What is planned for the first three Artemis Missions?
NASA is phasing in the mission through a series of missions to test new technology, navigation, safety protocols, and procedures.
Artemis I: The uncrewed mission took place in late 2022, launching in November and successfully orbiting the Moon before splashing down in early December. The goals of this mission were to test the SLS rocket and the Orion Capsule’s performance in flight and landing on Earth. Despite some challenges, it was a success.
Artemis II: This will be a 10-day crewed flight that won’t land on the Moon but will navigate the planned trajectory for future missions. The crew was announced in April 2023, and the mission is scheduled for November 2024. It will travel far from Earth to test the capabilities of the Crew Module and deep space communication.
Artemis III: This mission will take astronauts to the Moon. It will be the first time humans have set foot on the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. The crew will be selected from a diverse astronaut class. NASA has chosen the SpaceX Starship Human Landing System for the lunar landing.
Future missions will continue to develop the Gateway and the Artemis Base Camp until humans can live and work on the Moon for extended periods.
Meet the crew for the Artemis Missions: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-ii/