Shortly after NASA’s Artemis II mission splashed down on April 10, 2026, U.S. Navy divers captured underwater imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield. In the months after, the agency measured whether the thermal protection system effectively safeguarded the crew…

As the supercooled propellant flowed into the core stage, and NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket roared to life, Allison Mjoen and her family watched with awe and pride. Mjoen, NASA’s operations manager for the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems Program,…

Artemis II astronauts Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen reflect on memorable mission moments, new perspectives, and what comes next after their historic journey around the Moon. Episode 441.

NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts around the Moon and brought them safely back to Earth, laying a foundation for crewed flights to the Moon’s surface. Additional engineering data analysis of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield confirmed initial data…

NASA will provide an update on its plans to return American astronauts to the surface of the Moon by 2028 at 2 p.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 23, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Learn where to watch online:…

A commercial lander that will be at the forefront of NASA’s efforts to establish a Moon Base, humanity’s first lunar outpost, has passed a series of critical tests at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The tests simulated…

Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch reflect on their historic journey around the Moon, the moments that moved them, and what it’s like to come home after traveling farther than any humans before them. Episode 440.

A visualization of a dark Moon eclipsing the Sun is marked with handwritten notes in this April 6, 2026, screenshot from an Artemis II crew member’s tablet. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (in blue) and Victor “Ike” Glover (in green) and…

What did four NASA astronauts see, notice, and document as they traveled around the Moon? Here’s your guide to Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report.

As part of NASA’s ongoing Inspiration Tour, NASA astronaut Christina Koch will highlight America’s strengths in space exploration and aeronautics innovation at the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams game in Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 4. A self-proclaimed Philadelphia sports…

NASA is seeking leaders for one of the most esteemed positions on Earth for human spaceflight: flight director in mission control at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. This role is critical to advancing American leadership in space exploration,…

Lunar scientists Juliane Gross and Aaron Regberg share never-before-heard recordings from the Artemis II crew as they observed the far side of the Moon. Episode 439

Editor’s note: This release was updated on Oct. 2, 2026, to correct the full names of the DISCO and GIMLI payloads. NASA selected three new scientific investigations and their payload suites to advance our knowledge of the Moon and help…

NASA’s 2027 Human Lander Challenge is seeking ideas from college and university students to help address one of the most critical needs for sustained lunar exploration: reliable communications. As NASA prepares for long-term human presence on the Moon through the…

The Republic of Albania signed the Artemis Accords Monday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, joining the coalition of like‑minded nations committed to the responsible and transparent exploration of space. “It is my privilege…

The Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) mission was launched to help us see the Sun from a new viewpoint. This article explains how this mission and others like it revolutionize our understanding of the Earth-Sun system.

Editors’ Note: This advisory was updated on Sept. 17, 2026, to reflect current pre-game details. As part of NASA’s new Inspiration Tour, Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and commander of the agency’s Artemis II mission, will highlight America’s strengths in space…

Planning crewed missions to the Moon and Mars involves preparing for the medical realities of long-duration space travel. Factors like cosmic radiation, microgravity, and distance from Earth create unique health considerations for astronauts. To anticipate these needs ahead of time,…

NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik (left) and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano view progress on the solid rocket booster integration in High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept.…

The Republic of Djibouti became the 72nd nation and eighth African country to sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony Monday at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The Artemis Accords are the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing transparency,…

The science from every Moon rock sample, lunar dataset, and discovery produced through NASA’s Artemis program will be shared by the agency with the global scientific community. That commitment is upheld by all 71 countries that have signed the Artemis…

The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission – NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen – visited Huntsville, Alabama, Sept. 1, 2026, where they met with the NASA workforce at…

Explore fun facts about the Orion spacecraft.

The Orion Program, managed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, is a broad national and international collaboration. Multiple NASA centers, international partners, and industry contractors contribute to the spacecraft, from building hardware to supporting mission operations.

The Orion Program conducted rigorous testing of the spacecraft, from element-level testing with test articles for the crew module, service module, LAS, parachute system, and other supporting systems—including both flight tests and ground tests—to integrated testing of the full spacecraft that have…