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how fast does the artemis rocket go

How Fast Does the Artemis Rocket Go?

The Artemis rocket (officially the Space Launch System or SLS) reaches different speeds depending on the mission phase:

  • To reach Earth orbit: It accelerates the Orion spacecraft to 17,500 mph (28,164 km/h).
  • To escape Earth and reach the Moon: It pushes Orion to over 25,000 mph (40,234 km/h), which is the fastest speed ever achieved by a crewed vehicle.
  • During re-entry: Orion slams back into Earth's atmosphere at approximately 25,000 mph (40,000 km/h), generating intense heat and deceleration forces.

Speed Breakdown by Flight Phase

Here is how the velocity builds up during a typical Artemis II launch:

Flight Time| Event| Approximate Speed
---|---|---
T+1 minute| Max Q (Max Aerodynamic Pressure)| Throttled down temporarily 1
T+2:09| Solid Rocket Boosters Separate| ~3,100–3,200 mph (5,000 km/h) 17
T+8 minutes| Core Stage Cutoff / Orbit Insertion| 17,500 mph (Orbital Velocity) 1
Trans-Lunar Injection| Escape Earth's Gravity| > 25,000 mph (Escape Velocity) 17
Re-entry| Return to Earth| ~25,000 mph 7

Key Performance Stats

  • Thrust: The launch requires 8.8 million pounds of thrust , equivalent to about 326 F-16 fighter jet engines firing simultaneously.
  • Acceleration: It takes only 3 minutes to reach the edge of space and 8 minutes to achieve a stable orbit.
  • Record-Breaking: The Artemis II mission will set the record for the fastest atmospheric re-entry ever attempted by a crewed spacecraft, subjecting astronauts to extreme G-forces where it becomes "hard to talk, hard to really breathe".

Why So Fast?

To leave Earth's gravitational pull entirely (escape velocity) and travel the 238,900 miles to the Moon, the rocket must overcome immense gravity. While 17,500 mph is enough to stay in orbit around Earth (like the ISS), you need that extra push to 25,000 mph to break free and head lunar-ward.

Note: The Artemis II mission, currently targeting a launch in April 2026 , will be the first crewed flight to test these extreme speeds with humans on board.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.