Image credits to NASA
After more than 50 years, humans are preparing to step on the lunar surface again. The Artemis program, named after the Greek mythological goddess who is Apollo’s twin sister, is a NASA mission to establish a long-term presence on the Moon.
NASA, in collaboration with international space programs such as the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is planning on establishing a long-term presence on the Moon and beyond. The Moon, as NASA describes it, is a treasure trove for science because it’s a 4.5-billion-year-old time capsule. Mainly due to the vacuum of space, the materials on the Moon have remained mostly unaffected, so accessing them will provide great insight into the origins of the Solar System and the Earth itself.
For Artemis 2, the next mission planned for as early as February 5, 2026, there will be four astronauts aboard the Orion (more information in the following paragraph). Artemis 2’s goal is to test the emergency, trajectory, and mission control features before we can walk on the Moon again. They will complete a figure-eight trajectory around the far side of the Moon, photographing the surface, and will return after ten days from launch.
Astronauts aboard Artemis 2
Reid Wiseman: Commander for Artemis 2. He is a Navy veteran, pilot, father, and an engineer from Baltimore, Maryland. He’s been an astronaut since 2009 and has spent over 160 days in space.
Victor Glover: Pilot for Artemis 2, legislative fellow with the US Senate, father, and an engineer from California. Served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and has flown over 40 aircraft in many combat missions. He’s been an astronaut since 2013.
Jeremy Hansen: Canadian astronaut and will serve as the mission specialist in Artemis 2. He’s a pilot, physicist, colonel with the Canadian military, and an aquanaut. He started flying at 16 and became a fighter pilot for the Canadian Air Force. He became a CSA astronaut in 2009, and in 2017, he became the first Canadian astronaut to lead a NASA astronaut class. Artemis 2 will be Hansen’s first space flight!
Christina Koch: Mission specialist on Artemis 2, electrical engineer, and an Antarctica explorer. She’s also a firefighter and has worked on many major scientific programs with NASA and other programs. Grew up on a family farm in Michigan. An astronaut since 2013, she holds the record as the woman with the longest single space flight, over 320 days!
The first-ever mission for the Artemis program was launched in November 2022 to act as an unmanned mission to and from the Moon. Artemis I provided us with scientific data on what needs improvement before we send actual humans to the Moon. From the data we got back, the heat shield for Orion was improved. Artemis I was about 26 days and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near California. Using this data, the engineers worked on improvements, leading to Artemis 2 with a crewed flyby around the Moon planned for as early as February 2026. This mission’s goal is to test the systems that will carry astronauts to the lunar surface. Afterwards, Artemis 3 will be the actual lunar landing after more than 50 years without human lunar landings. Although we don’t have much information about the technologies for Artemis 3, we know they will be landing no earlier than 2027, with 2028 looking like the most probable year. All the missions after Artemis 3 will be to gather more scientific data, to begin construction for the Gateway space station, and to establish a sustained lunar presence.
The technologies for Artemis and what we will build with them are, to put it lightly, staggering.
Space Launch System (SLS): The SLS is the most powerful rocket ever built. It will be the one powering the astronauts away from Earth’s gravity. Armed with a core stage and two powerful rocket boosters, the SLS will expel 9 million pounds of thrust.
Orion Spacecraft: The Orion is the space capsule for up to four astronauts, and this is where the astronauts projected to launch in February will stay for all of their trip. It is built by Lockheed Martin, one of the most prominent aerospace companies. The European Service Module (ESM) provides power, propulsion, and critical life support for the astronauts aboard. The heat shield for reentry can withstand over 5,000 Fahrenheit and is designed for deep space exploration.
Starship Human Landing System (HLS): Most information about the HLS’s build is not yet available, but we know this will be how astronauts will land on the Moon. This is a modified version of Starship and will be used for Artemis 3 and beyond. This will dock to the Orion in lunar orbit and take astronauts from the Gateway/Orion to the surface and back. No heat shield, because this will stay in space.
Gateway: The Gateway is the lunar-orbiting space station, similar to the ISS for Earth. Similar to the HLS, this isn’t needed for Artemis 2, but is crucial for Artemis 3 and beyond. Although this will be ⅙ the size of the ISS, there will be areas on the Gateway that, with future partnerships, can increase in size to accommodate more science and astronauts. This will be in Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO). The main modules that will be on the Gateway are the HALO (habitation for astronauts), PPE (propulsion), I-HAB, and more.
Beyond just this exciting plan lies an even more unbelievable goal: human colonization of Mars. The new space race isn’t about going to the Moon, but rather about being able to establish long-term, self-sustaining life support systems on other planetary bodies. The Artemis missions will provide us with a treasure chest of information and will shape the future of sustainable space exploration to the Moon and beyond!
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