NASA's Artemis missions aim to land humans on the Moon again, explore the lunar surface, build a lunar space station and lay the groundwork for sending astronauts to Mars.
Find out more about this groundbreaking new era in space exploration.
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What is the Artemis programme?
The Artemis programme is a series of ongoing lunar missions run by NASA.
One Artemis mission has already been completed: in late 2022 Artemis 1, an uncrewed test flight, orbited and flew beyond the Moon.
The next missions are currently in preparation:
- Artemis 2 will be a crewed flight beyond the Moon, which will take humans the farthest they’ve ever been in space.
- Artemis 3 will be a crewed demonstration mission in low Earth orbit to test one or both of the lunar landers being made by commercial partners.
- Artemis 4 will be the first crewed moon landing mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. Astronauts will do scientific studies on the Moon before returning to Earth.
- Artemis 5 will land another two astronauts on the Moon's surface and begin building a Moon base.
NASA is aiming to launch future missions around once a year following Artemis 5.
NASA's long-term goals are even more ambitious: using the technology and research developed during the Artemis flights, the space agency intends to launch a future crewed mission to Mars.
This 'Moon to Mars' plan also involves establishing a habitable Moon base.
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Why is the programme called Artemis?
Artemis is the mythological Greek goddess of the Moon – and twin sister of Apollo. The name is intended to link this programme with the Apollo missions that first landed humans on the Moon over 50 years ago.
The crewed spacecraft, meanwhile, is called Orion. Orion is the name of one of the most recognisable constellations in the sky. In Classical mythology, Orion is the hunting companion of Artemis.
Duration: 2017–present
Launch vehicles: Space Launch System (SLS); Commercial launch vehicles
Crew modules: Orion, Human Landing System (HLS)
Launch dates:
- Artemis 1: After being delayed four times, Artemis 1 successfully launched on Wednesday 16 November 2022 at 1:47am EST (6:47am GMT)
- Artemis 2: Artemis 2 is scheduled to launch on 1 April 2026 at 6.24pm EDT (11.24pm BST), after being delayed from February and March 2026
- Artemis 3: Mid-2027
- Artemis 4: Early 2028
- Artemis 5: Late 2028
Why is NASA going back to the Moon?
NASA is not simply aiming to repeat the feats of the Apollo missions with Artemis. Instead, its goal is to go to the Moon 'and stay there'.
NASA initially aimed to establish bases both in lunar orbit and on the Moon's surface – though the orbital base has since been shelved. The primary goal for the short term is returning humans to the Moon.
Key NASA mission objectives include:
- Technology: from rockets to spacesuits, the technologies currently being developed are designed to pave the way for future deep-space missions.
- Partnerships: the Artemis programme is one of NASA's first large-scale collaborations with commercial companies such as SpaceX and Boeing.
- Long-term presence: where the Apollo 17 crew spent three days on the lunar surface, Artemis aims to establish a base to extend the trips to weeks and possibly months.
- Knowledge: as more is known about the Moon compared with 50 years ago (and technologies have greatly advanced), NASA claims that this next series of missions will be able to retrieve samples more strategically than during the Apollo era.
- Resources: the discovery of water on the Moon and potential deposits of rare minerals hold promise for both scientific and economic exploration and exploitation.
- Competition: NASA is aiming to put humans back on the Moon ahead of China, who are planning to make a human moon landing by 2030 as part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Programme (also known as the Chang'e Project).
- Equality: an original goal of the programme, which was removed under the Trump administration, was to land the first woman and first person of colour on the lunar surface.
How will NASA get back to the Moon?
There are four main components to the Artemis Moon missions. These include:
Space Launch System (SLS)
The Space Launch System is the launcher that will carry astronauts beyond Earth's atmosphere and into space. This super heavy-lift rocket is taller than the Statue of Liberty at 322ft. The SLS is one of the most powerful rockets in the world – 15% more powerful than the original Saturn V launcher that first took astronauts to the Moon.
Orion spacecraft
Equipped with life support systems and shuttle interfaces, Orion is the command module that will transport the astronauts through space.
Lunar Gateway (cancelled)
In March 2026, NASA shelved plans to make 'Lunar Gateway', a small space station that would have orbited the Moon. It was designed to be a flexible platform for missions to the Moon and beyond.
The original plan was for the Orion module to dock with Gateway, and from there the astronauts would transfer into the lunar landing module.
NASA will instead prioritise building a base on the Moon - with more details to be announced.
Human Landing System (HLS)
The Human Landing System will carry cargo and humans to the Moon's surface. NASA has contracted commercial companies to develop Human Landing Systems (HLS) and a series of other vehicles for robotics and cargo.
While Apollo's Lunar Module was designed to be used for one return journey to the Moon's surface, the landing systems for the Artemis missions are planned for use across multiple missions.
SpaceX and Blue Origin are both developing separate Human Landing Systems for Artemis 3 and 4. SpaceX will make a lunar version of its Starship rocket.
Before either lunar lander can be used on a real mission and human crew are allowed on board, SpaceX and Blue Origin must perform at least one demo showing they can land safely on the lunar surface. When one of the landers has passed all the rigorous safety tests, it will be ready for use on a crewed mission.
Will going to the Moon help humans land on Mars?
While the journey to the Moon takes three days, reaching Mars is a far longer and more complicated goal. NASA sees Artemis as laying the foundation for both international space agencies and private companies to build a lunar settlement and economy, and from there eventually send humans to Mars.
Who will be part of the Artemis crew?
Artemis 2’s crew were announced on 3 April 2023. They are:
- Christina Koch, mission specialist
- Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist
- Reid Wiseman, commander
- Victor Glover, pilot
Andre Douglas is a backup astronaut for the mission.
The crew who will be flying on Artemis 3, 4 and 5 are yet to be announced.
Artemis 1
This uncrewed mission took place in November and December 2022, and was an extensive test of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion module.
Artemis 1's journey took it 450,000 km to the Moon, where it orbited 130 km above the lunar surface, before continuing approximately 64,373 km beyond into deep space. After a mission length of 25.5 days, the module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near California on 11 December.
On board were a range of science and technology experiments that took place in deep space. These were designed to expand lunar knowledge, make further technological developments, and shed light on deep space radiation.
Also on board were three 'Moonikins': mannequins wearing the First-Generation Orion Crew Survival System spacesuit, which the real astronauts will wear on Artemis 2 and 3. Sensors on the Moonikins provided crucial data on what human crew members may experience during flight.
What happened during the Artemis 1 mission?
Following four cancelled launch attempts due to engine issues and tropical storms, Artemis 1 successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 1.47am EST (6.47am GMT) on 16 November 2022.
The Space Launch System generated 8.8 million pounds of thrust on liftoff, making it 1.3 million pounds more powerful than the Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo missions.
Watch the moment Artemis 1 took off below.
On day 6 of its mission, Orion reached and performed a flyby of the Moon, flying approximately 130 kilometres above its surface.
The spacecraft performed an engine burn to enter 'Distant Retrograde Lunar Orbit' on day 10. This was called 'distant' as the craft flew at a high altitude from the lunar surface, and 'retrograde' because it flew around the Moon in the opposite direction the Moon travels around Earth.
On 26 November (day 11), Orion broke the record for the farthest distance travelled by a spacecraft designed to carry humans into space and back. The record was previously held by Apollo 13, which travelled 400,171 km away. Orion reached a max distance of 432,210 km from Earth on day 13, as part of its lunar orbit.
Another burn was performed on day 16 to exit distant retrograde lunar orbit, sending Orion back towards the Moon, where it performed another flyby approximately 128 km above the Moon's surface. Orion then used the Moon’s gravity to slingshot back toward Earth, and landed in the Pacific Ocean on 11 December.
