Artemis program

SLS missions

• Artemis I (November 16, 2022) was the first uncrewed test flight of the SLS, Orion, and ESM.^[i] The mission sent Orion into a polar distant retrograde lunar orbit for about six days before returning to Earth, where the capsule re-entered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean under parachutes.^[13] Although the mission was successful overall, Orion’s ablative heat shield experienced greater-than-expected erosion during reentry.^[14]
• Artemis II (April 2026) is planned to be the first crewed test flight of SLS and the Orion spacecraft.^[15] The four crew members will perform extensive testing in Earth orbit, and Orion will then be boosted into a free-return trajectory around the Moon, which will return Orion to Earth for re-entry and splashdown. The mission is comparable to Apollo 8 in the Apollo program. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than April 1, 2026.^[15][16][17]
• Artemis III (mid-2027) is planned to be the second crewed Artemis mission. The crew will launch aboard SLS/Orion and conduct rendezvous and docking tests in low Earth orbit with one or both commercially developed lunar landers launched separately—SpaceX's Starship HLS and Blue Origin's Blue Moon—as well as test the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) space suit.^[12][18] The mission is comparable to Apollo 9.
• Artemis IV (early 2028) is planned to be the first American crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in December 1972.^[15] This mission will be the first to use a "standardized" configuration of the SLS rocket with a commercially developed upper stage replacing the ICPS. The mission depends on a prior support flight to place a lander in lunar orbit before the launch of SLS/Orion. After arrival, astronauts will transfer to the lander for descent to the lunar surface, conduct at least two extravehicular activities (EVAs), and then return to lunar orbit for rendezvous with Orion. Orion will subsequently return the four astronauts to Earth. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than early 2028.^[12][19]
• Artemis V (late 2028) is planned to be the second crewed lunar landing. This mission also is when NASA is expected to begin building its Moon base.^[12]

Support missions

Support missions deliver robotic payloads, Gateway modules, HLS vehicles, and elements of the lunar base. Most are executed under NASA contracts with commercial providers.

Under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, robotic landers launched on commercial rockets deliver equipment to the lunar surface. CLPS flights began in 2024, initially carrying scientific instruments, and will continue throughout the Artemis program to support crewed operations, including the delivery of Moon base modules, lunar rovers, and other surface equipment.

The Human Landing System (HLS) vehicles—SpaceX's Starship HLS and Blue Origin's Blue Moon—both currently in development, are designed to transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface, support them during surface operations, and return them to lunar orbit. They will launch separately from Orion on commercial launch vehicles instead of SLS.

The Lunar Gateway was originally planned to host crewed Orion dockings, supply modules, and support lunar operations. However, as of 2026, Gateway may be cancelled or deferred; NASA’s current planning no longer explicitly includes it in early Artemis missions. Originally, the first two Gateway modules (PPE and HALO) were to be delivered together by Falcon Heavy, with additional modules riding alongside Orion on SLS launches and resupply provided by Dragon XL spacecraft.

Early history

The Artemis program incorporates several major components of previously cancelled NASA programs and missions, including the Constellation program and the Asteroid Redirect Mission. Originally legislated by the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, Constellation included the development of Ares I, Ares V, and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. The program ran from the early 2000s until 2010.^[20]

In May 2009, U.S. president Barack Obama established the Augustine Committee to take into account several objectives including support for the International Space Station, development of missions beyond low Earth orbit (including the Moon, Mars, and near-Earth objects), and use of the commercial space industry within defined budget limits.^[21] The committee concluded that the Constellation program was massively underfunded and that a 2020 Moon landing was impossible. Constellation was subsequently put on hold.^[22]

On April 15, 2010, President Obama spoke at the Kennedy Space Center, announcing the administration's plans for NASA and cancelling the non-Orion elements of Constellation on the premise that the program had become nonviable.^[23] He instead proposed US$6 billion in additional funding and called for the development of a new heavy-lift rocket program to be ready for construction by 2015 with crewed missions to Mars orbit by the mid-2030s.^[24]

On October 11, 2010, President Obama signed into law the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, which included requirements for the immediate development of the Space Launch System as a follow-on launch vehicle to the Space Shuttle, and continued development of a Crew Exploration Vehicle to be capable of supporting missions beyond low Earth orbit starting in 2016, while making use of the workforce, assets, and capabilities of the Space Shuttle program, Constellation program, and other NASA programs. The law also invested in space technologies and robotics capabilities tied to the overall space exploration framework, ensured continued support for Commercial Orbital Transportation Services, Commercial Resupply Services, and expanded the Commercial Crew Development program.^[25]

On June 30, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to re-establish the National Space Council, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence. The Trump administration's first budget request kept Obama-era human spaceflight programs in place: Commercial Resupply Services, Commercial Crew Development, the Space Launch System, and the Orion spacecraft for deep space missions, while reducing Earth science research and calling for the elimination of NASA's education office.^[26]

