우주
아르테미스 II 미션: NASA의 발사 및 우주 프로그램 재설계
4월 1일, 아르테미스 II 미션은 4명의 우주 비행사와 함께 달을 10일간 공전하기 위해 발사된다. 아르테미스 I 미션에 이어지며, 이 미션은 SLS(Space Launch System) 발사체와 오리온 우주선의 안전성을 검증하기 위해 수행되었다. 아르테미스 II는 미국과 그 동맹국이 달 표면에 영구적인 기지를 건설하고, 중국과 러시아의 유사한 계획을 앞서기 위한 더 큰 프로그램의 일부이다. 그러나 아르테미스 II 미션의 성공적인 발사와 진행은 NASA가 아르테미스 프로그램을 전체적으로 재설계한다고 발표한 지 며칠 후에 이루어진다. 이 프로그램은 지연과 비용 초과로 어려움을 겪었으며, 이 재설계는 누적된 문제를 해결하기 위한 것이다. 아르테미스 II는 달 기지보다 더 야심적인 계획과 마스 탐사를 위한 핵 추진 계획을 포함하여 우주 탐험의 더 변혁적인 단계로 나아가기 위한 필수적인 단계이다.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg-EQ7MOu6I
아르테미스 프로그램 개요
아르테미스는 달에 다시 인간을 보내는 것을 목표로 하는 NASA의 전체 프로그램이다. 이 프로그램은 달과 마스 탐사를 위한 기술과 인프라를 개발하는 것을 포함한다.
아르테미스 I는 SLS 발사체와 오리온 우주선의 중앙 구성 요소를 테스트하기 위한 비행 테스트였다.아르테미스 II는 아르테미스 프로그램의 첫 번째有人 비행이며, 미래의 달 착륙을 준비하기 위한 것이다.아르테미스 III는有人 착륙을 계획했지만, 이는 아르테미스 IV로 변경될 수 있다.아르테미스 IV 및 V와 이후의 미션에서는有人 착륙과 영구적으로 거주할 수 있는 달 기지를 건설할 것이다.아르테미스 II 설명아르테미스 II 개요
아르테미스 II는 초기에 2019년과 2021년 사이에 발사될 예정이었다. 그러나 프로그램 전체의 지연으로 인해 이 날짜는 비현실적이게 되었다. 이후 2023년과 2025년으로 계획이 변경되었지만, 우주선의 열 방어와 생명 유지 시스템에 대한 우려로 인해 발사를 2026년 4월 1일로 연기하기로 결정했다.
우주 비행사
- 아르테미스 II 미션에는 4명의 우주 비행사가 참여할 것이다. 그들은 오리온 우주선의 모든 기능과 안전성을 검증하기 위해 달을 공전할 것이다. 우주 비행사들은 새로운 우주복을 착용할 것이며, 이는 더 높은 방사선 수준을 견딜 수 있도록 설계되었다.
- 아르테미스 II 과학
- 건강 및 방사선
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아르테미스 II 미션의 첫 번째 과학 실험은 우주 비행사의 건강을 고급적으로 모니터링하는 것이다. 이는 인간이 지구에서 가장 멀리 간 미션으로, 우주 비행사들은 지구의 자기장으로부터 보호를 받지 못할 것이다.
- 달 관측
아르테미스 II 미션의 또 다른 목표는 달을 관측하는 것이다. 특히, 달의 뒷면을 관측할 것이다. 이는 달의 뒷면이 지구에서 보이지 않는 지역이기 때문에 중요하다.
아르테미스 재설계
NASA는 아르테미스 프로그램을 재설계하기로 결정했다. 이는 프로그램의 지연과 비용 초과를 해결하기 위한 것이다. 새로운 계획은 아르테미스 III를 2027년에 발사하고,有人 착륙을 아르테미스 IV로 변경하는 것이다.
아르테미스 II 이후
아르테미스 II 미션은 달에 다시 인간을 보내는 것을 목표로 하는 중요한 단계이다. 이는 미국과 그 동맹국이 달 표면에 영구적인 기지를 건설하고, 중국과 러시아의 유사한 계획을 앞서기 위한 더 큰 프로그램의 일부이다. 아르테미스 II 미션의 성공적인 발사와 진행은 우주 탐험의 더 변혁적인 단계로 나아가기 위한 필수적인 단계이다.
록히드 마틴은 세계에서 가장大的 항공 및 방위 회사 중 하나이다. 이 회사는 오리온 우주선의 설계, 개발, 테스트, 및 생산을 담당하고 있다. 또한 아르테미스 프로그램과 관련된 다른 프로젝트에도 참여하고 있다. 록히드 마틴은 우주 탐험과 방위 산업에서 중요한 역할을 하고 있다.
The trajectory used will fly 4,600 miles beyond the Moon before coming back to Earth, as this more complex path will save on fuel, using Earth’s gravity to pull it back. This trajectory, of course, also gives the mission more time to observe the Moon, test equipment, and perform scientific experiments.
Source: Explore Deep Space
The Astronauts
The Artemis II mission will be crewed by four astronauts with very experienced profiles:
- Reid Wiseman: the commander of the mission, was born in Baltimore, is a 27-year Navy veteran, a pilot, a father, and an engineer. He previously stayed in the ISS for a 165-day mission in 2014.
- Victor Glover: born in California and a test pilot for the F/A-18, he has more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft. He will be the mission’s pilot and was previously the pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the ISS (expedition 64). He will be the first Black astronaut to fly around the Moon.
- Christina Koch: an engineer, is Artemis II’s Mission Specialist 1 and was born in Michigan. She became an astronaut in 2013 and set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with 328 days at the ISS. She also participated in the first all-female spacewalk.
- Jeremy Hansen: A Canadian with experience as a fighter pilot, he was raised on a farm in Ontario. He participated in several experiments simulating multiple-day-long flights underground and in an underwater habitat, and is the mission specialist 2 of Artemis II.
Source: NASA
The crew will wear new spacesuits, built to endure the higher radiation level of the cislunar environment. Actual exposure levels will be tested during this mission and help ensure the safety of future longer missions.
You can see the countdown to the Artemis II launch in these live feeds by NASA.
Artemis II Science
Health & Radiations
The first part of the scientific experiment conducted on Artemis II will be advanced monitoring of the astronaut’s health, as this is the farthest any human has gone from Earth in half a century.
This longer distance means the astronauts will no longer be protected by Earth’s magnetosphere, the giant magnetic field that protects us from cosmic and solar radiation.
So six radiation sensors inside Orion, collectively called the Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessors and made in Czechia, are one of the most important aspects of the mission, with the data collected important to estimate risks of future longer missions, including stays on the Moon’s surface.
Radiation detection will also be improved compared to the preliminary results of Artemis I, thanks to an update of the German-made model M-42 sensor, which offers six times more resolution to distinguish between different types of energy.
“Together, these studies will allow scientists to better understand how the immune system performs in deep space, teach us more about astronauts’ overall well-being ahead of a Mars mission, and help scientists develop ways to ensure the health and success of crew members.”
The astronauts’ well-being, activity, sleep patterns, and interactions will be monitored by the wearable devices ARCHeR (Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness). Psychological assessments, and testing head, eye, and body movements will also be part of the analysis.
Immune biomarkers in blood and saliva will also be regularly collected from all four astronauts throughout the mission. Notably, this study will investigate how dormant viruses reawaken in astronauts’ bodies in space, a known problem for long-duration space flights and a concern for long-term colonization of space.
Lastly, Artemis II will carry AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response), an organ-on-a-chip device. The size of a USB drive, mimics how tissues, such as the brain, heart, liver, or dozens of other organs, work. It will help study the effects of increased radiation and microgravity on human tissues.
Lunar Observation
After a long time of few lunar missions, and none crewed in 50+ years, observation of the Moon will be another priority of the Artemis II mission, especially the far side of the Moon (sometimes mistakenly called the “dark side”), which is always invisible from Earth.
Depending on the exact mission launch time, it’s possible the crew could be the first humans to see certain areas of the Moon’s far side. From this distance, the Moon will appear to be the size of a basketball held at arm’s length.
“Artemis II is a chance for astronauts to implement the lunar science skills they’ve developed in training. It’s also an opportunity for scientists and the engineers in mission control to collaborate during real-time operations, building on the years of testing and simulations that our teams have done together.”
Kelsey Young, Artemis II lunar science lead at NASA, leading a team of scientists with expertise in impact cratering, volcanism, tectonism, and lunar ice.”
One particular point of interest in the lunar South Pole as all the historical Apollo missions were concentrated over the lunar equator. However, the poles are much more interesting sites for a permanent base, with more water resources and more small areas with permanent sunlight.
Artemis II Payload: CubeSats
Besides Orion, the Artemis II mission will also carry CubeSats, mini shoe-box-sized technology demonstrations, and scientific experiments. They were produced by NASA partners in Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina.
