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1 [1] (June 25, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/goveupw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: * Congressional Research Service Informing the Iegislatve debate since 1914 Updated June 25, 2026 Artemis: NASA's Program to Return Humans to the Moon Artemis is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) program to send American astronauts to the Moon by 2028. This In Focus provides an overview of the Artemis program, including its major elements (Figure 1) and selected issues for Congress. Figure I. Major Elements of the Artemis Missions, Current and Proposed SpaceLaunch Sytm(SLS)z NASA's rocket; intended to launch crew and cargo from Earth planned sp sation operated by NASA and foreign Partn spce agencies; would operate in lunar orbit Human Landing Systemn (HLS): U& commercial pa aft intended to transport crew to the Moons Surface under a NASAconriact NASA Moon Base: proposed lunar outp a NA Ascrewcapsule; to be launched 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. Or2on 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 ofa 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, 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, phased upgrades (known as Block 1, Block 1B, 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 lB 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 (ULA'S) Vulcan Centaur V Upper Stage in March 2026. The agency intends to award ULA a sole-source contract (i.e., no competitive bidding), as it determined that 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. 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 the 2028 target date. Other ements In addition to Orion, SLS, and HLS, NASA procures commercial space transportation services for small robotic missions through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The purpose of these missions is to demonstrate new technologies, explore potential landing sites, and conduct research in support of Artemis. Other efforts include commercial procurement of spacesuits and development of lunar surface systems such as rovers.