How Long Does It Take To Get To The Moon? Nasa Artemis 1 Mission ...

Nasa’s Artemis 1 mission has successfully launched.

It will send the uncrewed Orion spacecraft to the moon and back, testing key systems and safety ahead of the crewed mission.

The aim is to get astronauts on the moon by 2024, which will be the first time humans have left the earth’s orbit since 1972.

How long does it take to get to the moon?

The average distance to the moon is 382,500km, and according to Nasa, rockets using current propulsion systems take between 2.5 and four days to arrive at the moon.

This being said, the Artemis mission will spend a great deal longer in space as it has other tasks to complete on the dark side of the moon and beyond.

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Artemis 1 mission schedule

Artemis I launched of the SLS on Wednesday 16 November.

The crewless test mission will send the Orion spacecraft to the moon and back carrying dummies designed to mimic human tissue. A crewed mission is set for 2024.

The 1.3 million mile journey is expected to last 42 days, three hours and 20 minutes. If successful it will break the record for the longest flight without docking at a space station.

The spacecraft will also make a close pass of the lunar surface. Along the way around the moon, Nasa will perform two fly-bys measuring at 62 miles above the rocky surface.

Dr Bhavya Lal, Nasa’s associate administrator for technology, policy, and strategy, said that ultimately the agency wanted to see human settlements “throughout the solar system”.

“The point is that we don’t stop when we have gone to Mars,” she told the Telegraph. “By the time we have thriving settlements on Mars, we probably have enough technology that we can push deeper into space.

“I think that idea is simply that we are not stopping. Our long term strategic visions to have a sustained presence on the Moon, Mars and throughout the Solar System.”