Redefinition and naming as Artemis

On December 11, 2017, President Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, a change in national space policy that provides for a U.S.-led, integrated program with private sector partners for a human return to the Moon, followed by missions to Mars and beyond. The policy calls for the NASA administrator to "lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the Solar System and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities". The effort intends to more effectively organize government, private industry, and international efforts toward returning humans to the Moon and laying the foundation of eventual human exploration of Mars.^[2]

Space Policy Directive 1 authorized the lunar-focused campaign. The campaign, later named Artemis, draws upon legacy US spacecraft programs, including the Orion space capsule, the Lunar Gateway space station, and Commercial Lunar Payload Services, and creates entirely new programs such as the Human Landing System. The in-development Space Launch System is expected to serve as the primary launch vehicle for Orion, while commercial launch vehicles will launch various other elements of the program.^[27]

On March 26, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence announced that NASA's Moon landing goal would be accelerated by four years with a planned landing in 2024.^[28] On May 16, 2019, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced that the new program would be named Artemis, after the goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology who is the twin sister of Apollo.^[27][29] Despite the immediate new goals, Mars missions by the 2030s were still intended as of May 2019^[update].^[2]

In mid-2019, NASA requested US$1.6 billion in additional funding for Artemis for fiscal year 2020,^[30] while the Senate Appropriations Committee requested from NASA a five-year budget profile^[31] which is needed for evaluation and approval by Congress.^[32][33]

In February 2020, the White House requested a funding increase of 12% to cover the Artemis program as part of its fiscal year 2021 budget. The total budget would have been US$25.2 billion per year with US$3.7 billion dedicated toward a Human Landing System. NASA chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said he thought the agency had "a very good shot" to get this budget through Congress despite Democratic concerns around the program.^[34] However, in July 2020, the House Appropriations Committee rejected the White House's requested funding increase.^[35] The bill proposed in the House dedicated only US$700 million toward the Human Landing System, 81% (US$3 billion) short of the requested amount.^[36]

In April 2020, NASA awarded funding to Blue Origin, Dynetics, and SpaceX for 10-month-long preliminary design studies for the HLS.^[37][38][39]

Throughout February 2021, Acting Administrator of NASA Steve Jurczyk reiterated those budget concerns when asked about the project's schedule,^[40][41] clarifying that "The 2024 lunar landing goal may no longer be a realistic target [...]".^[42]

On February 4, 2021, the Biden administration endorsed the Artemis program.^[43] More specifically, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki expressed the Biden administration's "support [for] this effort and endeavor".^[44][45][46]

On April 16, 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX to develop, manufacture, and fly two lunar landing flights with the Starship HLS lunar lander.^[47] Blue Origin and Dynetics protested the award to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on April 26.^[48][49] After the GAO rejected the protests,^[50] Blue Origin sued NASA over the award,^[51][52] and NASA agreed to stop work on the contract until November 1 as the lawsuit proceeded. The judge dismissed the suit on November 4, and NASA resumed work with SpaceX.^[53]

On September 25, 2021, NASA released its first digital, interactive graphic novel in celebration of National Comic Book Day. "First Woman: NASA's Promise for Humanity" is the fictional story of Callie Rodriguez, the first woman to explore the Moon.^[54] In March 2025, with the diversity, equity, and inclusion policies of the second Trump administration, this was removed from NASA's web pages,^[55] together with other information about the graphic novel.^{[clarification needed]}

On November 15, 2021, an audit of NASA's Office of Inspector General estimated the true cost of the Artemis program at about $93 billion until 2025.^[1]

In addition to the initial SpaceX contract, NASA awarded two rounds of separate contracts in May 2019^[56] and September 2021,^[57] on aspects of the HLS to encourage alternative designs, separately from the initial HLS development effort. It announced in March 2022 that it was developing new sustainability rules and pursuing both a Starship HLS upgrade (an option under the initial SpaceX contract) and new competing alternative designs. These came after criticism from members of Congress over the lack of redundancy and competition, and led NASA to ask for additional support.^[58][59]

Artemis I (2022)

Artemis I was originally scheduled for late 2016, and as delays accrued, eventually for late 2021, but the launch date was then pushed back to August 29, 2022.^[60] Various delays related to final infrastructure repairs and weather pushed the launch date further out.^[61]

In October 2022, NASA launch managers decided on a new launch date in November, which was again slightly delayed due to preparation and weather.^[62][63][4] On November 16 at 01:47:44 EST (06:47:44 UTC), Artemis I successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center.^[64]

Artemis I was completed at 09:40 PST (17:40 UTC) on December 11, when the Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, west of Baja California, after a record-breaking mission, which saw Artemis travel more than 2.3 million kilometers (1.4 million miles) on a path around the Moon before returning safely to Earth. The splashdown occurred 50 years to the day since NASA's Apollo 17 Moon landing, the last human crewed mission to touch down on the lunar surface.^[65]

Artemis II (2026)

The Artemis II mission is to be the second flight of the SLS, and the first crewed mission of the Orion spacecraft. It is the first crewed mission around the Moon, and beyond low Earth orbit, since Apollo 17 in 1972. The mission will launch no earlier than April 1, 2026.^[17]

Glover (left), Koch (center), and Hansen (right) are planned to be the first person of color, woman, and non-US citizen to go beyond low Earth orbit, respectively.

