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1 [1] (April 13, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govetyl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing 11w eg~sIative debate rnnce 1914 0 Updated April 13, 2026 Artemis: NASA's Program to Return Humans to the Moon Between 1969 and 1972, the Apollo program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) landed 12 American men on the Moon and returned them safely to Earth. Artemis, named for Apollo's twin sister in ancient Greek mythology, is NASA's program for a return to the Moon by American astronauts by 2028. Figure I. Major Elements of the Artemis Missions, Current and Proposed Space Launch S-ystem {SLS): N ASA'S; rocket; intended to launch crew and cargo from Earth Gateway: ( swo planned space station operated by NASA and foreign partner space agencies, would operate in lunar orbit Human Landing System (HLS): U.S. com erci. sp eaf intended mtotraport cte to theMooon r,aoeode NASA contract NASA Moon Base; oposed unarootpo NSA' crew capsule, tobelaurched atop an SLS rocket Source: CRS illustration based on information from NASA. Notes: In March 2026, the NASA Administrator announced that the agency intends to create a lunar outpost and pause development of the Gateway. Both proposals are included in this figure. Or on and the Space Launch System The Artemis program has evolved from plans initiated in the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-267). The act established a statutory goal of expand[ing] permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and mandated the development of a crew capsule and a heavy-lift rocket to accomplish that goal. The capsule, now known as Orion, and the rocket, known as the Space Launch System (SLS), have been in development since that time (see Figure 1). Each Orion capsule consists of a crew module with room for four to six astronauts, as well as storage space and a docking port; a service module (contributed by the European Space Agency) to provide power and propulsion; and a launch abort system. The crew module is designed to be reusable and is the only portion intended to return to Earth at the end of a mission. SLS is an expendable rocket designed to carry Orion into space and set it on an initial trajectory to the Moon. SLS could also be used for other missions involving heavy payloads or requiring very high thrust. As required by P.L. 111-267, SLS was designed to accommodate future upgrades in phases (known as Block 1, Block IB, and Block 2) to increase its thrust capacity. Similarly, NASA planned to upgrade SLS's upper stages (i.e., in-space propulsion) by developing what is known as the Exploration Upper Stage. The first launch of Orion on an SLS was in November 2022. This mission, known as Artemis I, was an uncrewed test flight near the Moon to certify safety for crewed flights. Artemis II, the first crewed test of Orion and SLS, occurred in April 2026. Orion and its crew of four traveled near the Moon before returning to Earth. In February 2026, the NASA Administrator announced that, after Artemis II, NASA will use a single version of SLS in a near Block 1 configuration, rather than upgrading to the Block 1B and Block 2 variants for future missions, in order to reduce complexity and accelerate manufacturing. Rather than developing the Exploration Upper Stage, NASA selected the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur V Upper Stage in March 2026. The agency intends to award a sole-source contract, without competition, as NASA determined existing alternatives fail to meet the performance requirements or would require significant modifications or development. Human Landing System The Orion capsule is not designed to land on the Moon. Instead, astronauts are to transfer to a separate spacecraft, known as a Human Landing System (HLS), for lunar descent and ascent (see Figure 1). NASA selected two HLS providers: SpaceX, using a version of its Starship, and Blue Origin, using its Blue Moon lander. Both systems are still in development. Through committee reports and explanatory statements accompanying appropriations, Congress has repeatedly encouraged NASA to use more than one commercial provider in order to ensure redundancy and bolster competition. In February 2026, the NASA Administrator announced that the Artemis III mission, to occur in mid-2027, will demonstrate one or both HLSs in low Earth orbit. Next, Artemis IV is to be the first human landing on the Moon since 1972 and is planned to occur by 2028. In a March 2026 report, the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reported that both HLS providers have faced schedule delays and technical challenges that have the potential to further impact lander costs and delivery schedules, particularly for a 2028 lunar landing. NASA is considering proposals from both providers to accelerate development in support of a 2028 lunar landing. Other Elements In addition to Orion, SLS, and HLS, NASA procures commercial space transportation services for small robotic missions through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services