Artemis II science officers, from left, Trevor Graff, Kelsey Young, and Angela Garcia, are seen at the Science console in the White Flight Control Room in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Science officers are the senior flight controllers responsible for lunar science and geology objectives during Artemis missions. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Artemis II science officer, Trevor Graff, is seen at the Science console in the White Flight Control Room in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Science officers are the senior flight controllers responsible for lunar science and geology objectives during Artemis missions. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos

Artemis II science officer, Trevor Graff, is seen at the Science console in the White Flight Control Room in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Science officers are the senior flight controllers responsible for lunar science and geology objectives during Artemis missions. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos

Artemis science officer, Angela Garcia, left and lunar science team member, Kiarre Dumes discuss science operations in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Dumes serves as the SERCOMM, or Science Evaluation Room Communicator, acting as the singular voice from the science team in the back room, reporting to the science officer. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Science evaluation room communicator, Kiarre Dumes, left, and deputy lunar science lead Marie Henderson work in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) during Artemis II. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis lunar science team members, work in the Science Mission Operations Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, analyzing imagery and audio recordings of lunar observations captured by the Artemis II astronauts during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.

Artemis lunar science team members, from left, Alexandra Constantinou, and David Hollibaugh-Baker, work in the Science Mission Operations Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. They are analyzing imagery and audio recordings of lunar observations captured by the Artemis II astronauts during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.

Artemis II lunar science team members, in the foreground from left: Amber Turner and Jared Ralleta in the center. Standing up behind Turner is Jacob Richardson, and sitting behind and to the right, of Ralleta, are Ryan Watkins in the front, and Debra Needham behind her. The SER supports the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Crew lunar observations team member, Sara Schmidt, left, asset manager, Luke McSherry, and Artemis deputy lunar science lead, Jacob Richardson work in the Science Evaluation Room (SER). Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Barbara Cohen, Jennifer Heldmann, and Anthony Colaprete, work in the Science Evaluation Room (SER). Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Ryan Ewing, and Barbara Cohen, react to crew observations during the lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The team worked in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

From left, Artemis II deputy lunar science lead, Jacob Richardson, science officer and lunar science lead, Kelsey Young, and deputy lunar science lead, Marie Henderson, discuss the team’s final preparations for the lunar flyby. The team worked in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/ Robert Markowitz

jsc2025e057255 --- NASA’s Artemis III lunar science team is pictured in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Located in the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, the SER supports the mission’s main flight control room for lunar science and planetary observations. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams.

Artemis II deputy lunar science lead Marie Henderson, background, and lunar science team members, Ariel Deutsch, and Ryan Ewing, react to crew observations during the lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The team worked in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team member, Juliane Gross, center, and the extended lunar science team behind her, celebrates crew observations made during the lunar flyby on April 6. The team worked in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Alexadra Constantinou, David Hollibaugh-Baker, participate in the team’s final preparations for the lunar flyby. NASA Johnson public affairs officer, Victoria Segovia, is seen in the background. The team worked in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: Credits: NASA/ Robert Markowitz

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Cindy Evans, and Wilfredo Garcia Lopez, react to crew observations during the lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The team worked in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team member, foreground, Amber Turner, and David Hollibaugh-Baker, and Cherie Achilles, background, participate in the team’s analysis of crew observations during the lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The team worked in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/ Robert Markowitz

Artemis II Lunar Science Deputy Jacob Richardson and Artemis II Lunar Science Team Member Kiarre Dumes react to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6. The science team trained the astronauts in geology both in the classroom and in the field. They also built the lunar targeting plan that, like a spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took pictures of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

jsc2025e056603 --- The Artemis II Lunar Science Team runs a simulation of lunar observation operations in the new Science Evaluation Room (SER) that serves as a backroom to Mission Control.

Artemis science officers, from left, Angela Garcia and Kelsey Young, watch the lunar science team celebrating in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) as they hear lunar observations from the Artemis II crew. The science team has spent years training the astronauts in geology and observation, both in the classroom and in the field. They also built the lunar targeting plan that, like a spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took pictures of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz

The Artemis II lunar science team gathers for a kickoff meeting before working on the lunar targeting plan for the crew's lunar flyby. The Lunar Targeting Plan is the Artemis II crew's Moon observing assignment, and is fine-tuned to the exact lighting conditions on the Moon’s surface when the Artemis II crew flies by. Like a spacewalk plan, it provides strong, detailed guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. Targets are prioritized based on both their science value and their visibility at the time of observation. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Ryan Ewing, Juliane Gross, and Debra Needham, discuss lunar geography ahead of the translunar injection burn that accelerated the Orion spacecraft to break free of Earth’s orbit and began the outbound trajectory toward the Moon. They are in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) a back room that supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams.

