the staff of the Ridgewood blog
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NASA is calling on space enthusiasts, researchers, and even private citizens to assist in tracking the historic Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon. The agency is seeking volunteers to passively monitor the Orion spacecraft as it embarks on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth.
Artemis II: A Giant Leap Toward the Moon
The Artemis II test flight, scheduled for no later than April 2026, will launch aboard NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and carry four astronauts:
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Reid Wiseman (NASA)
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Victor Glover (NASA)
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Christina Koch (NASA)
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Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency)
This will mark the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign, helping validate the systems and hardware needed for future deep-space exploration, including eventual crewed missions to Mars.
Why NASA Needs Volunteers
NASA will primarily rely on its Near Space Network and Deep Space Network for communications and tracking. But with its growing focus on commercial partnerships, the agency wants to see how the broader aerospace community—academic institutions, companies, nonprofits, and individuals—can contribute to spacecraft tracking.
This effort builds on the success of Artemis I (2022), where 10 volunteer organizations successfully tracked Orion’s signal as it traveled thousands of miles beyond the Moon.
“By offering this opportunity to the broader aerospace community, we can identify available tracking capabilities outside the government,” said Kevin Coggins, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for SCaN (Space Communication and Navigation). “This data will help strengthen the infrastructure needed to support Artemis missions and our long-term Moon to Mars objectives.”
How to Get Involved
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Deadline: Submissions are due by 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 27.
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Details: NASA invites interested parties to review the official announcement and submit their intent to participate.
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Eligibility: Space agencies, universities, commercial companies, nonprofits, and even private space enthusiasts with ground antennas are encouraged to apply.
The Bigger Picture: Moon to Mars
The Artemis program is more than just a return to the Moon. It’s part of NASA’s long-term strategy to develop sustainable exploration methods, preparing to send American astronauts to Mars. By participating in this tracking initiative, volunteers will directly contribute to the future of human space exploration.
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