The Artemis program
NASA-led program to return humans to the Moon.
The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program led by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), aimed at returning humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo program and building a permanent lunar base. The program incorporates Space Shuttle–derived hardware, systems from the canceled Constellation program, and new elements developed by private spaceflight companies under contract, with international collaborations bound by the Artemis Accords.
- field
- Space exploration
- nationality
- United States
- known_for
- Returning humans to the Moon and building a permanent lunar base
Lore & Background
The Artemis program incorporates several major components of previously canceled NASA programs, including the Constellation program and the Asteroid Redirect Mission.
Reader's Guide
The Artemis program represents a significant shift in US human spaceflight policy, aiming to establish a permanent lunar presence as a stepping stone for deeper space missions, including Mars. The program has drawn criticism for certain choices, including its use of a near-rectilinear halo orbit and long-term sustainability plans. Its legacy will depend on whether it achieves its goal of sustained lunar exploration and serves as a foundation for human missions to Mars.
Did You Know?
- Artemis I's Orion capsule experienced greater-than-expected heat shield erosion during reentry.
- Artemis missions have contemplated sending an archive of cultural works to the Moon under the name Lunar Codex.
More in Space Missions 1-22
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