Members of NASA's Artemis geology team discuss science objectives during a mission simulation at NASA's Johnson Space Center on Oct. 22, 2025. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Artemis lunar science team member, Alexandra Constantinou, works in the Science Mission Operations Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where scientists analyzed imagery and audio recordings of lunar observations captured by the Artemis II astronauts during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. Credits: NASA/Helen Arase Vargas

Artemis lunar science team member, Aaron Regberg, works in the Science Mission Operations Room, where scientists analyzed imagery and audio recordings of lunar observations captured by the Artemis II astronauts during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.

Jared Ralleta, Artemis II lunar science team member, reacts to the lunar flyby crew observations in the Science Evaluation Room (SER). Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II deputy lunar science lead, Jacob Richardson, left, and Artemis II lunar science team members, Kiarre Dumes, react to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6, 2026. Along with other lunar science team members, Richardson and Dumes helped train the crew in geology both in the classroom and in the field. The science team also built the lunar targeting plan that, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II deputy lunar science lead, Jacob Richardson, celebrates with a dance after hearing astronauts describe seeing impact flashes on the Moon during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. Richardson was monitoring the flyby from the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II science officers, Trevor Graff, background, and Kelsey Young are seen monitoring mission data in real-time from the Science console in the White Flight Control Room in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Science officers are the senior flight controllers responsible for lunar science and geology objectives during Artemis missions. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Ernie Wright, Artemis II lunar science visualization lead, reacts to hearing the astronauts describe features of the Moon as they few by on April 6, 2026. To prepare the crew for this mission, the Artemis II lunar science team trained the astronauts in geology, both in the classroom and in the field. They also built the lunar targeting plan that, which, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II deputy lunar science lead, Marie Henderson, reacts to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6, 2026. Along with other lunar science team members, Ewing helped train the crew in geology both in the classroom and in the field. The science team also built the lunar targeting plan that, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team member, Ryan Ewing, reacts to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6, 2026. Along with other lunar science team members, Ewing helped train the crew in geology both in the classroom and in the field. The science team also built the lunar targeting plan that, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II deputy lunar science lead, Marie Henderson, reacts to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6, 2026. Along with other lunar science team members, Henderson helped train the astronauts in geology both in the classroom and in the field. The team also built the lunar targeting plan that, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Debra Needham, Juliane Gross, and Ryan Watkins, react to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6, 2026. The science team trained the astronauts in geology and observation, both in the classroom and in the field. The team also built the lunar targeting plan that, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team member, Ariel Deutsch, reacts to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6. The science team has spent years training the astronauts in geology and observation, both in the classroom and in the field. They also built the lunar targeting plan that, like a spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took pictures of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II deputy lunar science lead Marie Henderson, shown standing on the left, and lunar science team members, from the right foreground, Ariel Deutsch, Maria Banks behind her, Ryan Watkins to her right, and Sara Schmidt in the checkered jacket. In this image they are reacting to astronauts' observations of Moon features during their flyby on April 6, 2026. Leading up to the flight, the science team has been training the astronauts in in the classroom and in the field. They also built the lunar targeting plan that, like a spacewalk plan on the International Space Station, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of various lunar areas and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II lunar science team member, Amber Turner, works on the lunar targeting plan for the astronauts' several-hour flyby of the Moon, scheduled for April 6. As they pass the Moon, the crew will apply geology skills learned in the classroom and in Moon-like environments on Earth to photograph and describe features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly changed over time. They will note differences in color, brightness, and texture, which provide clues that help scientists understand what the surface is made of and how it formed. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

The Artemis II lunar science team works on the lunar targeting plan for the astronauts' several-hour flyby of the Moon, scheduled for April 6. As they pass the Moon, the crew will apply geology skills learned in the classroom and in Moon-like environments on Earth to photograph and describe features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly changed over time. They will note differences in color, brightness, and texture, which provide clues that help scientists understand what the surface is made of and how it formed. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

The Artemis II lunar science team works on the lunar targeting plan for the astronauts' several-hour flyby of the Moon, scheduled for April 6. As they pass the Moon, the crew will apply geology skills learned in the classroom and in Moon-like environments on Earth to photograph and describe features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly changed over time. They will note differences in color, brightness, and texture, which provide clues that help scientists understand what the surface is made of and how it formed. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

jsc2025e067512 --- Artemis II science officers Kelsey Young, left, and Angela Garcia sit at the SCIENCE console during a training simulation in the White Flight Control Room of the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Artemis II will test mission science operations and integration into flight control. Lessons learned during Artemis II science operations will pave the way for lunar science operations for future Artemis missions. A team of experts will staff the Science Evaluation Room (SER) at Johnson, providing lunar scientific expertise, data analysis, and strategic guidance in real-time to the science officer and the rest of Mission Control.

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Amber Turner, Jacob Richardson, Jose Hurtado, discuss the team's progress on the lunar targeting plan for the astronauts' six-hour flyby of the Moon, scheduled for April 6. As they pass the Moon, the crew will apply geology skills learned in the classroom and in Moon-like environments on Earth to photograph and describe features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly changed over time. They will note differences in color, brightness, and texture, which provide clues that help scientists understand what the surface is made of and how it formed. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Megan Borel, and Cindy Evans, discuss the lunar targeting plan for the astronauts' several-hour flyby of the Moon, scheduled for April 6. As they pass the Moon, the crew will apply geology skills learned in the classroom and in Moon-like environments on Earth to photograph and describe features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly changed over time. They will note differences in color, brightness, and texture, which provide clues that help scientists understand what the surface is made of and how it formed. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

jsc2026e000831--- Artemis II Science Officers, Kelsey Young, foreground, and Trevor Graff, work at the SCIENCE console during a training simulation in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The science officer will sit on console with other flight controllers in the flight control room of mission control during Artemis II. Credit: NASA/James Blair

jsc2026e000841 --- Artemis II Science Officers, Trevor Graff, left, and Kelsey Young, work at the SCIENCE console during a training simulation in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The science officer will sit on console with other flight controllers in the flight control room of mission control during Artemis II. Credit: NASA/James Blair

Artemis curation lead, Juliane Gross, holds a lunar globe in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

jsc2025e057254 --- NASA’s Artemis II lunar science team is pictured in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Located in the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, the SER supports the mission’s main flight control room for lunar science and planetary observations. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams.

Artemis II science officer, Trevor Graff, is seen at the Science console in the White Flight Control Room in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Science officers are the senior flight controllers responsible for lunar science and geology objectives during Artemis missions. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos

Artemis science officers, from left, Kelsey Young, Trevor Graff, and Angela Garcia stand at the new SCIENCE console in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credits: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Lunar science lead for Artemis II and Artemis II science officer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Kelsey Young, stands in the lunar-like landscape of Iceland during an Artemis II crew geology field training.

Artemis II science officer Kelsey Young monitors science operations at the new SCIENCE console in NASA's Mission Control Center. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

Artemis II science officer Kelsey Young monitors science operations at the new SCIENCE console in NASA's Mission Control Center. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

Artemis II science officer Kelsey Young monitors science operations at the new SCIENCE console in NASA's Mission Control Center. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

A view inside the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

jsc2026e000861 --- The Artemis II Lunar Science Team works in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) during a training simulation in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports the mission’s main flight control room for lunar science and planetary observations. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credit: James Blair

Angela Garcia, Artemis II science officer and exploration geologist, demonstrates how to use a rock hammer and chisel to dislodge a rock sample from a large boulder during the Artemis II field geology training in Iceland.

