It has been 50 years since astronauts last set foot on the moon (Apollo 17, December 1972). That should change this decade: NASA's Artemis program plans to land people on our satellite again. This time the first woman will fly to the moon. But that's not all: Together with international partners, the Lunar Gateway is intended to create a space station with a lander in lunar orbit and to build a permanent base camp on the moon. Germany is part of this new journey to the moon with its expertise in space technology and research.

With the start of the still unmanned Artemis I mission at the end of 2022, all newly developed systems were successfully tested in interaction - the Orion spacecraft with the European Service Module (ESM), the large rocket Space Launch System (SLS) and the ground systems. On the first Artemis flight, the DLR-led MARE experiment examined radiation exposure throughout the entire flight using the two identical female measuring dummies Helga and Zohar on board.

Artemis I is expected to be followed by the Artemis II mission in 2025. For the first time, it will have a four-person crew on board and will orbit the moon. Artemis III is expected to land humans on the moon again in 2026.

A central part of the Orion spacecraft of all Artemis flights is the European Service Module ESM, which is largely being built in Germany on behalf of NASA by the European Space Agency ESA. It contains the main engine and supplies power via four solar sails. It also regulates the climate and temperature in the spacecraft and stores fuel, oxygen and water supplies for the crew.

The augmented reality app “DLR Artemis Mission” makes the facets of the Artemis program a virtual experience. The technology of the rocket, spaceship and flight mechanics can be experienced virtually, as can the adventure of the first test flight with Helga and Zohar on board. Humanity is heading to the moon again - this time to stay. And Germany is there.