Artemis II is to be crewed by four astronauts: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor J. Glover, payload specialist Christina Koch, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.^[66] Jenni Gibbons is Hansen's backup; she will join the mission if Hansen is unable to.^[67][68]

Glover, Koch, and Hansen are planned to be the first person of color, woman, and non-US citizen to go beyond low Earth orbit, respectively.^[66] Hansen and Gibbons are Canadian and have been assigned by the Canadian Space Agency;^[66] a 2020 treaty between the United States and Canada led to their involvement.^[69]

Overhaul (2026)

On February 27, 2026, a major overhaul was announced. The first lunar landing of the program was moved from Artemis III to Artemis IV (early 2028), at the earliest. Artemis III will stay in Earth orbit. These and other changes are intended to increase launch frequency. The future of Gateway is unclear.^[70]

Artemis III (2027)

Artemis III is expected to launch no earlier than mid-2027 to conduct key technology demonstrations in low-Earth orbit, including rendezvous and docking tests with one or both commercially built lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin.^[71]

Artemis IV (early 2028)

Artemis IV is now planned to be the first lunar landing of the program in early 2028.

Artemis IV was previously expected to launch no earlier than September 2028. Prior to the launch of the mission, a Falcon Heavy is planned to launch the first two Lunar Gateway elements: the Power and Propulsion Element and Habitation and Logistics Outpost, now scheduled for 2027. Artemis IV would then have been responsible for launching with a crew with the International Habitation Module (I-Hab) and adding the module to the Gateway space station. SLS Block 1B manufacture began in March 2024.^[79] The I-Hab module construction was underway as of April 2024.^[80]

In May 2024, it was reported NASA made significant progress towards completion of Mobile Launcher 2 (ML-2), the launch platform that will be used by the larger SLS Block 1B.^[81] In August 2024, the NASA Inspector General estimated that the launch platform could end up costing the agency $2.5 billion, more than six times its original value and may not be ready to support a launch until 2029, making the current launch schedule unrealistic.^[82]

NASA had highlighted three initial goals for the mission: launch with a crewed Orion spacecraft and Lunar I-Hab Gateway element for payload delivery on an SLS Block 1B rocket to lunar orbit; delivery of Lunar I-Hab to Gateway, where it will dock to HALO; human landing system spacecraft docking. Two key objectives are to follow on the surface: Artemis IV crew members will use the landing system to descend to and later ascend from the lunar surface before returning to Earth on Orion.^[83]

In early 2026, it was announced that Block 1B and ML-2 would not be used, with more details to follow later.^[12]

Artemis V (late 2028)

Artemis V is now planned to be the second lunar landing of the program in late 2028.

Artemis V was previously expected to launch no earlier than March 2030 and be the third lunar landing of the Artemis program. The mission was originally planned to launch four astronauts on a Space Launch System rocket and an Orion spacecraft to the Lunar Gateway. Artemis V was to deliver two new elements to the Gateway space station.^[84] After docking to the Gateway, two astronauts would board the Blue Moon lunar lander and fly it to the Lunar south pole to land near the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). This was to be the first lunar landing since Apollo 17 to use an unpressurized lunar rover.^[85]

NASA had highlighted five key points for the mission, in chronological order:

• The crewed Orion spacecraft and the Lunar View element will launch as a co-manifested payload on an SLS Block 1B rocket to lunar orbit.
• Orion will deliver Lunar View to Gateway, where it will dock to HALO.
• A Human Landing System spacecraft will dock to Gateway.
• Artemis V crew members will use the Human Landing System to descend to and later ascend from the lunar surface.
• Artemis V crew will return to Earth on Orion.^[83]

Pre-overhaul plans

The following are the pre-overhaul plans for Artemis VI through X.

Artemis VI (2031)

Artemis VI is expected to launch no earlier than March 2031.^[11] The primary objectives of this mission are to integrate the Crew and Science Airlock Module with Gateway, and to complete the fourth crewed lunar surface expedition of the Artemis missions.^[83] As of 2024, the Airlock module is under construction by Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.^[86]

NASA has highlighted five key points for the mission, in chronological order:

• The crewed Orion spacecraft and Gateway’s Crew and Science Airlock will launch as a co-manifested payload on an SLS Block 1B rocket to lunar orbit.
• Orion will deliver the Crew and Science Airlock to Gateway, where it will dock to Lunar I-Hab.
• A Human Landing System spacecraft will dock to Gateway.
• Artemis VI crew members will use the Human Landing System to descend to and later ascend from the lunar surface.
• Artemis VI crew will return to Earth on Orion.^[83]

Artemis VII (2032)

Artemis VII is expected to launch no earlier than March 2032. The objectives are to deliver the Habitable Mobility Platform (Lunar Cruiser) to the surface of the moon on an SLS Block 1B rocket. The mission is expected to last around 30 days.^[87][88]

Artemis VIII (2033)

Artemis VIII is expected to launch no earlier than 2033. The mission will have a lunar landing, with the delivery of lunar surface logistics and the Foundational Surface Habitat, using an SLS Block 1B rocket with the aid of Blue Origin. The mission is expected to last around 60 days.^[88]

Artemis IX (2034)

Artemis IX is expected to launch no earlier than 2034. The mission will have another lunar landing with the delivery of additional lunar surface logistics. This mission will be the first to use an SLS Block 2 rocket. The mission is expected to last around 60 days.^[87]

Artemis X (2035)

Artemis X is planned to launch no earlier than 2035. This mission will feature the delivery of additional lunar surface logistics, and will include astronauts staying on the Moon long-term. The mission is expected to last up to 180 days.^[87]

Future

As of 2026, additional missions beyond Artemis X have not officially been discussed. Additionally, the NASA Inspector General has stated in 2024 that the current launch timeline is "unrealistic" and will likely be further delayed.^[87]

Commercial Lunar Payload Services

In March 2018, NASA established the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program with the aim of sending small robotic landers and rovers mostly to the lunar south pole region as a precursor to and in support of crewed missions.^[90][91][92] The main goals include scouting of lunar resources, ISRU feasibility testing, and lunar science.^[93] NASA is awarding commercial providers indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts to develop and fly lunar landers with scientific payloads.^[94] The first phase considered proposals capable of delivering at least 10 kg (22 lb) of payload by the end of 2021.^[94] Proposals for mid-sized landers capable of delivering between 500 kg (1,100 lb) and 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of cargo were planned to also be considered for launch beyond 2021.^[95]

In November 2018, NASA announced the first nine companies that were qualified to bid on the CLPS transportation service contracts (see list below).^[96] On 31 May 2019, three of those were awarded lander contracts: Astrobotic Technology, Intuitive Machines, and OrbitBeyond.^[97] On July 29, 2019, NASA announced that it had granted OrbitBeyond's request to be released from obligations under the contract citing "internal corporate challenges".^[98]

The first twelve payloads and experiments from NASA centers were announced on February 21, 2019.^[99] On July 1, 2019, NASA announced the selection of twelve additional payloads, provided by universities and industry. Seven of these are scientific investigations while five are technology demonstrations.^[100]

The Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads (LSITP) program was soliciting payloads in 2019 that do not require significant additional development. They will include technology demonstrators to advance lunar science or the commercial development of the Moon.^[101][102]

In November 2019, NASA added five contractors to the group of companies who are eligible to bid to send large payloads to the surface of the Moon under the CLPS program: Blue Origin, Ceres Robotics, Sierra Nevada Corporation, SpaceX, and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems.^[103][104]

In April 2020, NASA selected Masten Space Systems for a follow-on CLPS delivery of cargo to the Moon in 2022.^[105][106] On June 23, 2021, Masten Space Systems announced it was delayed until November 2023. Dave Masten, the founder and chief technology officer, blamed the delay on the COVID pandemic and industry-wide supply chain issues.^[107]

In February 2021, NASA selected Firefly Aerospace for a CLPS launch to Mare Crisium in mid-2023.^[108][109]

International contractors

More information Name, Country ...

Name	Country	Program element	Services performed
Toyota	Japan	Crewed lunar rover	Lunar Cruiser[112]
ArianeGroup	France	Orion	Propulsion system components[113]
ESAB	Sweden	Space Launch System	Fuel tank structures[114]
MT Aerospace	Germany	Space Launch System	Cryogenic core stage dome core panels[115]
Schaeffler Aerospace Germany GmbH & Co. KG	Germany	Space Launch System	Cronidur 30 in SLS propulsion systems, components for Orion spacecraft[116]
Magna Steyr	Austria	Space Launch System	Pressurization lines for the SLS core stage[117]
Airbus	Germany	Orion	Orion European Service Module[118]
7 Sisters Consortium (includes Fleet Space Technologies,[119] OZ Minerals, University of Adelaide,[120] University of New South Wales, and Unearthed)	Australia	Lunar exploration support	Companion program to Artemis to provide nanosatellite solutions and exploration support for crewed Artemis missions.[121]
MDA Space	Canada	Lunar Gateway	Canadarm 3[122]
Ispace	Japan	Lunar in situ resource utilization	Hakuto-R lunar regolith transfer[123]
Ispace Europe	Luxembourg	Lunar in situ resource utilization	Lunar regolith transfer[124]
Vigo Photonics	Poland	Orion	Infrared sensors[125][126][127]
Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences	Poland	Orion	Radiation detectors[127]

Close

Artemis Accords

On May 5, 2020, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was drafting a new international agreement outlining the laws for mining on the Moon.^[128] NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine officially announced the Artemis Accords on May 15, 2020. It consists of a series of multilateral agreements between the governments of participating nations in the Artemis program "grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967".^[129][130] The Artemis Accords have been criticized by some American researchers as "a concerted, strategic effort to redirect international space cooperation in favor of short-term U.S. commercial interests".^[131]

Exploration Ground Systems (EGS)

The Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program is one of three NASA programs based at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. EGS was established to develop and operate the systems and facilities necessary to process and launch rockets and spacecraft during assembly, transport, and launch.^[132] EGS is preparing the infrastructure to support NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and its payloads, such as the Orion spacecraft for Artemis I.^[133][134]

Gateway Logistics Services

The Lunar Gateway is a space station to be constructed in lunar orbit, and the Gateway Logistics Services program will provide cargo and other supplies to the station, even when crews are not present.^[135] As of 2022^[update], only SpaceX's supply vehicle, known as Dragon XL, is planned to supply the Gateway. Dragon XL is a version of the Dragon spacecraft, to be launched by the Falcon Heavy. Unlike Dragon 2 and its predecessor, it is intended to be an expendable spacecraft.

Space Launch System

The Space Launch System (SLS) is a United States super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle, which has been under development since its announcement in 2011. The SLS is the main Earth-launch vehicle of the Artemis lunar program, as of March 2021^[update]. NASA is required by the U.S. Congress to use SLS Block 1, which will be powerful enough to lift a payload of 95 metric tons (209,000 lb) to low Earth orbit (LEO), and will launch Artemis I, II, and III.^{[166][167][168]}

The SLS will launch the Orion spacecraft and use the ground operations capabilities and launch facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

On February 27th, 2026, NASA announced the cancellation of SLS Block 1B and Block 2 to streamline operations and increase launch frequency. Due to this, the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) and Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) were also cancelled.^[169]

In March 2019, the Trump administration released its Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request for NASA. This budget did not initially include any money for the Block 1B and Block 2 variants of SLS, but later a request for a budget increase of $1.6 billion towards SLS, Orion, and crewed landers was made. An uncrewed Block 1B was planned to launch the Lunar Surface Asset in 2028, the first lunar outpost of the Artemis program, but now that launch has been moved to a commercial launcher.^[170]

In October 2019, NASA authorized Boeing to purchase materials in bulk for more SLS rockets ahead of the announcement of a new contract. The contract was expected to support up to ten core stages and eight Exploration Upper Stages for the SLS 1B to transfer heavy payloads of up to 40 metric tons on a lunar trajectory.^[171]

SpaceX Starship

The SpaceX Starship system is a fully-reusable super heavy-lift Earth-launch system which is under development. It consists of a first-stage booster named Super-Heavy and a second-stage space vehicle which is generally named Starship and which will have several variants. A Starship HLS mission will use three variants: a tanker, a propellant depot, and the Starship HLS itself which will be designed only for lunar landings and takeoffs, and not for Earth landings. Some variants will be able to return to Earth for reuse.

The second-stage Starships are fully self-contained spacecraft, complete with their own propulsion systems. The combined Starship system using standard Starship variants for its second-stage is planned to launch crews and cargo, which may then be used to support the various developmental needs of the Artemis program, and also to support the needs of other NASA and SpaceX programs.

The SpaceX Starship is also qualified to be bid for Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launches, and in 2021 was the winning NASA bid for a crewed lunar landing.^{[182][183][184]}

Falcon Heavy

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable heavy-lift launcher. It will be used to launch the first two Gateway modules into NRHO.^[185] It will also be used to launch the Dragon XL spacecraft on supply missions to Gateway,^[186] and it is qualified to be bid for other launches under the CLPS program. It was selected under CLPS to launch the VIPER mission, though this mission was later cancelled in 2024 due to cost overruns and mission delays.^[187]

CLPS launchers

Under the CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Service) program, qualified CLPS vendors can use any launcher that meets their mission requirements.

Orion

Orion is a class of partially reusable spacecraft to be used in the Artemis program. The spacecraft consists of a Crew Module (CM) space capsule designed by Lockheed Martin and the European Service Module (ESM) manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space. Capable of supporting a crew of six beyond low Earth orbit, Orion is equipped with solar panels, an automated docking system, and glass cockpit interfaces modeled after those used in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It has a single AJ10 engine for primary propulsion, and others including reaction control system engines. Although designed to be compatible with other launch vehicles, Orion is primarily intended to launch atop a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with a tower launch escape system.

Orion was originally conceived by Lockheed Martin as a proposal for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) to be used in NASA's Constellation program. Following the cancellation of the Constellation program in 2010, Orion was heavily redesigned for use in NASA's Journey to Mars initiative; later named Moon to Mars. The SLS replaced the Ares I as Orion's primary launch vehicle, and the service module was replaced with a design based on the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle. A development version of Orion's CM was launched in 2014 during Exploration Flight Test-1, while at least four test articles were produced. By 2022, three flight-worthy Orion crew modules have been built, with an additional one ordered, for use in the Artemis program; the first of these was due to be launched on November 30, 2020, however, Artemis I did not launch until November 16, 2022.

Dragon XL

This section is an excerpt from SpaceX Dragon § Dragon XL.[edit]

On March 27, 2020, SpaceX revealed the Dragon XL resupply spacecraft to carry pressurized and unpressurized cargo, experiments and other supplies to NASA's planned Lunar Gateway under a Gateway Logistics Services (GLS) contract.^[188][189] The equipment delivered by Dragon XL missions could include sample collection materials, spacesuits and other items astronauts may need on the Gateway and on the surface of the Moon, according to NASA. It will launch on SpaceX Falcon Heavy rockets from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.^[190]

The Dragon XL will stay at the Gateway for 6 to 12 months at a time, when research payloads inside and outside the cargo vessel could be operated remotely, even when crews are not present.^[190] Its payload capacity is expected to be more than 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) to lunar orbit.^[191] There is no requirement for a return to Earth. At the end of the mission the Dragon XL must be able to undock and dispose of the same mass it can bring to the Gateway, by moving the spacecraft to a heliocentric orbit.^[192]

On February 22, 2023, NASA discussed the Dragon XL's development for the first time since its 2020 unveiling, with Mark Wiese, NASA's manager of deep space logistics for the Gateway program, answering during a panel at SpaceCom that NASA has been working with SpaceX to run a series of studies to refine the Dragon XL design and examine cargo configurations and other capabilities that could be enabled by the spacecraft.^[193] Wiese also elaborated that Dragon XL would be used for initial missions, and stating that "[NASA] talked to [SpaceX] about Starship evolution and how it all worked together, but we’re not there yet because it's still in a development phase" hinting that Starship will eventually replace Dragon XL once it completes development.^[193]

On March 29, 2024, NASA released an article outlining the mission of Artemis IV, which is to be the first crewed mission to the Lunar Gateway slated for 2028, stating that the Dragon XL will be used to resupply and carry science experiments, however, Artemis IV will take place concurrently with a Starship launch which will dock at the Gateway and help with the assembly of the station.^[194]

Human Landing System (HLS)

The Human Landing System (HLS) is a critical component of the Artemis mission. This system transports crew from lunar orbit (the Gateway or an Orion spacecraft) to the lunar surface, acts as a lunar habitat, and then transports the crew back to lunar orbit. In 2021 SpaceX's Starship HLS program was awarded the winning NASA bid for the production of a crewed lunar landing vehicle.^[182] In May 2023, Blue Origin was selected as the second provider for lunar lander services.^[195][196]

Lunar Gateway

NASA's Gateway is an in-development mini-space station in lunar orbit intended to serve as a solar-powered communication hub, science laboratory, short-term habitation module, and holding area for rovers and other robots.^[199] While the project is led by NASA, the Gateway is meant to be developed, serviced, and used in collaboration with commercial and international partners: Canada (Canadian Space Agency) (CSA), Europe (European Space Agency) (ESA), and Japan (JAXA).

The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) started development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the now canceled Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). The original concept was a robotic, high performance solar electric spacecraft that would retrieve a multi-ton boulder from an asteroid and bring it to lunar orbit for study.^[200] When ARM was canceled, the solar electric propulsion was repurposed for the Gateway.^[201][202] The PPE will allow access to the entire lunar surface and act as a space tug for visiting craft.^[203] It will also serve as the command and communications center of the Gateway.^[204][205] The PPE is intended to have a mass of 8–9 tonnes and the capability to generate 50 kW^[206] of solar electric power for its ion thrusters, which can be supplemented by chemical propulsion.^[207]

The Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO),^[208][209] also called the Minimal Habitation Module (MHM) and formerly known as the Utilization Module,^[210] will be built by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS).^[211][212] A single Falcon Heavy equipped with an extended fairing^[213] will launch the PPE together with the HALO in 2027.^[140][141] The HALO is based on a Cygnus Cargo resupply module^[211] to the outside of which radial docking ports, body mounted radiators (BMRs), batteries and communications antennae will be added. The HALO will be a scaled-down habitation module,^[214] yet, it will feature a functional pressurized volume providing sufficient command, control, and data handling capabilities, energy storage and power distribution, thermal control, communications and tracking capabilities, two axial and up to two radial docking ports, stowage volume, environmental control and life support systems to augment the Orion spacecraft and support a crew of four for at least 30 days.^[212]

In late October 2020, NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) finalized an agreement to collaborate in the Gateway program. ESA will provide a habitat module in partnership with JAXA (I-HAB) and a refueling module (ESPRIT). In return, Europe will have three flight opportunities to launch crew aboard the Orion crew capsule, for which they will provide the service module.^[215][216]

