NASA to make critical decision on Artemis II crew's journey to moon: 'Hold our celebration'

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. - NASA is expected to decide Monday night whether to send the Artemis II crew toward the moon, as the four astronauts orbit Earth about a day after launch.

The agency plans a "go/no-go" call ahead of a critical trans-lunar injection burn that would propel the Orion spacecraft roughly 250,000 miles toward the moon.

How’s the crew doing?

What we know:

We are now officially 24 hours into the historic Artemis II mission. Following Wednesday night’s iconic liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast, the four-person crew is currently orbiting Earth, but the most critical decision of the mission is still looming just hours away.

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NASA officials are currently monitoring every system aboard the Orion capsule to determine if it is safe to "slingshot" the crew toward the moon. That high-stakes "Go/No-Go" decision is expected to happen just before 8:00 p.m. on Monday night.

While the world watches from the ground, the four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—are currently adjusting to the grueling physical realities of spaceflight.

Inside the Orion capsule, the crew is experiencing "fluid shift," a process where gravity no longer pulls blood and fluids toward the lower body.

"Your face swells a little bit," said Dr. Steven Platts, Chief Scientist for NASA's Human Research Program. "Your taste buds get a little bit numb and so it’s really hard to taste food."

Beyond the physical toll, the crew is busy testing Orion. This is the first time humans have lived inside this spacecraft in the vacuum of space, and NASA is closely watching how the life-support systems handle the load.

Why day 2 is critical

What we don't know:

While the launch was a success, the mission’s ultimate goal—reaching the moon—is not yet guaranteed. Engineers are currently running thousands of tests to ensure the spacecraft is healthy enough to leave Earth's orbit.

Zac Aubert, Founder of The Launch Pad Network, says the initial window following liftoff is the true proving ground for the hardware.

"Yes, we got through launch, but that first kind of 36 hours, that’s a big part," Aubert said. "Make sure all the thrusters are working, the communications are working."

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The decision to send the crew 250,000 miles away is a binary one. Once the "Trans-Lunar Injection" burn happens, there is no turning back.

"It’ll be a lot like all those pre-flight checks that you heard," Dr. Platts explained. "They’re checking all the different systems. They're making sure everything is working properly. They're checking in with the crew seeing how they’re going and when everything checks out—then they’ll give the go."

What's next:

If NASA gives the "Green Light" on Monday, the astronauts will commit to a trajectory that legally and physically binds them to the moon. Unlike missions in low-Earth orbit, there is no quick "abort to home" once they leave the Earth's vicinity.

"It’s basically putting your foot down on the gas," Aubert said. "In space, once you do that, you can’t just turn around. You are going because you don’t have fuel to slow down to turn around and come home. When you’re dealing with orbital mechanics, it’s just not how it works."

So far, the mission is going to plan. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman shared an update on social media stating that the astronauts are "doing great" and the spacecraft is performing well in its current elliptical orbit. However, Isaacman noted that the agency remains vigilant.

"We will hold our celebration until this crew is under parachutes and splashes down off the west coast of the United States," Isaacman said following Wednesday's launch.

If the "Go" is given tonight, the crew is expected to reach the moon by Monday. They will fly around the far side of the lunar surface, using the moon's gravity to whip them back toward Earth.

Splashdown is currently scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean.