100 crazy facts about the Artemis Program

Updated on March 10, 2025 | By Jameswebb Discovery Editorial Team 

The Artemis Program is NASA’s bold plan to return humans to the Moon—and it’s packed with wild, mind-blowing details that will leave you starry-eyed. From record-breaking rockets to lunar bases and the first woman on the Moon, this mission is rewriting space history. Whether you’re a space enthusiast or just curious about humanity’s next giant leap, here are 100 crazy facts about the Artemis Program that prove it’s more than just a trip back to the lunar surface. Let’s blast off!

What Is the Artemis Program? A Quick Overview

Before diving into the crazy facts, let’s set the stage. The Artemis Program, launched by NASA in 2017, aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, establish a sustainable lunar presence, and pave the way for Mars exploration. Named after the Greek goddess of the Moon (and Apollo’s twin sister), it’s a sequel to the Apollo Program—but with a futuristic twist. Now, buckle up for the wild ride!

Crazy Facts About the Artemis Program’s Goals

1. First Woman on the Moon

Artemis will make history by landing the first female astronaut on the lunar surface, breaking a 50-year streak of all-male Moon walkers.

2. First Person of Color

Alongside the first woman, Artemis will send the first person of color to the Moon, symbolizing a new era of inclusivity in space.

3. South Pole Target

Unlike Apollo’s equatorial landings, Artemis III aims for the Moon’s South Pole—home to shadowy craters and possible water ice.

4. Permanent Lunar Base

NASA isn’t just visiting; they’re planning a long-term lunar base called Artemis Base Camp for extended stays.

5. Mars Stepping Stone

The Moon is a testbed—Artemis will teach us how to live off Earth before we tackle Mars in the 2030s.

6. Lunar Economy

Artemis aims to spark a lunar economy, with industries like mining and tourism potentially taking off.

7. International Teamwork

Over 20 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, making this a global mission with partners like Canada and Japan.

8. Two-Week Stays

Future Artemis astronauts could spend up to 14 days on the Moon—way longer than Apollo’s three-day max.

9. Water Mining

Crews will hunt for lunar water ice, which could be turned into rocket fuel or drinking water.

10. Science Bonanza

Artemis will collect new lunar samples, unlocking secrets about the Moon, Earth, and the solar system’s past.

Insane Facts About the Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket

11. Most Powerful Rocket Ever

The SLS is the world’s most powerful rocket, pumping out 8.8 million pounds of thrust—15% more than Apollo’s Saturn V.

12. Taller Than Lady Liberty

At 322 feet, the SLS towers over the Statue of Liberty (305 feet with pedestal included).

13. Reused Shuttle Engines

Its core stage uses four RS-25 engines, originally built for the Space Shuttle program.

14. Solid Rocket Boosters

Two massive solid-fuel boosters help lift the SLS, each taller than a 17-story building.

15. $2 Billion Per Launch

Each SLS launch costs over $2 billion—making it one of the priciest rides to space.

16. Single-Use Design

Unlike reusable rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon 9, the SLS is expendable—built fresh for each mission.

17. 100,000 Pounds to the Moon

In its future Block 1B form, SLS can haul over 100,000 pounds of cargo to lunar orbit.

18. Thunderous Liftoff

The SLS’s launch is so loud it can shake buildings miles away at Kennedy Space Center.

19. Delayed Debut

Originally planned for 2017, the SLS first flew in 2022 due to budget and tech hurdles.

20. Moon-and-Beyond Power

It’s the only rocket capable of sending Orion, crew, and cargo to the Moon in one shot.

Wild Facts About the Orion Spacecraft

21. Deep Space Explorer

Orion is built to take humans farther than ever—up to 280,000 miles from Earth.

22. 21-Day Life Support

It can sustain a crew of four for 21 days, perfect for lunar trips and back.

23. European Partner

The European Space Agency provides Orion’s service module, with solar panels and propulsion.

24. Heat Shield Hero

Orion’s heat shield withstands reentry at 25,000 mph—hotter than lava at 5,000°F.

25. Apollo Vibes

Its cone-shaped design echoes Apollo capsules but with modern tech upgrades.

26. Escape Rocket

An abort system can yank Orion away from a failing SLS in just two seconds.

27. Room for Six

Future versions could carry up to six astronauts, doubling Apollo’s capacity.

28. Radiation Proof

Orion’s hull protects against solar storms and cosmic rays in deep space.

29. Splashdown Comeback

Like Apollo, Orion lands in the Pacific Ocean—tested perfectly in Artemis I.

30. Mannequin Crew

Artemis I carried two mannequin “astronauts” to test radiation and flight conditions.

Lunar Gateway: The Moon’s Space Station

31. Orbiting Outpost

The Lunar Gateway will be a small space station orbiting the Moon, a pit stop for Artemis crews.

32. Decade-Long Life

Gateway is designed to last over 10 years, supporting multiple missions.

33. Canada’s Arm

A robotic arm (Canadarm3) from Canada will help maintain and repair Gateway.

34. Solar Powered

Gateway runs on solar energy, with panels stretching over 30 feet.

35. No Gravity

Unlike the ISS, Gateway won’t simulate gravity—it’s a true deep-space habitat.

36. Crew Transfer Hub

Astronauts will dock here, then hop into landers for the lunar surface.

37. Weird Orbit

It follows a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO), a funky path around the Moon.

38. Tiny Home

At 1,500 cubic feet, Gateway is smaller than a studio apartment.

39. International Build

The U.S., Europe, Japan, and Canada are all contributing modules.

40. Science Lab

Gateway will host experiments on lunar soil, radiation, and more.

Human Landing System (HLS): Touching Down

41. SpaceX’s Starship

SpaceX’s Starship HLS will ferry astronauts from Gateway to the Moon’s surface.

