NASA's Artemis program
Artemis II
Australia’s support for NASA stretches back to the Apollo era, when Australian tracking stations helped relay the historic missions of the 1960s and 70s. That legacy continued through the successful Artemis I launch in 2022, with Australian facilities once again supporting mission tracking and communications.
The next milestone, Artemis II, will carry humans around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Over a 10‑day mission, four astronauts will test the systems, technologies and operational capabilities needed for future deep‑space exploration.
Artemis unlocking Earth-based innovations
Learn about the Earth-based innovations and multifaceted goals of the Artemis program.
Australia’s role in Artemis II
As a founding signatory to the Artemis Accords in 2020, Australia is helping shape the principles and partnerships guiding safe and sustainable exploration of the Moon and beyond.
Australia is directly contributing specialised capabilities and expertise to the Artemis II mission through:
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency
• CSIRO operates NASA’s Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, one of three stations that will help NASA stay connected with the astronauts on their journey to the Moon and back.
• Murriyang, CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope, will be passively tracking the Artemis II mission as part of Intuitive Machines’ ground station network.
• CSIRO’s mobile mission operations centre is providing sophisticated mission control facilities for the ANU optical communication ground station demonstration.
The Australian National University (ANU)
ANU will lend its unique expertise in laser (optical) communications technologies to conduct a demonstration with the mission.
• As part of Artemis II, NASA is flying an optical communications system aboard Orion, which will demonstrate the operational utility of laser communications including its ability to support human spaceflight operations.
• This project received $4.5 million funding from the Australian Government through the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission Grant program.
Artemis III and Future Aussie Moon Projects
Looking ahead, the Australian space industry and researchers will support NASA’s Artemis objectives through other missions to the Moon. They will test new technologies, conduct groundbreaking lunar science, and prepare for future missions.
The Aussie organisations and capabilities that will support Artemis III are:
LEAF
The Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora (LEAF) project will study how the lunar environment affects the germination of plants that maybe used to feed astronauts.
LDA
The Lunar Dielectric Analyzer (LDA) is an international payload that will gather essential information about the structure of the Moon's surface.
Aussie manufacturing
Axiom Precision and Nupress Group have developed components as part of the Orion capsule program. They are contracted by Lockheed Martin as global supply chain partners.
Trusted partner in global space exploration
As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, five innovative Aussie capabilities will demonstrate the strength, creativity and growing global impact of Australia’s space sector.
From the first Australian lunar rover – Roo-ver – through to growing plants on the Moon, Australia’s contributions to the Artemis generation are extensive and varied.
The future Aussie Moon projects and capabilities that will support NASA’s Artemis objectives are:
Roo-ver
Our first-ever Moon rover's objectives include enabling demonstration payloads that will collect data about the lunar surface to support international space exploration goals.
SPIDER
Fleet Space's technology will demonstrate the use of Ambient Noise tomography for researchers to examine the Moon's mineral compositions and search for water ice.
ALEPH
Lunaria One's Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture experiment will test the survivability and growth of plants in space and on the lunar surface.
LUNA
Advanced Navigation's Laser measurement Unit for Navigational Aid (LUNA) project will demonstrate navigation and guidance technology for lunar exploration.
SpAARC
Fugro’s Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) trains, tests and controls autonomous operations and robotics in extreme environments.
Industry showcase: Space spotlights
Explore our feature articles that tell the stories of Australian space technologies, both funded by the Agency as well as others, that are enabling us to explore the universe and advance our Earth-based industries.
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