Artemis program

NASA's Artemis program aims to put astronauts on the moon's south pole in 2024. The program is part of an international effort to build a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. See the latest news about the Artemis program here. 

Related topics: NASA, Apollo program, Moon

Latest Updates

NASA's first Space Launch System, the Artemis 1 moon rocket, stands atop Launch Pad 39B during sunrise in this photo taken March 23, 2022.

NASA unveils Artemis 1 moon mission launch windows through mid-2023

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA has released all of its Artemis 1 launch windows through 2022, with more dates through June 2023.

An anthropomorphic test device or flight dummy nicknamed Rosie the Rocketeer appears strapped into a seat in Boeing's Starliner capsule.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Elizabeth Howell published

See the best photos on Space.com this week.

Plants grown in simulated lunar soil on the left and in Apollo sample on the right, seen 16 days after planting.

Scientists grow 1st plants in moon soil

By Rebecca Sohn published

More than 50 years after the first Apollo samples were brought to Earth, scientists have successfully grown plants in lunar soil for the first time.

Artist's illustration showing the CAPSTONE spacecraft in a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) around the moon.

NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat launch to the moon delayed to May 31

By Elizabeth Howell published

The liftoff of the CAPSTONE moon mission has been pushed four days to no earlier than May 31, NASA announced this week.

Colombian Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez (left) signs the Artemis Accords.

Colombia signs the Artemis Accords for peaceful space exploration

By Elizabeth Howell published

It's the 19th country to join NASA in the agreement, following quickly after Bahrain and Singapore in recent weeks.

NASA's first Space Launch System, the Artemis 1 moon rocket, stands atop Launch Pad 39B during sunrise in this photo taken March 23, 2022 after its rollout at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA will try again to fuel Artemis 1 moon rocket in June as launch slips to August

By Mike Wall published

NASA will take its fourth crack at fueling up its Artemis 1 moon rocket next month, if all goes according to plan.

An artist's depiction of work on the moon as part of the Artemis program.

Canada considers adding moon crimes to its Criminal Code

By Elizabeth Howell published

Canada is working on legislation that would allow legal action against crimes committed on the moon, among other space locations.

In the next decade, both a U.S.-led group and a collaboration between Russia and China aim to set up bases on the Moon.

Space Blocs: The future of international cooperation in space is splitting along lines of power on Earth

By Svetla Ben-Itzhak published

Some scholars predict a future in which single states pursue various levels of dominance, while others foresee a scenario in which commercial entities bring nations together.

A NASA volunteer carries a 30-pound (14 kilograms) object while in a spacesuit connected to NASA’s Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS).

Obstacle course tests NASA astronauts' mission readiness after moon or Mars landing

By Robert Lea published

Humanity is preparing for the next stage of space exploration that will involve stepping foot on the moon and Mars, by testing its astronauts' mission readiness.

Michael Zanetti, a NASA planetary scientist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, testing the Kinematic Navigational and Cartography Knapsack (KNaCK) in late 2021. Zanetti was at the Cinder cone in Portillo volcanic field in New Mexico.

This NASA 'lunar backpack' will help Artemis astronauts explore the moon

By Elizabeth Howell published

As Artemis astronauts walk on the moon, these NASA backpacks will chronicle lunar features in context.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission stack rolls toward the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the early morning hours of April 26, 2022.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket rolls off the launch pad for repairs (photos)

By Josh Dinner published

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission has returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center following incomplete "wet dress rehearsal" attempts earlier this month.

The minifigure members of the Lego Space Team, including program manager Daniel, flight director Maria, mission specialist Kyle, scientist Sofie and ground systems technician Zach appear as Lego brick-built statues in the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Build to Launch exhibit.

Lego Space Team minifigures meet fans at NASA visitor complex

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Before they join NASA on a mission to the moon, the minifigure members of the Lego Space Team are now meeting their fans in a new exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 vehicle makes its way along the crawlerway to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In view atop the mobile launcher on the pad are the Artemis 1 Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft.

Watch NASA roll Artemis 1 moon rocket off the launch pad tonight

By Mike Wall published

NASA will roll its Artemis 1 moon rocket off the launch pad today (April 25) at about 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT), and you can watch the action live.

Artist's impression of the new crew transportation vehicle expected to be used for Artemis 2.

NASA's Artemis astronauts will ride to launchpad in sleek new electric vans

By Elizabeth Howell published

The vehicles replace the Astrovans used for the space shuttle program, between 1983 and 2011.

The Artemis 1 Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft are in view atop the mobile launcher on Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 14, 2022.

NASA to roll Artemis 1 moon rocket off the launch pad early next week

By Mike Wall published

NASA will roll its Artemis 1 moon rocket off the launch pad early next week, if all goes according to plan.

The pink moon sets behind NASA's Artemis 1 Space Launch System rocket on Saturday, April 16, 2022.

Stunning pink moon sets behind Artemis 1 just before it rolls off the pad

By Elizabeth Howell published

A powerful new photo shows Artemis 1 on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, backdropped by its destination: the moon, shining in pink.

NASA's first Space Launch System, the Artemis 1 moon rocket, stands atop Launch Pad 39B during sunrise in this photo taken March 23, 2022 after its rollout at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA to roll Artemis 1 moon rocket off the launch pad after failed fueling tries

By Mike Wall published

NASA has decided to roll its Artemis 1 moon rocket off the launch pad and back to a processing facility to fix some issues revealed by a recent "wet dress rehearsal" test.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket, the agency's first Space Launch System booster, and its Orion spacecraft stand atop Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida during wet dress rehearsal operations on April 14, 2022.

NASA may resume critical Artemis 1 moon rocket tests next week

By Mike Wall published

The next attempt to fuel Artemis 1's huge Space Launch System rocket could come as early as Thursday (April 21).

NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket, the first Space Launch System booster, stands top Launch Pad 39B of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the International Space Station flies overhead as a streak visible in the upper left on April 8, 2022.

Artemis 1 moon rocket gets space station flyover in stunning NASA photo

By Tariq Malik published

A serene new NASA photo shows the agency's Artemis 1 moon rocket as the International Space Station flies overhead during a critical test.

The sunrise casts a warm glow around the Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 21, 2022.

NASA calls off 3rd attempt to fuel up Artemis 1 moon rocket

By Mike Wall published

Today (April 14), NASA called off the latest attempt to fuel up Artemis 1's huge Space Launch System rocket, a crucial part of the mission's pre-launch "wet dress rehearsal."