The experiment will help better understand the conditions and effects of missions beyond Earth’s magnetosphere:
- The effects on human tissues of radiation.
- How does the space environment affect electrical components for future lunar vehicles?
- Shielding methods and long-range comlink.
- Space weather observations.
Source: NASA
Space Weather
As Artemis II will fly outside of our planet’s protective magnetic field, it will also be in an ideal position to study space weather, or the conditions of particles and radiation emitted by our Sun.
So the team will be able to track coronal mass ejections and solar flares, violent phenomena that can cause radiation damage to both living tissues and electronics, especially electronics in orbit like GPS and Internet satellites like Starlink.
Artemis Reset By NASA
Redesigning Artemis
As mentioned, the Artemis program has suffered many delays, with Artemis II ultimately years later than initially planned.
A new revised plan revealed at the end of February 2026, part of a broader restructuring of NASA’s deep space program, is adding a new Artemis mission in 2027, and shifts the manned landing objective to Artemis IV instead of III.
In this new design, Artemis III will serve as a critical technology demonstration in low Earth orbit in 2027, testing docking operations with commercial lunar landers.
“Everything about this mission is in the direction of buying down risk before we put our astronauts on the surface. I would certainly much rather have astronauts testing the integrated systems of the lander and Orion in low-Earth orbit than on the Moon.”
After Artemis IV’s first landing in 2028, a second landing under Artemis V could follow later the same year, before the agency moves to a steady cadence of lunar missions. This should put the USA just ahead of China, which plans its own manned landing by 2030 at the latest.
Overall, the key concern is that the previous architecture attempted too much too quickly in space and on the Moon, while operating on a launch cadence that was too slow to sustain reliability.
“Launching a rocket as important and as complex as SLS every three years is not a path to success. When you are launching every three years, your skills atrophy, you lose muscle memory.”
So, after years where SLS was in question to be replaced by an eventual modified Starship by SpaceX, it seems the new plan is to standardize the configuration of the Space Launch System (SLS) and launch it more often, even if the rocket is not reusable and expensive.
SLS is, however, tested and proven reliable for manned flights, which is more than super-heavy rockets from private companies can say yet. This will also require a quicker preparation of launch pads as well.
The quicker launch schedule will imitate more closely how the first flight to the Moon was accomplished, with a launch almost every three months throughout Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo.
Lunar Gateway’s Uncertain Fate
A key part of the initial Artemis mission design was the Lunar Gateway, an ISS-like space station that would have been the first ever to orbit another celestial body than Earth, orbiting the Moon instead.
We presented in detail the project in “Lunar Gateway: Building The First Step To The Stars”.
However, the fate of Lunar Gateway is now uncertain. Instead, NASA is considering investing $20B to develop a much larger base on the Moon, and giving up on Gateway entirely.
In this new design, the astronauts will directly move from Orion to lunar landers.
“The agency intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to infrastructure that enables sustained surface operations. Despite challenges with some existing hardware, the agency will repurpose applicable equipment and leverage international partner commitments to support these objectives.”
Many of the equipment planned for the Gateway station, like living quarters, life supports, cargo space, and airlocks, could be repurposed for this larger Moon base, whose exact plans are still undetermined. But it is already decided that it should be located at the Moon’s South Pole.
Other equipment, like the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), might be repurposed in other missions, especially as many of these elements are already designed or built, including by NASA partners like ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada).
This new plan, without Lunar Gateway, should unfold in three phases:
- Phase 1: Testing: frequent sending of rovers, instruments, and technology demonstrations that advance mobility, power generation (including nuclear), communications, navigation, and surface operations.
- Phase 2: EstablishingEarly Infrastructure: semi-habitable infrastructure for recurring astronaut operations on the surface, as well as a pressurized rover, and potentially other space agencies’ scientific payloads, rovers, and infrastructure/transportation capabilities.
- Phase 3: EnablingLong Duration Human Presence
- Leveraging cargo-capable human landing systems (HLS), potentially private ones, to deliver heavier infrastructure needed for a continuous human foothold on the Moonand a permanent base offworld.
Beyond The Moon
While Artemis and the Moon are the clear priority of NASA, the agency is, for maybe the first time in decades, looking at new ambitious targets at the scale of the Apollo program and beyond just the Moon.
“If we concentrate NASA’s extraordinary resources on the objectives of the National Space Policy, clear away needless obstacles that impede progress, and unleash the workforce and industrial might of our nation and partners, then returning to the Moon and building a base will seem pale in comparison to what we will be capable of accomplishing in the years ahead.”
