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Open Sky Live: Artemis II
Translating raw space weather into lunar mission parameters.
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Lunar Target The current phase of the Moon determines lighting conditions during the flyby and Earth-return trajectory. Calculating...
DSN Acquiring... Deep Space Network: NASA's international array of giant radio antennas. If this is offline, telemetry cannot be received.
Sensor time --

Artemis II T-Minus Countdown

00 Days
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00 Hours
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00 Mins
Target Liftoff: April 1, 2026 — 6:24 p.m. EDT (22:24 GMT)
Planetary K-Index (Kp) Measures disruptions in Earth's magnetic field on a scale of 0-9.
Artemis Impact: High Kp means Earth's atmosphere expands, increasing drag on the Orion capsule while in low Earth parking orbit.
--
Geomagnetic Status: Acquiring...
Solar WindSpeed of charged particles streaming from the Sun.
Artemis Impact: High speeds (>600 km/s) cause static electrical charge to build up on the hull.
-- km/s
DensityConcentration of protons in the solar wind.
Artemis Impact: Sudden jumps often signal the arrival shockwave of a Coronal Mass Ejection.
-- p/cm³
Last Updated: --
X-Ray Flux Measures the intensity of solar flares.
Artemis Impact: M or X-class flares cause High Frequency (HF) radio blackouts with Mission Control.
Nominal
Galactic Cosmic Rays Constant high-energy radiation from supernovas outside our solar system.
Artemis Impact: The capsule hull absorbs most of this background "drizzle."
1.2 mGy/d
10.7cm Radio Flux A reliable proxy for solar ultraviolet output.
Artemis Impact: Crucial for calculating Orion's skip-reentry trajectory upon return to Earth.
-- sfu
Solar Flare Prob The percentage chance of a significant flare occurring today.
< 5%
IMF Bz
-- nT
Artemis Orbital Advisory Synthesized mission recommendation based on current telemetry.
Nominal conditions for cislunar trajectory. No significant Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events detected.

Artemis II Cislunar Environment Simulator Move the spacecraft into the shadow, toggle thermal control, and trigger a solar storm to see how the physical environment reacts!

Live Physics Engine
Hull Thermal State
120°C
Solar Proton Flux
Nominal
Crew Risk Status
Green / Safe

Geomagnetic Forecast

Analyzing SWPC models...
Based on live NOAA 3-day projections.
Model Confidence (Next 24h)
85%

Environment Risks

Coronal Mass Ejection: --
Geomagnetic Risk: --
Aurora Visibility: --

Max Expected Kp

Today: --
Tomorrow: --
Day 3: --

Solar Wind Speed & Density (Real 24h History)

Geomagnetic Kp Index (Real 24h History)

WSA-Enlil Solar Wind Prediction This model simulates how Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) travel through the solar system. Earth is the small yellow/green dot.

Live heliospheric modeling for CMEs from NOAA SWPC

WSA-Enlil Solar Wind Model

How Space Weather is Predicted

Just like terrestrial weather relies on satellites and radar, space weather relies on a fleet of specialized instruments staring at the Sun.

  • Coronagraphs (SOHO): Satellites that block out the bright light of the Sun to spot Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) erupting.
  • Upstream Buoys (DSCOVR/ACE): Satellites parked 1 million miles toward the Sun that measure solar wind speed and magnetic field (IMF Bz) before it hits Earth.
  • Heliospheric Modeling (WSA-Enlil): Supercomputers model how eruptions will ripple through space, giving us 1-to-3 day forecasts.

Impact on the Artemis Mission

When astronauts leave Low Earth Orbit, they lose the protective shielding of Earth's magnetic field.

  • Solar Proton Events (SPEs): If a solar flare accelerates protons to near light-speed, astronauts must shelter in the heavily-shielded "Safe Haven" in the belly of Orion.
  • Navigation Disruptions: Severe geomagnetic storms warp the ionosphere, severely degrading GPS accuracy necessary for returning to Earth.
  • Thermal Extremes: Without an atmosphere, Orion alternates between boiling heat (120°C) and freezing shadow (-130°C), requiring a constant "Barbecue Roll".