Nasa is reaching out to citizen scientists, space industry professionals, and other enthusiastic volunteers to assist in monitoring the first human mission to the moon in over 50 years. The call for participants is specifically aimed at those interested in tracking the Artemis 2 mission, set to launch in April 2026. Volunteers will play a crucial role in observing the Orion spacecraft as it carries four astronauts on a journey around the moon and back to Earth.
The agency encourages participation from a diverse range of groups, including international space agencies, academic institutions, commercial companies, nonprofits, and private citizens. According to a recent Nasa statement, this collaborative effort aims to enhance tracking capabilities for the mission, allowing volunteers to apply their skills and resources to support this historic endeavor.
Interested individuals and organizations can find more information about this unique opportunity and submit their applications on the official Nasa website. Please note that the deadline for applications is set for October 27 at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT).
Nasa already employs advanced tracking and communication systems, including the Deep Space Network and the Near Space Network, to monitor the Artemis 2 astronauts. These systems will assist with launch operations, deep-space navigation, and safe reentry. However, Nasa is actively seeking assistance from external groups to gain insight into industry tracking capabilities, as part of a request from the Space Communication and Navigation (SCAN) program.
Kevin Coggins, Nasa's deputy associate administrator for SCAN, emphasized the significance of this initiative. "By offering this opportunity to the broader aerospace community, we can identify available tracking capabilities outside the government," he stated. This collaboration will provide valuable data to inform Nasa's transition to a more commercial-first approach, ultimately strengthening the infrastructure required to support the Artemis missions and the agency's long-term goals of lunar exploration and Mars objectives.
Onboard the Artemis 2 mission will be a talented crew of astronauts, including Nasa's Reid Wiseman as the commander, Victor Glover as the pilot, and Christina Koch as the mission specialist. Joining them will be Jeremy Hansen, a mission specialist from the Canadian Space Agency. Notably, this mission will mark significant milestones: Glover will be the first Black astronaut to fly on a lunar mission, Koch will be the first woman, and Hansen will be the first non-American astronaut to participate in a moon mission.
This tracking initiative follows the successful uncrewed Artemis 1 mission in 2022, where ten volunteer organizations assisted in tracking the Orion spacecraft during its journey to lunar orbit and back. Participants utilized their ground antennas to receive signals from Orion and measure changes in the radio waves transmitted by the spacecraft, showcasing the collaborative spirit of the space community.
Artemis 2 is not just a standalone mission; it serves as a critical test for Nasa's broader Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface. The next mission, Artemis 3, is slated to land an international crew on the moon using SpaceX's Starship lander, with a planned launch no earlier than 2027, contingent on meeting essential technical and training milestones.