In mid 2024, the HALO module reached substantial completion and entered into the stress test phase, following successful completion of which it will be shipped from Europe to the US in preparation for configuration with the PPE module and launch.^[217]

Artemis team

On December 9, 2020, vice president Mike Pence announced the first group of 18 astronauts (all American, including 9 male and 9 female from different backgrounds), the 1st Artemis team, who could be selected as astronauts of early missions of the Artemis program:^[219]

Chief Astronaut Reid Wiseman said in August 2022, however, that all 42 active members of the NASA Astronaut Corps and ten more training as NASA Astronaut Group 23 are eligible for Artemis II and later flights.^[220]

Transportation on the Moon

Ground transportation development

Main article: Lunar Terrain Vehicle

In February 2020, NASA released two requests for information regarding both a crewed and uncrewed unpressurized surface rover. The latter, Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) would be prepositioned by a CLPS vehicle before the Artemis III mission. It would be used to transport crews around the exploration site and serve a similar function to the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle. In July 2020, NASA established a program office for the rover at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.^[223]

NASA has specified its need for a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) that has a cargo capacity of 800 kg, traversal distances of up to 20 km without battery recharging, continuous operations for 8 hours within a 24-hour period, the ability to survive the lunar night, and the ability to traverse grades as steep as ±20 degrees.^[221]

On April 3, 2024, NASA announced that Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab are the three companies developing the LTV in a 12-month feasibility and demo phase.^[224] A source selection statement by NASA provided further details on cost and overall feasibility on April 9, 2024. The Intuitive Machines proposal was for $1.692 billion, Lunar Outpost for $1.727 billion and Astrolab for $1.928 billion to develop the vehicle.^[225]

Shelter building construction

The Artemis Base Camp is the proposed lunar base to be established at the end of the 2020s. The Base camp is to be located in the south pole region near the two adjacent Shackleton and de Gerlache craters,^[226] due to this area's wide variety of lunar geography and also due to the abundance of water ice that is believed to exist in the lunar soils of the crater floors. The environs of these craters fall under the guidelines of the Outer Space Treaty.^[223][227]

Foundational Surface Habitat

Most of the information about the Surface Habitat (SH) modules comes from studies and launch manifests which include a reference to its launch. It will be commercially built and commercially launched in the early 2030s along with the Pressurized Vehicle (PV).^[228] The SH was formerly referred to as the Artemis Surface Asset. Launch plans as of February 2020^[update] showed that landing it on the surface would be similar to the HLS. The SH would be sent to the Gateway where it would then be attached to a descent stage and subsequently transported to the lunar surface with a commercial launcher and lander. It would use the same lunar transfer stage as used for the HLS. Other designs from 2019 envisioned it being launched from an SLS Block 1B as a single unit and landing directly on the surface. It would then be hooked up to a surface power system launched by a CLPS mission and tested by the Artemis VI crew.^[223][229] The Italian Space Agency signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space in late 2023 for the Multi Purpose Habitation module, which may become the second module for the Artemis Base Camp.^[230][231]

Resource prospecting and research programs

As of February 2020, a lunar stay during a Phase 1 Artemis mission will be about seven days and will have five extravehicular activities (EVA). A notional concept of operations, i.e., a hypothetical but possible plan, would include the following: On Day 1 of the stay, astronauts touchdown on the Moon but do not conduct an EVA. Instead, they prepare for the EVA scheduled for the next day, in what is referred to as "The Road to EVA".^[232]

On Day 2, the astronauts open the hatch on the Human Landing System and embark on EVA 1, which will be six hours long. It will include collecting a contingency sample, conducting public affairs activities, deploying the experiment package, and acquiring samples. The astronauts will stay close to the landing site on this first EVA. EVA 2 begins on day 3. The astronauts characterize and collect samples from permanently shadowed regions. Unlike the previous EVA, the astronauts will go farther from the landing site, up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), and up and down slopes of 20°.^[232]

Day 4 will not include an EVA, but Day 5 will. EVA 3 may include activities such as collecting samples from an ejecta blanket. Day 6 will have the two astronauts deploy a geotechnical instrument alongside an environmental monitoring station for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Day 7 will have the final and shortest EVA. This EVA will last one hour, rather than the others' six hours in duration from egress to ingress, and mostly comprises preparations for the lunar ascent, including jettisoning hardware. Once the final EVA is concluded, the astronauts will return to the Human Landing System and the vehicle will launch from the surface and join up with Orion/Gateway.^[232]

Pressurized rover ("Mobile Habitat")

Main article: Lunar Cruiser

The Pressurized Rover (PR) is a large, pressurized module used to enable crewed operation across large distances and live for multiple days. NASA had developed multiple pressurized rovers including what was formerly called the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV). This rover was built for the Constellation program and was fabricated and then tested. In the 2020 flight manifest it was later referred to as the "Mobile Habitat" suggesting it could fill a similar role to the ILREC Lunar Bus. It would be ready for the crew to use on the surface but could also be autonomously controlled from the Gateway or other locations.

