Eyes on the Skies: How Citizen Scientists Will Help NASA Track Artemis II's Leftover Rocket

It’s a story as old as spaceflight itself: a mighty rocket launches, propels its precious cargo towards the heavens, and then, after fulfilling its purpose, sheds a substantial piece of itself. For NASA's upcoming Artemis II mission, a monumental crewed journey around the Moon, what happens to that discarded hardware – specifically, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) – is becoming a fascinating and vital challenge.

Once the Orion spacecraft and its crew are safely boosted on their lunar trajectory, the ICPS will be jettisoned. Instead of burning up immediately or escaping Earth’s gravity, this 13-meter-long, 5-meter-diameter rocket stage will settle into orbit around our planet, becoming, essentially, a new piece of space debris. And here's the rub: tracking a relatively small, defunct object like this in the vastness of space is incredibly difficult. Yet, it’s absolutely critical, because over its anticipated years-long orbit, it poses a very real, albeit small, collision risk to other satellites, or even future crewed missions.

So, how does one keep tabs on something so elusive? NASA is turning to a brilliant, wonderfully collaborative solution: enlisting the help of 34 dedicated citizen scientists from all corners of the globe. These aren't just folks who occasionally glance at the stars; we're talking about experienced amateur astronomers, many of whom have honed their skills tracking everything from active satellites to faint, tumbling pieces of orbital junk. Their passion for the cosmos is truly inspiring!

Armed with their own sophisticated backyard observatories – high-powered telescopes, sensitive cameras, and often custom-built tracking software – these volunteers will be meticulously scanning the night skies. Their mission, should they choose to accept it (and they absolutely have!), is to gather crucial observational data on the ICPS's precise location. Every snippet of information they provide, submitted directly to NASA, helps refine the orbital prediction models, allowing scientists to more accurately forecast its path and, hopefully, mitigate any potential collision threats.

This isn't NASA's first rodeo with such a program, either. A similar initiative for the uncrewed Artemis I mission proved remarkably successful, demonstrating the immense value of this global volunteer network. As Artemis II gears up for its anticipated launch in September 2025, these global space sleuths will be on high alert, ready to play their unique and indispensable role. It’s a powerful reminder that humanity’s journey back to the Moon isn't just an effort by a few; it’s a truly collaborative endeavor, ensuring every piece of the puzzle, even the discarded ones, is accounted for and understood.