Key Takeaways
1. NASA is seeking assistance from the aerospace sector, including businesses and volunteers, to track the Artemis II Orion spacecraft during its moon mission.
2. The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in April 2026 and will involve four astronauts on a ten-day journey around the moon.
3. Volunteers will use their own ground antennas to capture Orion’s radio signals and gather tracking measurements, but cannot transmit signals back.
4. This initiative aims to enhance NASA’s navigation and communication framework by incorporating commercial resources into deep space exploration.
5. Interested participants must submit their applications by October 27, and participation is voluntary and at no cost to the U.S. government.
NASA has reached out to the aerospace sector — including businesses, universities, and everyday people — for assistance in tracking the Artemis II Orion spacecraft during its trip to the moon and back. This initiative is part of NASA’s ongoing strategy to incorporate commercial resources into its navigation and communication framework for space missions.
The Artemis II Mission
The Artemis II mission, set to launch in April 2026 or possibly earlier, will carry four astronauts from NASA on a ten-day journey around the moon. While NASA’s Deep Space and Near Space Networks will manage crucial communications, the agency is inviting volunteers to explore the effectiveness of non-NASA ground stations in deep space exploration. This effort builds upon the success of the 2022 uncrewed Artemis I mission, where ten volunteer partners effectively tracked the spacecraft.
Volunteer Participation
Individuals who volunteer for this mission will utilize their own ground antennas to passively capture Orion’s S-band radio signals and gather “one-way Doppler tracking measurements.” This will be a passive engagement since volunteers can only receive signals from the spacecraft and are not allowed to transmit back to it.
The information collected from this mission will guide our shift towards a commercial-first strategy, ultimately enhancing the infrastructure necessary to fulfill long-term goals between the Moon and Mars. — Kevin Coggins, Deputy Associate Administrator for SCaN.
How to Get Involved
Submissions in response to this request must be made by October 27, and participation is entirely voluntary, without any cost to the U.S. government. For more details on how to apply, visit Sam.gov.
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