Artemis I

space exploration · Moon · NASA · rockets

Historic first test. Artemis I was NASA's first major mission back to the Moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972, nearly 50 years earlier. It showed that NASA was ready to explore space again in a big way.

Testing the heat shield. The main job of Artemis I was to test the Orion spacecraft's heat shield, which protects astronauts from the extreme heat created when returning from space. Getting this right is crucial before real astronauts can fly.

Uncrewed Moon orbit. No humans were aboard Artemis I, instead the spacecraft orbited the Moon and tested all its systems without any crew on board. This let NASA check everything worked before sending people into space.

Dual rocket and ship. Artemis I tested both the massive Space Launch System rocket that powers the mission and the Orion spacecraft that carries astronauts. Both had to work perfectly together for the mission to succeed.

Path to Mars. The Artemis missions aim to get humans back on the Moon and develop the technology and methods needed for future missions to Mars. Artemis I was the first stepping stone on that long journey.