Artemis 4

Artemis 4
Name	Artemis 4
Mission type	Crewed lunar landing and ISS assembly
Operator	NASA
Spacecraft	Orion
Launch vehicle	SLS Block 1B
Launch date	Planned for September 2028
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B
Landing site	Planned for the lunar south pole region
Crew members	To be announced
Programme	Artemis program
Previous mission	Artemis 3
Next mission	Artemis 5

Artemis 4 is the fourth planned crewed mission of NASA's Artemis program, designed to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence. Scheduled for launch no earlier than September 2028, it will be the second mission to land astronauts on the lunar surface, targeting the lunar south pole region. The flight will also deliver and install a critical new module, the I-Hab, to the Lunar Gateway, marking a major expansion of the orbiting lunar outpost. This mission integrates complex operations involving the Space Launch System, the Orion spacecraft, and new commercial human landing systems.

Overview

Artemis 4 represents a significant evolution in the architecture of the Artemis program, combining a crewed lunar landing with a major infrastructure delivery to the Lunar Gateway. The mission will utilize the more powerful SLS Block 1B rocket, featuring the advanced Exploration Upper Stage, to launch both the Orion spacecraft and the I-Hab module in a single mission. Following the precedent set by Artemis 3, the crew will travel to lunar orbit, where a segment will descend to the surface via a commercially developed Human Landing System. Concurrently, the mission will oversee the docking and installation of the I-Hab, a habitation module provided by the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to the Gateway Space Station.

Mission objectives

The primary objectives of the mission are to execute a second crewed lunar landing in the scientifically rich lunar south pole region and to assemble a key element of the Lunar Gateway. Surface operations will focus on extended moonwalks to conduct geological surveys, deploy scientific instruments, and test technologies for utilizing local resources, known as ISRU. A core goal is the successful docking, activation, and commissioning of the I-Hab module, which will significantly increase the living and working space aboard the Gateway Space Station for future crews. The mission also aims to demonstrate the integrated operations of the SLS Block 1B, Orion, and new lunar landers in a multi-element deep space scenario.

Spacecraft and launch vehicle

Artemis 4 will be the first mission to fly the SLS Block 1B configuration, which replaces the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage with the more powerful Exploration Upper Stage. This upgrade increases payload capacity, allowing the rocket to launch the Orion spacecraft with its crew alongside the large I-Hab module. The Orion spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, will transport the crew from Earth to lunar orbit and back. The lunar landing will be performed by a commercially developed Human Landing System, selected under NASA's NextSTEP program, while the I-Hab module is a major contribution from international partners European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Crew and operations

The four-person crew for Artemis 4 will be selected and announced by NASA closer to the launch date, likely comprising a mix of NASA astronauts and potentially international partner astronauts. During the multi-week mission, the crew will split responsibilities: two astronauts will board the Human Landing System and descend to the lunar surface for several days of exploration, while the remaining two astronauts will stay aboard the Orion spacecraft and the Lunar Gateway to monitor and support the surface activities. The crew will also manage the robotic attachment and systems checkout of the I-Hab module, a complex operation requiring precise coordination with mission controllers at Johnson Space Center.

Scientific payloads and experiments

The mission will carry a suite of scientific instruments to the Moon's surface and aboard the Lunar Gateway. Surface payloads may include advanced geophysical monitoring stations, spectrometers for analyzing lunar regolith composition, and technology demonstrations for ISRU, such as oxygen extraction experiments. The expanded capabilities of the Gateway Space Station with the new I-Hab module will host research into the effects of deep space radiation on biological samples and materials, supporting future missions to Mars. Experiments may also involve international contributions coordinated through agencies like the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency.

Timeline and mission profile

The current timeline targets a launch from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in September 2028. Following launch on the SLS Block 1B, the Orion spacecraft will perform a trans-lunar injection. En route, the crew will dock with the pre-deployed I-Hab module and guide it to a docking port on the Lunar Gateway. After rendezvousing with the Gateway Space Station and the waiting Human Landing System, two crew members will transfer to the lander, undock, and execute a descent to the lunar south pole. After surface operations, they will ascend back to the Gateway Space Station, dock, and transfer back to Orion for the return journey to Earth, culminating in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Category:Artemis program Category:Planned space missions Category:Moon missions