’s Deep Space Network, the essential antenna array required to maintain voice and data contact with the Orion capsule.

• Lunar Phase Integration: Real-time lunar phase tracking to determine lighting conditions for the mission’s far-side flyby and Earth-return trajectory.

This dashboard is accessible via the mission banner on the home page and will remain active through the duration of the Artemis II mission.