The Artemis program: humanity's return to the Moon

The global space community is undertaking the Artemis program, a multi-mission campaign designed to push human space exploration deeper into space to the Moon and on to Mars.

What is the Artemis program?

The NASA-led Artemis program is a new chapter of lunar exploration designed to send humans farther into space than ever before.

An international collaboration led by NASA, with contributions from the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the participation of several companies, the program builds the expertise for a lasting return to the Moon. The program also lays an important foundation for deep-space exploration to more distant destinations like Mars.

Like the Apollo program over 50 years ago, Artemis begins with missions around the Moon before a mission that lands on the lunar surface. In addition to crewed and uncrewed missions, the Artemis program includes the construction of Gateway space station in orbit around the Moon. Through the Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of colour on the lunar surface.

According to current plans, designed to support human presence on and around the lunar surface, astronauts would travel from Gateway to the Artemis Base Camp using the Human Landing System.

In return for contributing Canadarm3, a robotic system, to Gateway, Canada receives a range of opportunities for lunar science, technology demonstration and commercial activities, as well as two astronaut flights to the Moon. CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be part of Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972.

What are the Artemis missions?

The Artemis missions are increasingly complex endeavours that lay the foundation for sustainable human and robotic exploration of Earth's only natural satellite, the Moon.

Missions include:

Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft, launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on November 16, 2022;
Artemis II, the first-ever crewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft, targeted to launch no earlier than September 2025; and
Artemis III, currently targeted for no earlier than September 2026, will fly astronauts to the Moon. The mission will land humans on the lunar surface.

During later missions, astronauts will dock Orion to Gateway, a small space station to which Canada is contributing a smart robotic system, Canadarm3. Gateway is critical to sustainable lunar exploration and will serve as a model for future missions to Mars. From Gateway, astronauts will be able to venture to the lunar surface.

Named after the mythological figure Artemis, who is both Apollo's twin sister and Goddess of the Moon and the hunt, this ambitious campaign encompasses efforts to send the first woman and the first person of colour to walk on the surface of the Moon. These missions will also prepare and propel us onward to Mars. As the "torch bringer," Artemis will light the way for human exploration of the red planet.

An artist's concept of the Orion spacecraft approaching Gateway. (Credit: NASA)

Artemis I: the first launch of the SLS with Orion

Artemis I provided a foundation for human deep-space exploration. As an uncrewed test flight, Artemis I demonstrated the performance of the SLS rocket. The launch of Artemis I took place on November 16, 2022.

During this flight, the Orion spacecraft launched from Florida on the SLS and ventured thousands of kilometres beyond the Moon. Orion's systems were then monitored to ensure a safe Crew Module re-entry, splashdown, and recovery. Returning to Earth on December 11, 2022, Orion stayed in space longer than any spacecraft built for astronauts ever has without docking to a space station.

Orion and Earth – Artemis I — On the first day of the Artemis I mission, this image of Earth was captured as Orion heads to the Moon. (Credit: NASA)

The far side of the Moon with Orion capsule – Artemis I — A camera on the tip of Orion's solar array captures the uncrewed Orion capsule and the far side of the Moon six days into the Artemis I mission. (Credit: NASA)

Orion's maximum distance from Earth during Artemis I — Both Earth and the Moon are visible in this image that Orion captured as the spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth on day 13 of the Artemis I mission. (Credit: NASA)

Images of Artemis I mission

Artemis II: the first crewed mission around the Moon in half a century

CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be part of Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. This historic mission, planned to launch no earlier than September 2025, will make Canada the second country to have an astronaut fly around the Moon.

Astronauts aboard Orion for Artemis II will experience their own "Apollo 8 moment" as they see the full globe of Earth from afar, as a backdrop to the Moon.

In addition to being the second test flight of the SLS, this important mission will allow a crew of four astronauts to monitor several vital factors, including:

mission planning
system performance
crew interfaces
guidance and navigation systems

Facts about the SLS rocket and the Orion Crew Module — Text version - To the Moon! – Infographic

Orion is a new exploration vehicle that will carry Artemis crews to space. It is designed to be launched by NASA's SLS rocket, one of the most powerful rockets in the world. (Credit: CSA)

The crewed Orion spacecraft will take a unique trajectory known as "hybrid free return," which will circle our planet twice to gain enough speed to travel the distance to the Moon. Once there, Orion will use the Moon's gravity to slingshot around the far side and return to Earth.

The exact duration of the mission has yet to be confirmed, but should be about 10 days. The flight path for Artemis II involves a mission duration of at least eight days.

The mission will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and splash down in the Pacific Ocean upon its return to Earth.

Text version - Artemis II: First crewed flight to the Moon since Apollo – Infographic

During Artemis II, four astronauts will fly around the Moon in the Orion capsule. The approximately 10-day flight test will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon. (Credits: CSA, NASA)

Artemis III: the return of humans to the Moon's surface

Artemis III will be the culmination of rigorous testing. A crew of four astronauts will once again travel to the Moon, and will land on the surface. Artemis III astronauts will be transported by a human lander to the Moon's surface, where they will collect a variety of samples intended to deepen our understanding of key aspects of the Moon.

In March 2024, the Canadian Space Agency awarded a grant of $300,000 to Western University, whose scientist Dr. Gordon "Oz" Osinski was selected to be part of NASA's Artemis III Geology Team. The team will support the planning and operations of the Artemis III mission, including designing the geology surface campaign of the astronauts on the Moon, to ensure that the mission achieves its scientific objectives.

Artist's concept of Artemis I earthrise — The Orion spacecraft will use the gravitational forces of Earth and the Moon to help propel itself during the Artemis missions. (Credit: NASA/Liam Yanulis)

Maintaining a lunar future

For long-term operations, Gateway provides a staging point for human and robotic lunar missions. The orbiting outpost will support longer expeditions on the Moon, and potentially multiple trips to the surface during a single Artemis mission.

The Gateway-to-surface operational system is similar to how a human Mars mission may be designed—with the ability for some crew to remain in orbit and others to go to the surface. It is important to gain experience using this system on the Moon before the first human missions to Mars.

NASA's Space Launch System — An artist's concept of NASA's SLS. Weighing over 2.6 million kilograms, this configuration was used to launch the first Artemis mission to the Moon. (Credit: NASA/MSFC)

The SLS rocket

Public and commercial organizations within the international space community are developing a range of vehicles that will help enable human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

One of these is NASA's SLS, among the most powerful rockets in the world. Its core stage holds over 2.7 million litres of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The SLS will produce 15 percent more thrust than the Saturn V rocket that brought astronauts to the Moon during the Apollo missions.

Using additional rocket boosters and stages, the system can evolve and expand according to crew and cargo mission requirements. Different SLS configurations increase payload volume and thrust, allowing more cargo to be sent farther than ever before.

The Orion spacecraft

Orion is a new exploration vehicle that will carry Artemis crews to space. Designed to be launched by NASA's SLS rocket, the spacecraft features life support systems and emergency abort capabilities. It includes the Crew Module, where the crew will live and work during Artemis missions; and the European Service Module, which will carry air, nitrogen, and water for the crew, as well as in-space propulsion and power systems. The Crew Module is able to withstand the intense physical forces and heat during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.