NASA's Artemis Programme
Architecture and Objectives
The Artemis programme is NASA's flagship initiative to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable lunar presence. Named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, Artemis aims to land the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon. The programme uses two core systems: the Space Launch System (SLS) — the most powerful rocket ever built — and the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. Artemis I (2022) was an uncrewed test flight; Artemis II is the first crewed flight (lunar flyby); Artemis III (planned 2027) aims for docking tests; the first lunar landing is targeted for Artemis IV (2028).
- SLS specifications: 15% more thrust than Saturn V; weighs 5.75 million pounds; 200+ feet tall core stage; uses 4 RS-25 engines + 2 solid rocket boosters
- Orion spacecraft: Supports 4 crew; can operate undocked for 21 days or docked for 6 months; equipped with European Service Module (ESM) built by ESA
- Artemis I: November 2022 — uncrewed lunar orbit test; Orion flew ~268,563 miles from Earth
- Artemis II launch: 1 April 2026; 10-day mission; lunar flyby at ~7,600 miles from Moon surface
- Artemis III (planned 2027): First landing attempt; lunar lander to be provided by SpaceX (Starship HLS)
- Lunar Gateway: Cancelled by NASA in March 2026; no longer part of Artemis planning
● Tracked since March 13, 2026 · last seen April 29, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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