Space enthusiasts will soon have the opportunity to witness a significant event unfold live from any location on Earth. Netflix is set to broadcast the Artemis II mission live, allowing viewers to observe the spacecraft’s flyby around the Moon. Many are curious about the technical aspects that enable this live broadcast. Specifically, they are interested in the type of Internet connection NASA is using to stream a space event to Earth.
The Artemis II flyby mission livestream is scheduled to commence at 1 PM ET on April 7 (10:30 AM IST on April 7). Anticipation for the mission is exceptionally high, as it signals NASA’s first human lunar mission in over five decades. Over 400,000 individuals were estimated to have witnessed the launch at the Kennedy Space Centre, with a staggering 17 million viewers tuning in on YouTube. While Netflix was initially intended to stream the historic departure, last-minute changes led to the confirmation that the OTT giant will now broadcast the Artemis II flight around the Moon.
In addition to Netflix, viewers can catch the livestream on various platforms such as YouTube, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Netflix, and NASA Plus.
One of the key questions on many viewers’ minds is how the mission will be livestreamed from space, where traditional Internet connectivity is not available. NASA has implemented advanced laser communication technology for the Artemis II mission, utilizing infrared light instead of conventional radio waves to transmit data to and from space. This cutting-edge system, known as the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O), allows for the transmission of a greater volume of data, including 4K high-definition video and high-resolution images, at speeds of 260 megabits per second. The information is being received by NASA through laser signals at either the Las Cruces, New Mexico, or Table Mountain, California ground stations, depending on cloud coverage.
As the spacecraft passes behind the Moon at 23:47 BST on Monday, April 6 (4:17 AM IST on Tuesday, April 7), the crew is expected to experience a temporary communication blackout with mission control in Houston, Texas. Maintaining communication with mission control is crucial for astronauts during deep-space missions as it serves as a vital link with Earth.
The Artemis mission’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, carrying four astronauts, took off from the Kennedy Space Centre on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT (4:05 a.m. IST on April 2, 2026). Following a successful high-stakes engine firing that freed them from Earth’s orbit nearly 42 hours after liftoff, the crew embarked on their journey toward the Moon on April 3, 2026.
The Artemis II crew, en route for a lunar flyby, consists of four astronauts: NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, NASA Pilot Victor Glover, NASA Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.
While the journey toward the Moon progresses smoothly over the 10-day period, the crew encountered a minor technical issue. After liftoff, astronauts faced challenges with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft’s email platform, on the shuttle’s personal computing devices (PCDs). Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman reported two instances where Outlook was not functional and requested remote assistance from mission control in Houston.
Netflix has entered into a partnership with NASA to bring NASA Plus content to its platform. Despite the collaboration, Netflix has only broadcast a single event to date, which occurred on July 31 last year.