Artemis: the NASA program that will bring humans back to the Moon


The first Artemis mission is fast approaching and the following ones are slowly being prepared. Here is everything there is to know about this ambitious program which has the Moon as its destination.

Humans are going back to the Moon! This is the watchword behind NASA’s Artemis I mission. But, patience: if the launch is approaching, it is only the first stage of a much longer journey that will occupy the American space agency for a few years.

Here’s everything you need to know about this program supposed to return to human exploration of our satellite, more than half a century after the last visit.

What is the Artemis program?

It is a set of three NASA missions, the objective of which is to land astronauts on the Moon by 2027, according to the latest forecasts. The scientific objective is to carry out rock analyzes and to study the presence of water on our satellite. But, also, and above all, to prepare the ground for further exploitation of the Moon, or even the permanent establishment of a lunar station. This would be very useful for more distant programs to Mars.

Where is the Artemis program?

For the moment, the first of the three missions is in preparation and is about to take off. She was supposed to take off in the summer of 2022, but the takeoff had to be postponed. Leakage problems, when filling the launcher tanks with hydrogen, arose, followed by meteorological hazards hampering the departure of Artemis I. NASA had planned 157 fallback dates, just in case.

The Space Launch System. // Source: Aubrey Gemignani

Why this program name?

Artemis is a Greek goddess, the twin of Apollo. This choice marks NASA’s desire to make the link with the Apollo missions, which enabled the first step on the Moon. In mythology, Artemis is associated with the Moon, like her brother Apollo with the Sun. In addition, she is a woman: this allows us to insist on the fact that women will be involved in the mission and will walk on our satellite.

First step: the Artemis I mission

Artemis I is the first stage of NASA’s Artemis program. It is a mission that must take off without passengers. The Orion spacecraft will operate as if busy preparing for the next steps. However, it will only make a round trip to the Moon, for a mission of 25 days in total.

What is the objective of the Artemis I mission?

There is no pure scientific objective. NASA’s main purpose with this preparatory mission is to verify that its new rocket, the SLS (Space Launch System), is working properly. We also have to make sure that the connections with the Orion ship are working properly. The spacecraft will have to follow roughly the trajectory of the Apollo 8 mission with two flybys of the Moon at low altitude, a passage towards the far side before a return to Earth.

When should Artemis I be launched?

Until recently, NASA had stalled the launch for February 2022. But, a few months before the deadline, a computer problem led the American agency to revise its plans. The launch was to take place at the end of August, but various annoyances still keep the rocket grounded.

The latest tests can always reveal defects and cause a new postponement. Delays like those of Artemis I are not uncommon in the history of space exploration. Currently, NASA is targeting November 14, 2022 for launch.

What satellites accompany the ship?

Orion will not go alone. It will be accompanied by a dozen small satellites scattered around the Moon. These nano-satellites will take advantage of this trip so far from Earth to study the Sun’s magnetic fields, or even see how yeast reacts to space radiation. Among the most interesting, OMOTENASHI, a Japanese CubeSat which must land on the lunar surface, which would be a first. Also to remember, the Near-Earth Asteroid Scout supposed to fly over an asteroid thanks to its solar sail.

Artist's impression of the Near Earth Asteroid Scout
Artist’s impression of the Near Earth Asteroid Scout. // Source: NASA

Second stage: the Artemis II mission

With Artémis II, serious things begin. This time, Orion will take off with four astronauts on board. Direction, the Moon! But, the astronauts are not going to land, they are going to be content to make an orbit around the Moon before returning after ten days of travel. Among the crew, there should be at least one astronaut of Canadian origin.

What is the objective of the Artemis II mission?

As with Artemis I, Artemis II is above all a preparatory mission. The general idea is to test the Orion ship, its performance, the efficiency of its life support system, but also the various communication and navigation systems. Finally, the crew will ensure that the re-entry into the atmosphere takes place as planned.

When should Artemis II be launched?

The launch date is still a little unclear and will depend on the success or otherwise of Artemis I, but NASA is currently betting on the 2024 horizon.

