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Space probe
Artemis I
With Artemis I, NASA sent a new spaceship around the Moon in 2022 with no people on board – as a test. Soon people are to fly to the Moon again.
Fact file
- Type
- Space probe
- Launch
- 16 November 2022
- End of mission
- 11 December 2022
Interesting facts about Artemis I
- In 2022 Artemis I was the uncrewed test flight of NASA's new Moon rocket SLS with the Orion spacecraft – the opening act for humans returning to the Moon.
- Instead of astronauts, three mannequins flew on board, packed with instruments to measure the radiation.
- Orion flew further from Earth than any spacecraft built for humans before it: more than 430,000 km.
Frequently asked questions about Artemis I
When was Artemis I launched?
The mission began on 16 November 2022. It ended on 11 December 2022.
Which celestial bodies has Artemis I visited?
Artemis I visited the Moon. All milestones with their dates are listed further down this page.
The mission
The Artemis programme is named after Apollo's twin sister. Europe supplies Orion's service module, which provides propulsion and power.
Technology and flight
The SLS rocket is just under 100 m tall and even more powerful at launch than the Saturn V.
Discoveries
Orion twice flew low over the Moon's surface and circled the Moon on a wide orbit. With Artemis II, humans are due to fly around the Moon again for the first time since 1972.
For comparison
On re-entry Orion hurtled into the atmosphere at 40,000 km/h – the heat shield reached 2,800 °C.
Mission milestones
- Launch at Earth
Launch of the SLS rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- At the Moon at the Moon
Orion flies past only 130 km above the Moon's surface.
- Return flight at the Moon
Second close flyby of the Moon, then on course for Earth.
- Splashdown at Earth
The capsule lands in the Pacific off Mexico.
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