One such element is the development of a nuclear-powered spacecraft mission to Mars, the Space Reactor‑1 Freedom. SR-1 would repurpose a nearly built, NASA-developed spacecraft bus, the Power and Propulsion Element.
Planned for a 2028 launch, the nuclear reactor will use nuclear energy to power high-efficiency electric ion thrusters. This will be used to deliver the Skyfall payload of three Ingenuity-class helicopters to Mars in a record time.
This is not the first attempt at deploying nuclear propulsion, but the first one that seems to be truly determined to make it happen.
“For six decades, the United States invested more than $20 billion across dozens of space nuclear programs and flew exactly one reactor — SNAP-10A, in 1965. It never left orbit. Billions spent, decades lost. SR-1 ends that pattern. A Mars launch window in December 2028 forces decisions that decades of study never did.”
Nuclear energy is also going to be used on the Moon, with Lunar Reactor-1 (LR-1), a fission surface-power system designed to keep the Moon Base operating through periods of darkness.
Lastly, besides the Moon and Mars, NASA will procure a government‑owned Core Module that attaches to the aging ISS. This will be followed by commercial modules that will be individually validated using International Space Station capabilities, and later detached into free flight.
Later on, the ISS will be finally abandoned, and NASA will use the accumulated experience and testing to pick the right technology for building the ISS successor in low-Earth orbit.
Beyond Artemis II
Assuming the Artemis II mission goes as planned, it is the stepping stone before the return of American and partner nations’ astronauts to the Moon.
But this time, the human presence on our satellite is not a short visit, and at the very end of our current technical capabilities, at the height of the Cold War with the USSR.
Instead, the first manned landing will be the first step of a cautious and deliberate strategy to establish mankind’s first-ever permanent offworld presence, leverage new materials, AI, and automation.
In the long run, the accumulated experience with this Moon base will be very valuable for other potential manned missions in deep space, especially Mars.
This is also the newly adopted strategy of SpaceX of putting the Moon ahead of Mars, ahead of its planned IPO, announced a few days before NASA’s public redesign of the Artemis mission, implying that the soon-to-be-public company is planning to be an integral part of this effort. Most likely, Starship HLS, a Starship rocket redesigned for lunar landing and refueled in low-Earth orbit, will be the main contribution of the company.
Investing In The Artemis Program
Lockheed Martin
(LMT )
Lockheed Martin is one of the world’s largest aerospace & defense companies, which we covered in detail in November 2025 in “Lockheed Martin (LMT) Spotlight: A Leader In Defense and Aerospace”. Weapons are, however, not all that the company does.
Lockheed is the lead contractor for the design, development, testing, and production of the Orion spacecraft. This includes Callisto, a voice-controlled AI assistance system, in partnership with Amazon’s Alexa (AMZN ).
As the program should be scaled up thanks to cheaper and more frequent launches of first S, then Starship, this could boost the production of Orion as well.
Also related to Artemis, Lockheed has announced it has completed critical tests of a lunar solar array prototype that can function in the Moon’s South Pole.
The company is active in other space programs, like the GOES-R weather satellites, the collection of asteroid samples by OSIRIS-REx, the Jupiter probe JUNO, and a wearable radiation-shielding vest, AstroRad.
In short, this is a company deeply embedded in the NASA lunar program.
Beyond space activities, Lockheed is behind aircraft like the Black Hawk helicopters or the F-16, as well as advanced equipment like the F-35, flying radar planes, or logistical aircraft like the C-5 Galaxy & C-130J Super Hercules.
Source: Lockheed Martin
It is also the producer of some of the US military’s most important missile systems, like the JAASM, Javelin, ATACMS, and HIMARS, in extremely high demand following the depletion of stockpiles by the conflict in Ukraine.
It is also an important provider of anti-missile defense systems like the naval AEGIS and the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) against ballistic missiles.
Source: Lockheed Martin
As military activity and inventory of missiles are depleting quicker than planned, Lockheed is likely one of the beneficiaries of conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, in addition to the growing demand for the F-35 and other aircraft.
From space to defense, Lockheed Martin is at the forefront of American innovation and seems to have kept its edge a lot sharper than many of its large defense contractor competitors.
The company should benefit from later iterations of the Artemis program, as well as many other deep space and Mars-focused missions in the long term, with even a nuclear fusion-powered reactor in development in partnership with startup Helicity Space, in which Lockheed invested in 2024.
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