NASA is inviting ground station operators from commercial firms, universities, and even private individuals to help track the upcoming Artemis II mission, a crewed flight around the Moon scheduled for no later than April 2026. The initiative is aimed at testing how commercial systems could complement NASA’s existing communications networks.
The 10-day mission will send four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a lunar flyby, marking the first crewed test of the Artemis program. NASA’s Deep Space and Near Space Networks will manage critical communications, but the agency wants to gauge the potential of non-NASA stations to contribute to deep space exploration.
“This data will help inform our transition to a commercial-first approach, ultimately strengthening the infrastructure needed to support long-term Moon to Mars objectives,” said Kevin Coggins, Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN).
Volunteers will be asked to use their own antennas to passively receive Orion’s S-band radio signals and provide “one-way Doppler tracking measurements.” They are not permitted to transmit signals back to the spacecraft, NASA emphasized.
The collaboration builds on the 2022 Artemis I mission, when 10 volunteer partners successfully tracked the uncrewed Orion spacecraft. NASA said it hopes to expand that effort with Artemis II to further integrate commercial capabilities into its navigation and communications plans.
Responses to the call are due by October 27, with participation voluntary and at no cost to the U.S. government. Instructions on how to apply are available on Sam.gov.
Source: NASA