42. No Heat Shield

Unlike Earth-bound Starships, the lunar version skips a heat shield—it never reenters an atmosphere.

43. Mid-Air Thrusters

Starship HLS uses special thrusters mid-body to land gently without kicking up dust.

44. 6.5-Day Stay

The HLS supports a week-long lunar visit, twice Apollo’s longest stay.

45. Reusable Dream

Future HLS designs aim to refuel and relaunch from the Moon.

46. Blue Origin Rival

Blue Origin’s lander was a contender but lost to SpaceX for Artemis III.

47. Tallest Lander

Starship HLS stands over 160 feet tall—twice the height of Apollo’s lander.

48. Two Astronauts

Only two crew members land, while two stay in orbit on Orion.

49. South Pole Precision

HLS must nail a pinpoint landing in the rugged South Pole terrain.

50. Backup Plans

NASA’s keeping options open with other companies for future landings.

Crazy Tech and Gear Facts

51. Next-Gen Spacesuits

New xEMU suits offer better mobility and fit than Apollo’s bulky gear.

52. Moon Rovers

Uncrewed and crewed rovers will scout and shuttle astronauts across the surface.

53. 3D-Printed Tools

Future missions might 3D-print tools from lunar soil.

54. Wi-Fi on the Moon

NASA’s testing lunar communication networks for real-time data.

55. Radiation Shields

Special shelters could protect against solar flares on the surface.

56. Ice Drillers

Tech to extract water ice is in development—key for sustainability.

57. Nuclear Power

Mini nuclear reactors might power Artemis Base Camp.

58. CubeSat Swarm

Tiny satellites (CubeSats) tag along to study the Moon and space weather.

59. Alexa in Space

Artemis I tested Amazon’s Alexa for future crew assistance.

60. Virtual Reality

Astronauts train with VR to simulate lunar walks.

Mind-Blowing Mission Milestones

61. Artemis I Success

Launched November 16, 2022, it flew 1.4 million miles and splashed down perfectly.

62. Artemis II Delay

The first crewed flight, a lunar flyby, is now set for April 2026.

63. Artemis III Landing

The first landing is slated for mid-2027—55 years after Apollo 17.

64. Yearly Landings

Post-Artemis VI (2031), NASA plans annual Moon trips.

65. 25.5-Day Test

Artemis I’s uncrewed journey lasted over 25 days—a deep-space record.

66. Farthest Human Craft

Orion hit 270,000 miles from Earth—farther than Apollo 13’s detour.

67. $93 Billion Price Tag

The program’s cost through 2025 is a staggering $93 billion.

68. Hurricane Survivor

Artemis I’s rocket endured 100-mph winds from Hurricane Nicole.

69. Four-Person Crew

Artemis II will carry four astronauts, including a Canadian.

70. Lunar Orbit Test

Artemis II will orbit the Moon, not land, to test Orion and SLS.

Weird and Fun Artemis Facts

71. Greek Goddess Nod

Artemis, Moon goddess, ties this program to Apollo’s legacy.

72. Logo Symbolism

The “A” in the logo doubles as a rocket and an arrow from Artemis’s quiver.

73. Snoopy Aboard

A Snoopy doll floated in Orion during Artemis I as a zero-G indicator.

74. Moon Dirt on Board

Artemis I carried a pinch of Apollo 11 lunar soil.

75. LEGO Tribute

LEGO released an Artemis SLS model for fans to build.

76. Delayed Dreams

The original 2024 landing goal slipped due to tech and funding woes.

77. Rocket “Funnies”

Artemis I had minor glitches NASA dubbed “funnies”—no big deal!

78. Public Viewing Chaos

Thousands clogged Florida roads to watch Artemis I launch.

79. Patch Tradition

Each mission has a unique patch, like Apollo’s iconic designs.

80. Space Selfies

Orion snapped stunning Earth-and-Moon pics during Artemis I.

Lunar Science and Exploration

81. Water Hunt

South Pole craters might hold billions of gallons of frozen water.

82. 4.5 Billion Years Old

The Moon’s a time capsule—Artemis will dig into its ancient past.

83. Coldest Spots

Shadowed craters hit -400°F, some of the solar system’s chilliest places.

84. Resource Goldmine

Rare minerals like helium-3 could fuel future fusion energy.

85. Magnetic Mystery

The Moon’s odd magnetic fields will get a closer look.

86. Seismic Studies

New sensors might catch “moonquakes” in action.

87. Solar Wind Clues

Artemis will study how the Sun’s wind hits the lunar surface.

88. Earth’s Twin

Lunar rocks could reveal how Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago.

89. Crater Diving

Crews will explore craters deeper than the Grand Canyon.

90. Sample Return

Fresh lunar samples will outshine Apollo’s 842 pounds.

Why Artemis Matters

91. Jobs Boom

Artemis fuels thousands of jobs in aerospace and tech.

92. STEM Inspiration

It’s igniting a new generation—the “Artemis Generation”—to love science.

93. Global Unity

The Artemis Accords unite nations for peaceful space exploration.

94. Climate Lessons

Lunar studies might shed light on Earth’s climate history.

95. Tech Spin-Offs

Apollo gave us better solar panels—Artemis will bring more.

96. Space Leadership

The U.S. aims to stay #1 in space with Artemis.

97. Private Boost

Companies like SpaceX and Boeing are key players.

98. Public Hype

Artemis I’s launch drew millions of viewers worldwide.

99. Mars Prep

Every Moon step trains us for the Red Planet.

100. Legacy Reborn

Artemis revives the Apollo spirit, 50+ years later.

How to Follow the Artemis Program

Want more? Track Artemis missions on NASA’s official site or follow #Artemis on X for real-time updates. With Artemis II nearing and landings on the horizon, the Moon’s about to get busy again!