Artemis program

The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program led by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Its goal is to bring humans back to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo program and to build a permanent lunar base. The program was started in 2017 by President Donald Trump through a special directive called Space Policy Directive-1.

The Artemis program uses many parts that were developed for earlier space projects, such as the Space Shuttle. It also includes new systems created by private companies. Countries around the world work together through the Artemis Accords.

So far, the program has completed two missions. In 2022, Artemis I sent a spacecraft called Orion around the Moon without any people on board. In 2026, Artemis II carried four astronauts on a flight around the Moon, marking the first time people have traveled beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo missions. Future missions, beginning with Artemis III in 2027 and continuing with Artemis IV in 2028, aim to land astronauts on the Moon again and eventually establish a base there as a step toward human missions to deeper space.

Overview

The Artemis program is a plan by NASA to send people back to the Moon. The program includes several missions, each more complex than the last, happening about once a year. Missions are named Artemis I through Artemis V, with more planned. Each mission uses a big rocket called SLS with a spacecraft named Orion.

The main parts of Artemis are the SLS rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and a landing system called HLS. Other important parts include services for sending payloads to the Moon, ground systems for exploration, plans for a Moon base, a Moon vehicle, and new spacesuit designs. The first mission, Artemis I, flew in November 2022 without any people, testing the rocket and spacecraft. Artemis II, with people on board, flew in April 2026. Future missions will land people on the Moon and help build a base there.

History

The Artemis program uses parts from older NASA plans, like the Constellation program and the Asteroid Redirect Mission.

In 2017, President Donald Trump signed a policy to send humans back to the Moon, then to Mars. This effort was named Artemis, after the Moon goddess, and uses many existing NASA tools. NASA aimed for a Moon landing in 2024 but faced budget and scheduling challenges. In 2021, the Biden administration supported the Artemis program, though some experts said the 2024 goal might not be realistic. NASA chose SpaceX to help build a Moon lander, though there were protests and legal issues about the choice.

Missions

Main article: List of Artemis missions

Orion test flights

Further information: Orion (spacecraft) § Flights

The Pad Abort-1 test on May 6, 2010, showed that Orion's system could move the crew module away from a rocket during an emergency on the launch pad. The Ascent Abort-2 test on July 2, 2019, showed the system could move the crew module away during launch. For this test, the boilerplate capsule launched on a special Minotaur IV-derived rocket.

Between these tests, a prototype Orion crew module flew on Exploration Flight Test-1 on December 5, 2014, using a Delta IV Heavy rocket. Its reaction control system and other parts were tested while flying two paths around Earth, reaching a distance of 5,800 km before returning.

Artemis I (2022)

Further information: Artemis I

Artemis I was planned for late 2016 but faced many delays. It finally launched on November 16, 2022, from the Kennedy Space Center. The mission ended on December 11 when the Orion spacecraft landed in the Pacific Ocean. Artemis I traveled over 2.3 million kilometers around the Moon before coming back to Earth.

Artemis II (2026)

Artemis II landed in the Pacific Ocean on April 11 after a nine-day trip around the Moon.

Artemis III (2027)

Artemis IV (early 2028)

Artemis V (late 2028)

Supporting programs

The Artemis program has several supporting projects to help with its goals. One of these is called Commercial Lunar Payload Services, which works with private companies to send scientific tools to the Moon. Another important project is the Artemis Accords, an international agreement to help guide space exploration.

There is also a project named Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), which focuses on preparing launch sites and equipment needed for the program's missions. These supporting programs work together to make sure everything is ready for humans to return to the Moon and build a base there.

Supporting Earth-launch vehicles

NASA plans to use several rockets to help send people and equipment to the Moon for the Artemis program. The main rocket will be the NASA Space Launch System, which will carry the Orion vehicle. Other rockets, like the Falcon Heavy, will help carry parts of the Lunar Gateway. SpaceX is also developing a rocket called Starship to carry the HLS vehicle to the Moon.

The Power and Propulsion Element and Habitation and Logistics Outpost for the Gateway will now launch together on a Falcon Heavy in 2027. These parts will get supplies from many commercial missions. One supply ship, called Dragon XL, can stay connected to the Gateway for a whole year and make its own power.

Space Launch System

SpaceX Starship

Main article: SpaceX Starship

SpaceX is building a big, reusable rocket system called Starship. It has a powerful booster stage and a spacecraft stage that can fly to space and back. For the Artemis missions, special versions of Starship will carry fuel, act as a fuel storage spot in space, and land on the Moon. These Starships are designed only for Moon landings and will not land back on Earth. They can also carry people and supplies for the Artemis program and other space missions.

