The Artemis programme is a robotic and human Moon exploration programme led by the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) along with three partner agencies: European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Canadian Space Agency.
The Artemis programme intends to re-establish a human presence on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The major components of the program are the Space Launch System (SLS), Orion spacecraft, Lunar Gateway space station and the commercial Human Landing Systems.
Artemis comes from the Greek Goddess who was the goddess of the Moon – sister to Apollo.
The Artemis programme really is a team effort. The European Space Agency (ESA) designed and developed Orion’s service module, the part of the spacecraft that supplies air, electricity, and propulsion.
The goal of NASA’s Artemis programme is to put astronauts on the lunar surface (the Moon), and to develop an ongoing presence there.
The Artemis mission’s objectives involve them making use of the Moon as a stepping stone for a mission onwards to Mars.
Artemis 1
On 16th November 2022 at 01:47am ET, NASA successfully launched Artemis 1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
The first mission was to send the Orion Spacecraft ‘uncrewed’.
This was to test the safety of the SLS rocket, and the capsule’s ability to reach the Moon, perform a lunar orbit, and return to Earth for an ocean splashdown.
Artemis 2
Planned for 2026, carrying the first four Artemis astronauts, the Orion will transport the crew farther from Earth than humans have ever travelled before.
Over the 10-day mission, the crew will complete a lunar flyby and return to Earth, evaluating the spacecraft’s systems, while carrying humans.
Artemis 3
Planned for 2027, we will see the next man and first woman step onto the Moon. Providing the previous missions have been successful, the astronauts will fly to the Moon and remain there for approximately one week, conducting experiments.
Watch this video. Artemis I: We Are Ready
Check out these materials from NASA for you to enjoy.