Artemis 1 successfully proved that the SLS, Orion and the systems on Earth for communications and recovery are capable of safely flying real astronauts to the Moon and back.
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Artemis 1 launches from the Kennedy Space Centre at 1:47am EST (6:47am GMT) on 16 November 2022 | Image credit NASA
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A portion of the far side of the Moon as photographed by the Orion spacecraft on 21 November | Image credit: NASA.
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The Orion spacecraft photographs Earth and the Moon using a camera on one of its solar arrays during an Artemis 1 livestream on Nov. 28, 2022.
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The interior of the Orion capsule. A Moonikin is visible on the left wearing the spacesuit the real astronauts will wear on later Artemis missions.
Sensors were placed all over the Moonikin's body to collect valuable data about what the astronauts' bodies will be subjected to during the flight.
Snoopy is just about visible floating around the capsule wearing an identical orange spacesuit!
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The Orion capsule making a close lunar flyby on its return journey, coming within around 128 km of the lunar surface | Credits: NASA
The spacecraft used the Moon's gravity to slingshot itself back to Earth.
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The Orion spacecraft successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 12:40pm EST on December 11 2022, marking the end of its 25.5 day mission.
The capsule was promptly picked up by search and rescue teams.
Artemis 2
Artemis 2 will be a pioneering crewed spaceflight for the Artemis programme, taking humans farther than they've ever been in space.
After being launched on the SLS rocket, the four-person crew will fly the Orion module 8889 km beyond the Moon, complete a lunar flyby and return to Earth.
The mission will take eight to ten days and collect valuable flight test data on the Orion module and its capabilities, including its life support systems.
Artemis 2 has faced multiple delays. NASA's original plans targeted launch in November 2024, which was initially delayed until September 2025. This was reforecast for early 2026, but launches were called off in both February and March 2026 due to hydrogen leaks and other problems.
Artemis 2 is scheduled to launch on 1 April 2026 at 6.24pm EDT (11.24pm BST).
On board will be astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen.
The next Artemis missions
Artemis 3
The third Artemis mission was originally meant to be the first human moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. However, an update to the programme's structure in late February 2026 changed Artemis 3 to another demonstration mission, with a human moon landing taking place during Artemis 4 instead.
Exact plans for Artemis 3 are to be confirmed, but the mission will involve testing the meeting and docking procedure with one or both of the lunar landers in development. One is being made by SpaceX and one by Blue Origin.
Artemis 3 will also be another opportunity to test the life support capabilities of Orion, its communication systems, and the new Extravehicular Activity space suits.
Artemis 4
Artemis 4 will now be the first lunar landing mission in the Artemis programme.
Four astronauts will fly to the Moon on board Orion, where they will dock with the Human Landing System (HLS).
The Human Landing System will be designed by either SpaceX or Blue Origin. The craft will take two astronauts down to the Moon's South Pole, a region previously unvisited by humans.
When the programme began, one of its primary goals was to land the first female astronaut and first astronaut of colour on the lunar surface. However, this was removed from NASA's website around March 2025.
The astronauts are likely to perform a variety of scientific studies on the lunar surface.
Artemis 5
As part of Artemis 5, another lunar landing will take place, with two astronauts doing science on the surface and collecting samples to bring back to Earth.
NASA also expects to begin building its Moon base during this mission.
Artemis 6, 7, 8, and more?
NASA are hoping to launch lunar missions once a year after Artemis 5.
The Artemis programme is currently in flux following a press conference in late February 2026, where the mission structure and frequency were changed, and the first moon landing was moved from Artemis 3 to Artemis 4.
A further update in March 2026 announced that Lunar Gateway is being sidelined and NASA is instead focusing on building infrastructure on the Moon's surface. As Gateway was a key component in missions past Artemis 3, the exact plans for missions past Artemis 4 are yet to be confirmed.
The whole programme is also dependent on the readiness of lunar landers and habitation modules being built by commercial partners - which is likely to delay the human moon landings.
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(Main image and graphics courtesy of NASA)