Artemis II crew lunar observations team member, David Charney, monitors the mission from the Science Evaluation Room (SER). Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

Artemis II crew lunar observations team member, Alex Stoken, monitors the mission from the Science Evaluation Room (SER). Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

jsc2025e087854 --- Artemis lunar science team members Jacob Richardson, left, and Marie Henderson monitor an Artemis II lunar flyby simulation from the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. A team of experts will staff the SER, providing lunar scientific expertise, data analysis, and strategic guidance in real-time to the science officer sitting in the front flight control room of Mission Control.

jsc2026e000849 --- The Artemis II Lunar Science Team works in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) during a training simulation at the NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Located in the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, the SER supports the mission’s main flight control room for lunar science and planetary observations. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credit: James Blair

jsc2026e000848 --- Artemis lunar science team members, from left, Jacob Richardson, Marie Henderson, and Kiarre Dumes, monitor a lunar flyby simulation from the Science Evaluation Room (SER) at the NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Located in the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, the SER supports the mission’s main flight control room for lunar science and planetary observations. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credit: James Blair

Artemis science officer, Angela Garcia, stands at the new SCIENCE console in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credits: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Artemis science officer, Trevor Graff, stands at the new SCIENCE console in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credits: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Artemis science officer, Kelsey Young, stands at the new SCIENCE console in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credits: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Members of the Artemis lunar science team, from left, Sara Schmidt, Megan Borel, Amber Turner, Jacob Richardson, and Juliane Gross pose for a selfie with the Artemis II launch broadcast on the screen behind them in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Mark Sowa.

Members of the Artemis lunar science team, from left, Ariel Deutsch, Amber Turner, and Wilfredo Garcia-Lopez, watch the Artemis II launch from the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Mark Sowa.

Members of the Artemis lunar science team cheer as they gather to watch the Artemis II launch broadcast from the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Mark Sowa.

Members of the Artemis lunar science team celebrate the Artemis II launch as they watch from the Science Evaluation Room (SER) in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The SER supports lunar science and planetary observations for the Artemis science officer in the mission’s main flight control room. Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams. Credits: NASA/Mark Sowa.

jsc2025e087237 --- Artemis lunar science team members Andrew Needham, sitting, and David Hollibaugh work in the Science Mission Operations Room (SMOR) during a training simulation at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston during a simulation of the Artemis II lunar flyby during which astronauts will document their observations through photographs and audio recordings to inform scientists’ understanding of the Moon. Credit: NASA/James Blair

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

Artemis curation lead, Juliane Gross, reacts to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6, 2026. Along with other members of the Artemis II lunar science team, Gross helped train the Artemis II crew in geology both in the classroom and in the field. The team also built the lunar targeting plan that, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava

jsc2024e040812 (June 7, 2024) --- Juliane Gross, curation lead for the Artemis Internal Science Team, leads a geology lesson for the Artemis II crew at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Artemis II crew members pictured are, from left, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronauts Jenni Gibbons and Jeremey Hansen, along with NASA astronauts Victor Glover, and Christina Koch.

Artemis II Crew Geology Training in Iceland. Nautagil / Holohraun Science Activity. Photo Date: August 1, 2024. Location: Drekagil, Iceland. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Artemis II Crew Geology Training in Iceland. Nautagil / Holohraun Science Activity. Photo Date: August 1, 2024. Location: Drekagil, Iceland. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

art002e014251 (April 6, 2026) – CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut and Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen is seen taking images through the Orion spacecraft window during the Artemis II lunar flyby. Hansen and his fellow crewmates spent approximately seven hours taking turns at the Orion windows capturing science data to share with their team back on Earth. At closest approach, they came within 4,067 miles of the Moon’s surface. The application seen on the crew personal computing devices is the Lunar Targeting Plan that guides them in the execution of the lunar science observation plan. This custom software was built by the crew lunar observations team, a subset of the Artemis II lunar science team.

art002e016186 (April 6, 2026) – CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut and Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen is seen working on his personal computing device during the Artemis II lunar flyby. The application seen on the screen is the Lunar Targeting Plan that guides them in the execution of the lunar science observation plan. This custom software was built by the crew lunar observations team, a subset of the Artemis II lunar science team. Hansen and his fellow crewmates spent approximately seven hours taking turns at the Orion windows capturing science data to share with their team back on Earth. At closest approach, they came within 4,067 miles of the Moon’s surface.

art002e009290 (April 6, 2026) – Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman peers out the window of the Orion spacecraft just as his first lunar observation period of the day begins. Throughout the course of the sixth day of the mission, Wiseman and his crewmates took turns at the windows, capturing images and video of the Moon, along with recorded observations. The astronauts are members of the science team, and the data they collect will shape the future of lunar science.

