Since the final Apollo mission in 1972, the moon has been undisturbed by human footsteps. But that may soon change.
NASA plans to send astronauts back to the moon this decade in a series of spaceflights called the Artemis program. The first launch could be as soon as Monday, with a test flight that has no crew members aboard. Eventually, though no earlier than 2025, NASA will send astronauts for a weeklong stay near the moon’s south pole. The crew will include the first woman and the first person of color to walk on the moon, NASA said.
Artemis I
Test flightplanned for Aug. 29, 2022
1. Departure
The Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
2. CubeSats Release
On its way to the moon, the mission will deploy 10 small research satellites called CubeSats.
3. Moon orbit
Orion will orbit the moon about 43,000 miles above the moon’s surface.
4. Return
In preparation for splashdown, the crew module will separate from the service module. The crew capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean with the help of parachutes.
A diagram showing the path planned for the Artemis I mission to the moon.
1. Departure
The Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
2. MOON orbit
Orion will orbit the moon about 43,000 miles above the moon’s surface.
3. Return
In preparation for splashdown, the crew module will separate from the service module. The crew capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean with the help of parachutes.
On its way to the moon, the mission will deploy 10 small research satellites called
CubeSats.
Source: NASA
Note: Diagram is not shown to scale.
Instead of crew members, the first Artemis mission will carry into space three mannequins named Helga, Zohar and Commander Moonikin Campos. Helga and Zohar contain plastic models of radiation-sensitive organs, such as the uterus and the lungs, so that scientists can study how radiation in space may affect future astronauts.
The three mannequins will travel inside a spacecraft called Orion, specially designed to protect human crew members and experiments in space.
The Orion spacecraft
A diagram showing the different components of the Orion spacecraft.
CREW module
Can hold four people
launch abort system
Can carry the crew module to safety if there is an emergency during launch
service module
Provides power and propulsion to the crew module
launch
abort system
Can carry the crew module to safety if there is an emergency during launch
CREW module
Can hold four people
service module
Provides power and propulsion to the crew module
CREW module
Can hold four people
launch abort system
Can carry the crew module to safety if there is an emergency during launch
service module
Provides power and propulsion to the crew module
Orion will launch into space atop the Space Launch System, a new rocket that stands 322 feet tall and weighs almost six million pounds. The Space Launch System that will be used in Artemis I is one of the most powerful rockets ever developed by NASA, and can send a payload of almost 60,000 pounds to the moon.
The Space Launch System compared with other rockets
A diagram comparing the height of five rockets: Saturn V, the Space Shuttle, Falcon 9, the Space Launch System and Starship.
Apollo command
and service modules
Current and future rockets
Current and future rockets
Current and future rockets
Artemis II
Crewed flybyplanned for 2024
1. Departure
After launch, the astronauts will orbit the Earth for 24 hours while testing the spacecraft’s controls and life support equipment.
2. Lunar Flyby
The flight to the moon before the flyby will take four days.
3. Return
A recovery boat will collect the astronauts and the crew capsule after they splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
A diagram showing the path planned for the Artemis II mission to the moon.
1. Departure
After launch, the astronauts will orbit the Earth for 24 hours while testing the spacecraft’s controls and life support equipment.
2. Lunar Flyby
The flight to the moon before the flyby will take four days.
3. Return
A recovery boat will collect the astronauts and the crew capsule after they splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
Life support
system evaluation.
Life support system evaluation.
Life support system evaluation.
Source: NASA
Note: Diagram is not shown to scale.
Artemis II, the second mission, will carry four astronauts around the moon and back to Earth. The crew’s trip will take them about 4,600 miles above the far side of the moon. Depending on the position of the moon during the mission, this could be the furthest distance into the solar system that astronauts have ever traveled.
Artemis III
Crewed landing planned for 2025
1. Departure
After launch, the astronauts will enter Earth’s orbit, perform a systems check and make solar panel adjustments.
2. Moon orbit
While two crew members land on the surface of the moon, Orion and the two remaining astronauts will stay in orbit.
3. Moon landing
The lunar lander will undock from Orion and then descend into a lower orbit before landing near the moon’s south pole.
4. Moon launch
After a weeklong mission on the surface, the astronauts will ascend into a low lunar orbit before docking to Orion.
5. Return
In addition to returning the crew to Earth, the Orion crew may also bring back scientific samples for future testing.
A diagram showing the path planned for the Artemis III mission to the moon.
Moon flyby just
70 miles above
the surface.
1. Departure
After launch, the astronauts will enter Earth’s orbit, perform a systems check and make solar panel adjustments.
2. MOON orbit
While two crew members land on the surface of the moon, Orion and the two remaining astronauts will stay in orbit.
3. Moon landing
The lunar lander will undock from Orion and then descend into a lower orbit before landing near the moon’s south pole.
4. Moon launch
After a weeklong mission on the surface, the astronauts will ascend into a low lunar orbit before docking to Orion.
5. Return
In addition to returning the crew to Earth, the Orion crew may also bring back scientific samples for future testing.
The moon surface
mission will last
about a week.
Moon flyby just
70 miles above
the surface.
Source: NASA
Note: Diagram is not shown to scale.
In Artemis III, astronauts will land a SpaceX Starship near the moon’s south pole while Orion waits in lunar orbit. The polar region is home to mysterious, permanently shadowed craters that have not seen sunlight in billions of years. The chemicals frozen inside could help scientists understand more about the history of the moon and the solar system.
If the Artemis III mission succeeds, NASA plans to regularly send crews to the moon. Its plans include a lunar base camp and an outpost spacecraft called Gateway stationed in lunar orbit.