Third and final step: the Artemis III mission

Artemis III will go much further, since the idea this time is to take four astronauts, two of whom will set foot on the Moon. The landing site was defined towards the South Pole where traces of water were discovered, which could be very practical to install a base camp there.

They are going to spend a short week there with, on the program, extra-vehicular outings and samples of lunar rocks. Then they will return to Earth at the end of a mission that will have lasted 25 days.

The launch towards the Moon.  // Source: YouTube Nasa screenshot
The launch towards the Moon. // Source: YouTube Nasa screenshot

What is the objective of the Artemis III mission?

The primary objective is to successfully complete all the steps, from take-off to landing on the Moon in order to ensure that the method is ready for future missions. Then, the crew will have to carry out analyzes to prepare for longer stays on the surface of the Moon.

This involves technological aspects with the use of the lander, but also purely scientific work to better understand the resources available on site, in particular the presence of water.

Finally, Artemis III also includes some scientific objectives, but they remain fairly general in terms of understanding planetary processes and the history of the Earth-Moon couple.

When should Artemis III be launched?

For the moment, the objective is to take off in 2027, but there are still a lot of uncertainties due in large part to the success of previous missions.

SLS, HLS, Orion… What are we talking about?

Who says ambitious space program, says rocket at its height. And, for Artémis, NASA saw things big. All three missions will leave Earth aboard the Space Launch System, or SLS. A gigantic rocket just over 100 meters high that has been in development for ten years already. Its first version, which will make its first flight with Artemis I, is capable of putting 27 tons of payload into lunar orbit. It will be enriched for the following flights with increased capacities.

Its primary payload is Orion. A spacecraft capable of accommodating four passengers which has so far only flown once, in 2014 and with no one inside. An empty test, but Artemis should give him the opportunity to shine.

For Artémis III, a new challenger enters the game: HLS. The Human Landing System developed by SpaceX should allow astronauts to connect the Orion spacecraft to the surface of the Moon.

Representation of the Artemis mission.  // Source: Wikimedia/CC/Nasa
Representation of the Artemis mission. // Source: Wikimedia/CC/Nasa

In the current scenario, the idea is to put the HLS around the Moon and then wait for Orion with its passengers. Astronauts move from Orion to the HLS to descend to the surface, then ascend and return home. If Orion is the ship that crosses the oceans, HLS is the small boat that makes the last meters to dry land.

And after ?

HLS is not supposed to wait alone in lunar orbit. If all goes as planned, the ship should dock with the first module of Lunar Getaway Station.

Artist's impression of the Lunar Gateway.  // Source: Wikimedia/CC/NASA
Artist’s impression of the Lunar Gateway. // Source: Wikimedia/CC/NASA

This station in orbit around the Moon will be needed later to facilitate access to our satellite. Like the International Space Station, it will be made up of several modules that will join the whole little by little. This very ambitious project is still in its infancy, but it should be central once the Artemis missions are completed.

And the astronauts, in all this?

It is still far too early to know the crews who will have the chance to leave for the Moon, but some data are already known. For starters, this is an American-first mission, so obviously expect an over-representation of the Stars and Stripes on the suits.

That said, it has already been determined that an astronaut from Canada will be part of the Artemis II mission. For Artemis III, it’s a little more vague, but NASA should open up participation to other states. As Europe is one of the main contributors to the Lunar Gateway program, this should entitle it to at least one seat in the mission.

From there to say that Thomas Pesquet will fly to the Moon, there is a chasm, but we can always dream!

10 astronauts of the “Artemis generation”.  // Source: NASA
10 astronauts of the “Artemis generation”. // Source: NASA

In any case, NASA has announced that the two people to set foot on the Moon will be a man and a woman. The agency also insisted on its desire to open up the selection to people from minorities, who are still very under-represented in the space industry.

Ah, and by the way, you can go to the Moon too (almost)

If you also want to be part of the trip, go to the NASA website to register! To do this, simply enter your name and create a virtual boarding pass. It will be loaded onto a USB key which will leave with Orion. Thus, you will be (a little bit) on the Moon, too.



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