SpaceX’s Starship was chosen by NASA in 2021 to help land astronauts on the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Space vehicles

Orion

Main article: Orion (spacecraft)

Orion is a type of spacecraft meant for space travel in the Artemis program. It includes a part called the Crew Module, made by Lockheed Martin, and another part called the European Service Module, made by Airbus Defence and Space. Orion can carry up to six people and has solar panels, a system for connecting to other spacecraft, and modern controls like those in airplane cockpits. It uses special engines for moving through space and is meant to fly on top of a rocket called the Space Launch System.

Orion was first thought of by Lockheed Martin for a different space project called the Constellation program. After that program ended in 2010, Orion was changed to help with NASA's plans to travel to the Moon and Mars. A test version of Orion flew in 2014, and by 2022, three Orion spacecraft were ready for use in the Artemis program. The first of these was planned to launch in late 2020 but actually launched in November 2022.

Lunar Gateway (cancelled)

Planned surface operations

The Artemis Base Camp will help scientists learn about living on the Moon and maybe even Mars someday. It will stay on the Moon for up to two months each time and could be used for many years by both government and private companies. The base will have three main parts:

1. The Surface Habitat (SH) modules, which will be the first home for astronauts on the Moon.
2. The Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), a rover to move astronauts and supplies around the base area.
3. The Pressurized Rovers (PR), which can keep astronauts safe and comfortable for many days far from the base.

Transportation on the Moon

Landing zone

In 2022, NASA picked 13 places near the Moon's South Pole for astronauts to land and explore first.

Ground transportation development

Main article: Lunar Terrain Vehicle

In February 2020, NASA asked companies for ideas about building rovers for astronauts to use on the Moon. The Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) would be placed on the Moon before astronauts arrive and help them move around. In April 2024, NASA chose three companies to build this rover.

Shelter building construction

See also: NASA lunar outpost concepts and Moonbase

The Artemis Base Camp will be built near the Moon's South Pole close to two craters named Shackleton and de Gerlache. This area has many different landscapes and may have water ice that could be important for future Moon bases.

Foundational Surface Habitat

Most of what we know about the Surface Habitat (SH) modules comes from plans and launch schedules. It will be built by companies and launched in the early 2030s. The SH used to be called the Artemis Surface Asset. It will be sent to a space station called the Gateway before being taken to the Moon.

Resource prospecting and research programs

As of February 2020, astronauts will stay on the Moon for about seven days during early Artemis missions. They will do five spacewalks outside their spacecraft. On the first day, they prepare for their first spacewalk the next day.

On the second day, they leave their spacecraft for the first time and collect samples, set up experiments, and do other tasks close to where they landed. On the third day, they travel up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to areas that never see sunlight to collect more samples.

The fourth day has no spacewalk, but the fifth day they collect samples from areas where Moon material has been thrown. On the sixth day, they set up tools to study the Moon’s surface and monitor conditions. The seventh day has a short spacewalk to get ready to leave the Moon. After this, they return to their spacecraft and leave the Moon.

Pressurized rover ("Mobile Habitat")

Main article: Lunar Cruiser

The Pressurized Rover (PR) is a big, safe vehicle that lets astronauts travel far from the base and stay for many days. NASA built a rover for an earlier Moon program, and now plans to use it or a similar design for Artemis. In April 2024, Japan agreed to help build this rover. Japan will design and operate the rover, and NASA will launch it to the Moon and give two seats to Japanese astronauts for future Moon missions. The rover can hold two astronauts for up to 30 days and will be used starting with Artemis VII missions.

Spacesuits

The Artemis program uses two types of space suit. The Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) is used for launch and entry. It helps keep astronauts safe if there is a problem with the spacecraft's air.

The other suit is for walking on the Moon. It is called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU). This suit was tested and checked in 2026. Axiom Space is planning to test the AxEMU in space in 2027, but it is not yet decided if this will be during the Artemis III flight or on the International Space Station.

Criticism

The Artemis program has faced some criticism from space experts. Mark Whittington, a writer for The Hill, suggested that one part of the plan doesn’t actually help get people back to the Moon.

Robert Zubrin, who started the Mars Society, didn’t like a part of Artemis called the Lunar Gateway. He suggested an idea called “Moon Direct” using SpaceX rockets and spacecraft instead of NASA’s current plans. Some, like astronaut Buzz Aldrin, agree with parts of Zubrin’s idea and question some of NASA’s plans for building a base on the Moon.