Caption: This is a screen shot of the application the crew sees on their personal computing devices that guides them in the execution of the lunar science observation plan. This custom software was built by the crew lunar observations team, a subset of the Artemis II lunar science team. In this screenshot you can see Orientale basin, target number 12 circled on the bottom right of the Moon, and to its left, target number 13, Hertzsprung basin.

jsc2026e020490 (April 6, 2026) - Pictured from left to right, Angela Garcia, Dr. Kelsey Young, and Dr. Trevor Graff, the first science officers of the Artemis program in the White Flight Control Room in the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Seen here about ten minutes before Earthset during Artemis II, these science officers are seen monitoring mission data in real-time from the Science console. They support flight controllers by analyzing scientific measurements and system performance. Their work helps ensure mission objectives are achieved safely and efficiently. Credit: NASA

jsc2025e064747 --- Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch, left, Artemis II lunar science team member Marie Henderson, Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, and Artemis II backup crew member Andre Douglas practice camera setup during crew lunar observations training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Explore Mars President and Co-Founder, Artemis Westenberg, introduces NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at the Humans to Mars Summit, Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

jsc2024e076628 – Tess Caswell, a crew stand-in for the Artemis III Virtual Reality Mini-Simulation, executes a moonwalk in the Prototype Immersive Technology (PIT) lab at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The simulation was a test of using VR as a training method for flight controllers and science teams’ collaboration on science-focused traverses on the lunar surface. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Artemis Curation Lead Julianne Gross, left, and Brett Denevi, Artemis III Geology Team principal investigator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, work in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) during the JETT 5 field test. JETT 5 was a week-long field test in the lunar-like landscape of San Francisco Volcanic Field near Flagstaff, Arizona while a team of flight controllers and scientists at Johnson monitor and guide their activities. Credit: NASA/Helen Arase Vargas

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos offer a look inside the twin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where engineers will monitor Artemis science and future landing operations for Artemis. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area) rooms are part of the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA Marshall. The LUCA is specially designed to support a wide variety of science operations on and around the Moon – and beyond. Engineers in the LUCA monitored operations for the Lunar Node-1 experiment, an autonomous navigation payload that was part of the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in 2024. NASA Marshall flight controllers will use the LUCA again for Artemis II to monitor science operations. Beginning with Artemis III, members of the NASA Human Landing System Mission Insight Support Team – a group of engineers, safety leads, flight operations experts, and technical authorities – will work in the LESA. There, they will monitor lander systems in real-time and be involved in key decision-making processes throughout the mission. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

Guests at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California watch the live broadcast of NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crew members NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist aboard landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Guests at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California watch the live broadcast of NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crew members NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist aboard landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Guests at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California watch the live broadcast of NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crew members NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist aboard landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Guests at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California watch the live broadcast of NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crew members NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist aboard landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Science Evaluation Room Lead Brett Denevi, Artemis III Geology Team principal investigator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, looks over the Science Evaluation Room (SER) during the JETT 5 field test. JETT 5 was a week-long field test in the lunar-like landscape of San Francisco Volcanic Field near Flagstaff, Arizona while a team of flight controllers and scientists at Johnson monitor and guide their activities. Credit: NASA/James Blair

A large group of scientists work in the Science Evaluation Room (SER) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston during the JETT 5 field test. The SER is the science backroom to mission control during Artemis operations. JETT 5 was a week-long field test in the lunar-like landscape of San Francisco Volcanic Field near Flagstaff, Arizona while a team of flight controllers and scientists at Johnson monitor and guide their activities. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Artemis II lunar science team deputy lead, Jacob Richardson, discusses the lunar science team's progress on the lunar targeting plan for the astronauts' several-hour flyby of the Moon, scheduled for April 6. As they pass the Moon, the crew will apply geology skills learned in the classroom and in Moon-like environments on Earth to photograph and describe features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly changed over time. They will note differences in color, brightness, and texture, which provide clues that help scientists understand what the surface is made of and how it formed. Credits: NASA/Bill Stafford

Teams worked on the final processing of their payloads that will fly aboard Artemis I. Housed within the Orion stage adapter, the satellites – called CubeSats – are roughly the size of a large shoe box and weigh no more than 30 pounds. Despite their small size, they enable science and technology experiments that may enhance our understanding of the deep space environment, expand our knowledge of the Moon, and demonstrate new technologies that could be used on future missions.