Artemis 5

Artemis 5 (officially Artemis V) is the fifth planned mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first crewed flight of the Blue Moon lander.[2] The mission will launch four astronauts on a Space Launch System rocket and an Orion to the Lunar Gateway and will be the third lunar landing of the Artemis program. In addition, Artemis V will also deliver two new elements to the Gateway Space Station.[3]

Artemis 5
Summary of the Artemis 5 mission plan
Mission typeCrewed lunar landing, Gateway Assembly
OperatorNASA
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftOrion
Gateway Space Station
Blue Moon Lander
Manufacturer
Start of mission
Launch dateSeptember 2029 (planned)[1]
RocketSLS Block 1B (Orion)
Launch siteKennedy Space Center, LC-39B
End of mission
Landing sitePacific Ocean (planned)
Moon lander
Landing siteSouth polar region
 

Overview
Artemis V lander mission plan

Artemis V will launch four astronauts to the Gateway Space Station. The mission will deliver the European Space Agency's ESPRIT refueling and communications module and a Canadian-built robotic arm system for the Gateway. Also delivered will be NASA's Lunar Terrain Vehicle.

After docking to the Gateway, two astronauts will board the Blue Moon lunar lander and fly it down to the Lunar south pole with the Lunar Terrain Vehicle on board. This will be the first lunar landing since Apollo 17 to utilize an unpressurized lunar rover. It is planned to have the two astronauts on the surface of the Moon for about one week where they will conduct science and exploration activities.[4]

As of March 2023, Artemis V is scheduled to launch no earlier than September 2029.[1]

Spacecraft
A 365-foot-tall orange and white rocket lifting off of Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, at night
Rendering of the Space Launch System Block 1B launching

Space Launch System
Main article: Space Launch System

The Space Launch System is a super-heavy-lift launcher used to launch the Orion spacecraft from Earth to a trans-lunar orbit.

Orion
Main article: Orion (spacecraft)

Orion is the crew transport vehicle used by all Artemis missions. It will transport the crew from Earth to the Gateway orbit, and return them back to Earth.

Gateway
Main article: Lunar Gateway

Gateway is a small modular space station to be established in Near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) in late 2024. The first two Gateway elements will launch together aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in late 2024.[5] The I-Hab habitat module will be delivered by Artemis 4.

Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander
Main article: Blue Moon (spacecraft)

The Blue Moon lander will transfer astronauts from the Gateway to the Lunar surface and back. Blue Origin will be the second provider to deliver Artemis astronauts to the lunar surface. NASA previously contracted SpaceX to develop and demonstrate the Starship Human Landing System.

Blue Origin will design, develop, test, and verify its Blue Moon lander to meet NASA's human landing system requirements for recurring astronaut expeditions to the lunar surface. In addition to design and development work, the contract includes one uncrewed demonstration mission to the lunar surface and the crewed demo in 2029. The total award value of the contract is $3.4 billion.[6]

Lunar Terrain Vehicle
Main article: Lunar Terrain Vehicle

The Lunar Terrain Vehicle is an unenclosed rover being developed by NASA that astronauts will drive on the Moon while wearing their spacesuits.

References
  1. Foust, Jeff (13 March 2023). "NASA planning to spend up to $1 billion on space station deorbit module". SpaceNews. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. O’Shea, Claire (19 May 2023). "NASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider". NASA. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  3. Foust, Jeff (20 January 2022). "NASA foresees gap in lunar landings after Artemis 3". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  4. O’Shea, Claire (19 May 2023). "NASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider". NASA. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  5. Foust, Jeff (10 February 2021). "NASA selects Falcon Heavy to launch first Gateway elements". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  6. O’Shea, Claire (19 May 2023). "NASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider". NASA. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
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