NASA Artemis

The Moon has impeccable timing. October's full Moon rises tonight, bringing a little moonlit magic to the start of Halloween week. The Moon reaches peak illumination at 12:12am ET (0412 UTC) on Oct. 26. Don't forget to look up!

To prepare for NASA’s Artemis IV mission to land astronauts on the lunar surface, SpaceX and Blue Origin have updated their concepts of operations for its landers. These landers — Starship and Blue Moon — have concepts of operations different from one another. More below ⬇️

NASA’s Orion spacecraft — with crew — will dock with Mark 2 in lunar orbit. Then, two astronauts transfer to the lander and descend to the Moon’s South Pole. After surface operations, Mark 2 returns to Orion, where the crew transfers for their journey back to Earth.

go.nasa.govNASA, Partners Accelerate Lander Development for 2028 Moon Missions - NASAAs NASA returns humans to the lunar surface and establishes a long-term presence on our closest celestial neighbor, the agency and commercial human landing

Ultimately, based on lander readiness, NASA will determine which company will be first selected to safely deliver astronauts to the Moon’s surface and back to lunar orbit in 2028. A second crewed landing opportunity will follow. More:

While Orion is docked with Starship, Starship will perform a trans-lunar injection burn to bring the connected spacecraft to lunar orbit. Starship will bring two astronauts to the lunar surface for several days before delivering them back to Orion for the ride back to Earth.

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 lander will operate differently. Blue Origin will use three transfer stages that operate like a multistage rocket to launch into low Earth orbit, and then enter lunar orbit. Each transfer stage separates as its propellant runs out.

SpaceX’s Starship HLS will rendezvous and dock with the Orion spacecraft and its crew in low Earth orbit. Similar to a gas station on Earth, a series of propellant “tanker” Starships will transfer propellant to the waiting “depot” Starship.

Artemis III will be one of the most complex test missions in NASA history. Launching in 2027, Artemis III astronauts will practice rendezvous and docking with two commercial lunar landers designed to carry crew from the Orion spacecraft to the lunar surface. Details below ⬇️

When ready, the Orion spacecraft and its crew will reenter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California. Every activity performed during Artemis III supports a larger goal: reducing risk before astronauts return to the lunar surface.

go.nasa.govNASA’s Artemis III Mission to Test Future Moon Lander Operations - NASABefore astronauts return to the lunar surface, NASA will first conduct one of the most ambitious and complex test missions in the agency's history.

Artemis III is about learning. The lessons learned throughout the mission will help refine future exploration plans, strengthen partnerships with industry, and ensure astronauts are prepared for humanity's next giant leap to the lunar surface in 2028.

SpaceX will launch a Starship Version 3 test article to rendezvous and dock with Orion in a test expected to last up to two hours. While the astronauts will not enter Starship during this test, the team will evaluate how Orion and Starship interact as a docked system in space.

Even after docking activities are complete, Artemis III will continue generating data that supports future missions. NASA will evaluate the performance of Orion Crew Survival System suits, measure acoustics inside of Orion, and perform science and technology demonstrations.

NASA’s Artemis III mission will last about two weeks. The mission begins when Blue Origin launches a test version of its Blue Moon Mark 2 lander into orbit. Days after, four astronauts will launch aboard the Orion spacecraft on top of the Space Launch System rocket.

Following a checkout of Orion’s systems, the mission’s first major objective begins: rendezvous and docking with the Blue Moon test vehicle. The astronauts will open the hatch and enter the spacecraft. After their assessment, they return to Orion. Then, Orion undocks.

Ready for an Artemis update? Tune in Friday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. ET (1800 UTC) to hear our latest progress and accelerated plans for Artemis lunar missions. Watch live: t.co/EePpimRqsU 🔗 www.youtube.com/live/pAKqJx...

“It’s crazy to look up and see the Moon far away again. I got used to seeing it bigger.” Emeritus astronaut Victor Glover and retired Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen reflect on the Artemis II mission on Houston We Have a Podcast. t.co/HhmAqeXHHG 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4i19mtB

go.nasa.govArtemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report - NASA ScienceWhat did four NASA astronauts see, notice, and document as they traveled around the Moon? Here's your guide to Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report.

Two scientists. One unforgettable view of our planet. What's it like to see the Artemis II Earthrise image through the eyes of a lunar scientist? How about an oceanographer? Jacob Richardson & Ivona Cetinic are here to tell us. Explore Artemis II data: t.co/VTUbJMrjIa

“It was the greatest adventure that four humans can ever go on.” Hear from emeritus astronaut Reid Wiseman and astronaut Christina Koch as they reflect on the Artemis II mission on the latest episode of Houston We Have a Podcast. Take a listen: t.co/XGIlUSOIMM 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4euAvmn

Post-flight analysis confirms the Artemis II Orion heat shield performed as expected during its Mach 39 reentry, protecting the spacecraft and the astronauts aboard as they returned from the 694,481-mile journey around the Moon. t.co/lfibBY6AQc 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4B7EWNT

From the Artemis II crew, to the lunar science team, to you. 🌒🫶 Six months have passed since humanity’s most recent visit to the Moon, and a huge library of data from their journey is now available to explore. Get the story: t.co/VTUbJMrjIa

MEDIA: Apply to attend our Artemis Acceleration event at @NASAKennedy on Oct. 23. NASA will provide an update on our Artemis III mission, which will send astronauts to low Earth orbit next year to test critical systems needed for future lunar landings. t.co/tU4N5CojRF 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4ypCfET

Artemis III progress! 🚀 The rocket boosters have been stacked. Teams are inspecting the solar arrays and testing the spacecraft. The crew is continuing training for their upcoming mission to test lunar landers in low Earth orbit. All this and more has Artemis III on tra... 🔗 go.nasa.gov/3W7jHeV

A huge library of Artemis II data just dropped! Science is a relay race, and today marks the latest in a long series of handoffs. 814 GB of observations. 996 new images. 521 min of never-before-released crew audio. Dig in: t.co/VTUbJMrjIa

The Artemis III crew and @USNavy teams recently practiced hoist operations in San Diego as part of recovery training. Training during the day and at night helps the crew become familiar with the wind, noise, and sea spray they will experience during splashdown and recovery.

You can be part of our next giant leap! @NASAJohnson is hiring its next class of flight directors. From the International @Space_Station to the Moon and beyond, join the team making history. Applications close on Oct. 12: t.co/5H8bd1OKRN 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4ysM8Cq

Earlier today, experts discussed the RS-25 engine and its role in Artemis missions during a webinar tailored specifically for the blind and low-vision community. The recording of that webinar is available here: t.co/GMy9K7xJ7f 🔗 youtu.be/sG1RC_9_MAo?si=4Bt...

Can you hear me now? As @NASA prepares for a long-term human presence on the Moon, reliable communications systems will be critical. Our 2027 Human Lander Challenge invites college teams to develop innovative lunar communications solutions. Learn more: t.co/35EmaMibJq 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4yKHakR

We've got your nose(cones)! NASA’s twin SLS boosters for Artemis III are now fully stacked, with nose cones integrated inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at @NASAKennedy.

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In this recent clip, the Artemis II astronauts discuss the importance of describing visual information during their lunar flyby in April — and all the training they had to undergo to do it effectively.

go.nasa.govRSVP for NASA's accessible webinar event: The RS-25 Engine and the Future of Artemis MissionsNASA is hosting an accessible webinar for the blind and low-vision community on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar will last about two hours and include: an audio-described vide

On Friday, Oct. 2, NASA will host a free webinar about Artemis tailored specifically for a blind and low-vision audience. The program will include an audio-described video and a panel about accessibility. Today is the last day to register for the webinar:

There’s a full Moon rising. The Harvest Moon is the full Moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox. This year, it's on Saturday, Sept. 26. As the Harvest Moon rises in the east shortly after sunset, Saturn will appear nearby. Take a moment to look up and enjoy the view.

21 Sept

Piece by piece! The left forward segment is the latest piece to be stacked for the Artemis III boosters, leaving just one more to go before all 10 are together. The twin SLS solid rocket boosters provide more than 75% of the thrust at liftoff—talk about a powerful pair! 💥

17 Sept

What a Moon. 🌓 On August 27-28, a lunar eclipse was seen across much of North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa. If you're hungry for more lunar observations, International Observe the Moon Night is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 19! Join from anywher... 🔗 go.nasa.gov/3T15WgR

12 Sept

#OTD in 1962, President John F. Kennedy helped set the nation on a course for the Moon. That spirit of exploration lives on. Through Artemis, we will return to the lunar surface, this time to explore a place no human has ever been before: the lunar South Pole region. The ... 🔗 go.nasa.gov/45ZrLRy

10 Sept

Cementing their names in history. The Artemis III crew is leaving their mark — literally. The astronauts recently signed their names on the hardware that will be inside their Orion spacecraft during their low Earth orbit mission, launching in 2027.

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5 Sept

Behold the beauty of four recently installed rocket engines 💅 These four RS-25 rocket engines are now on the work stand for integration with the core stage of the Artemis III rocket. These engines will generate more than two million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

4 Sept

NASA will host a virtual webinar about Artemis for the blind and low-vision community at 2pm ET on Friday, Oct. 2. The webinar will cover the RS-25 engine, the Artemis missions, and accessibility in space and science. Register by Friday, Sept. 25: t.co/ejDXAWURET 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4gNiMHh

4 Sept

The boosters for the Artemis III mission are getting stacked! Technicians are stacking the twin solid rocket boosters for the Space Launch System rocket at @NASAKennedy. The boosters will provide more than 75% of the rocket’s total thrust at launch — scheduled for 2027.

31 Aug

While NASA’s Artemis III mission moves forward, work on Artemis IV and V is already underway! 🚀 At NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, teams are making steady progress on the core stages for the SLS rockets. Here’s a look at some recent moves and tests:

31 Aug

Core Stage IV: 🚀Hydrostatic proof testing of the liquid oxygen tank is complete. 🚀Hydrostatic proof testing of the liquid hydrogen tank is complete. 🚀The boat tail is on its way to @NASAKennedy Space Center (pictured above.)

31 Aug

@NASAKennedy Core Stage V: 🚀The barrel of the engine section was loaded into the Vertical Assembly Center and team members installed a ring that will serve as the attachment point for the liquid hydrogen tank later in the production process.

28 Aug

In early April 2026, the Artemis II crew became the first to travel beyond the Moon in more than 50 years and traveled farther in space than humans have ever before. For their achievements, each was awarded with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor today. Congratulations!

27 Aug

Artemis III progress continues with installation of the RS-25 engines and ongoing integration of the twin solid rocket booster segments for SLS, continued hardware installation and testing on the recently powered-on Orion spacecraft, and the Artemis III crew’s intensive tra... 🔗 go.nasa.gov/46q8tUJ

27 Aug

Look up tonight. The Moon will pass through Earth's shadow during a deep partial lunar eclipse visible from much of North and South America and parts of Europe and Africa. As the eclipse deepens, the Moon will appear tinged with shades of red and copper.

go.nasa.govNASA Begins Moon Mission Plume-Surface Interaction Tests - NASATo help NASA and commercial partners better understand the science of lunar landings, specifically the hazards that may occur when a lander’s engine plumes

26 Aug

Making a mess... to benefit humanity! To help NASA and commercial partners better understand the science of lunar landings, @NASALangley has started a series of complex plume-surface interaction tests inside a massive 60-foot spherical vacuum chamber. t.co/eihfwO7GIx

21 Aug

Start your engines. The Human Exploration Rover Challenge is open for submissions! Students can design and build rovers to compete against each other on an obstacle course in April 2027. Submit your proposals by Sept. 17: t.co/XAlnNfEywu 🔗 www.nasa.gov/learning-resou...

19 Aug

POV: Your office has the best view. NASA's Artemis missions are taking humanity farther than ever before. NASA's photographers work hard to take you all along for the ride. Happy #WorldPhotographyDay!

17 Aug

As NASA prepares to establish the @NASAMoonBase, surface mobility will be key to move crew around the lunar surface. Recently, the top five teams from the Rock and Roll with NASA challenge tested out their wheel designs at @NASAJohnson’s rock yard. t.co/PVfeTu6Yv0 🔗 go.nasa.gov/4qmCG00

14 Aug

Two more booster segments for the Artemis III rocket have been stacked at @NASAKennedy. Four out of 10 motor segments are now stacked! The Artemis III mission will launch in 2027 to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial lunar landers.