Mark Kirasich, who is the acting director of NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems, has stated that the current plan is to partner with JAXA and Toyota to develop a closed cabin rover to support crews for up to 14 days (currently known as Lunar Cruiser). "It's very important to our leadership at the moment to involve JAXA in a major surface element", he said. "... The Japanese, and their auto industry, have a very strong interest in rover-type things. So, there was an idea to—even though we have done a lot of work—to let the Japanese lead development of a pressurized rover. So right now, that's the direction we're heading in".

In regard to the PR, senior-lunar-scientist Clive Neal said "Under Constellation, NASA had a sophisticated rover put together. It's pretty sad if it's never going to get to the Moon". However Neal also said that he understands the different mission objectives between the Constellation Program and those of the Artemis Program, and the need of the Artemis Program to focus more on international collaboration.^{[223][233][234][235][236]}

On April 9, 2024, it was announced that JAXA and NASA had signed an agreement stipulating that Japan would join the pressurized rover collaboration venture and would design, develop, and operate a rover for crewed and uncrewed exploration of the Moon. In return, NASA will provide the launch and delivery of the rover to the Moon, as well as providing seats for two Japanese astronaut missions to the lunar surface, with the goal of these astronauts being the first non-Americans to travel to the Moon's surface. The pressurized rover is planned to accommodate two astronauts for up to 30 days outside. NASA plans to use the pressurized rover from Artemis VII and subsequent missions, over an approximate 10 year lifespan.^[237]

Orion testing

A prototype version of the Orion Crew Module was launched on Exploration Flight Test-1 on December 5, 2014^[247][248] atop a Delta IV Heavy rocket. Its reaction control system and other components were tested during two medium Earth orbits, reaching an apogee of 5,800 km (3,600 mi) and crossing the Van Allen radiation belts before making a high-energy re-entry at 32,000 km/h (20,000 mph).^[249][250]

The Ascent Abort-2 test on July 2, 2019, tested the final iteration of the launch abort system on a 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) Orion boilerplate at maximum aerodynamic load,^{[251][252][253]} using a custom Minotaur IV-derived launch vehicle built by Orbital ATK.^[253][254]

Artemis I–VI

As of November 2022^[update], all crewed Artemis missions will launch on the Space Launch System from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. Current plans call for some supporting hardware to be launched on other vehicles and from other launch pads.

More information Mission, Patch ...

Mission	Patch	Launch date	Spacecraft	Crew	Launch vehicle	Lander vehicle	Duration	Goal	Status
Artemis I		November 16, 2022[63][4]		—N/a	SLS Block 1	—N/a	25 days[255]	Uncrewed lunar orbit and return	Success
Artemis II		NET April 1, 2026	CM-003 Integrity	Reid Wiseman Victor Glover Christina Koch Jeremy Hansen	SLS Block 1	—N/a	10 days[256]	4-person lunar flyby	Planned
Artemis III		NET mid-2027[12]		TBA	SLS Block 1	—N/a	~30 days		Planned
Artemis IV		NET early 2028[12]		TBA[ii]	SLS Block 1	Starship HLS or Blue Moon[259]	~30 days	4-person lunar orbit with 2-person lunar landing.	Planned
Artemis V		NET late 2028[12]		TBA[iii]	SLS Block 1	Starship HLS or Blue Moon	~30 days		Planned
Artemis VI				TBA[iv]		TBA	~30 days		Planned

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Artemis VII–XI

In November 2021, plans to return humans to the Moon in 2024 were cancelled, and the Artemis III mission was delayed until at least 2025. It has since been delayed to mid-2027.^[262] Artemis VII is expected to deliver a crew of four astronauts to a surface lunar outpost known as the Foundation Habitat, along with the Mobile Habitat, which is expected to occur in March 2032.^[9][170] The Foundation Habitat would be launched back to back with the Mobile Habitat by an undetermined super heavy launcher^[170] and would be used for extended crewed lunar surface missions.^{[170][263][264]} Artemis VIII is expected to deliver a crew of astronauts to a surface lunar outpost, which is expected to occur in 2033, along with Artemis IX in 2034, Artemis X in 2035 and Artemis XI in 2036.^{[citation needed]}

Prior to each crewed Artemis mission, payloads to the Gateway, such as refueling depots and expendable elements of the lunar lander, would be deployed by commercial launch vehicles.^[265][264] The most updated manifest includes missions suggested in NASA's timelines that have not been designed or funded from Artemis IV to IX.^{[266][267][170][228]}

Support missions schedule

Artemis support missions are robotic missions flown through the CLPS program and Gateway program, and HLS demo and delivery missions.^[170] The first one occurred on June 28, 2022.