Artemis 4

Artemis 4 (officially Artemis IV) is the fourth planned mission of NASA's Artemis Program. The mission will launch four astronauts on a Space Launch System rocket and an Orion to the Gateway Space Station.[1]

Artemis IV
Mission typeGateway Assembly
OperatorNASA
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftOrion (spacecraft)
I-Hab
Manufacturer
Start of mission
Launch date2027 (planned)
RocketSLS Block 1B (Orion)
Launch siteKennedy Space Center, LC-39B
ContractorNASA
End of mission
Landing sitePacific Ocean (planned)
 

Mission

The main objective of the mission will be assembly of the Gateway Space Station. The mission will deliver the I-Hab habitat module, developed by the European Space Agency and the Japanese space agency JAXA, to the Gateway. The module will be docked with the first Gateway elements, the Power and Propulsion Element and Habitation and Logistics Outpost.

Artemis 4 will also be the first flight of the Block 1B version of the Space Launch System, which will replace the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage used on the first three Artemis missions with the more powerful Exploration Upper Stage.

Spacecraft

Space Launch System

The Space Launch System is a super-heavy-lift launcher used to launch the Orion spacecraft from Earth to a trans-lunar orbit.

Orion

Orion is the crew transport vehicle used by all Artemis missions. It will transport the crew from Earth to the Gateway orbit, and return them back to Earth.

Gateway

Gateway is a small modular space station to be established in Near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) in late 2024. The first two Gateway elements will launch together aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy and spend a year spiraling out to the near-rectilinear halo orbit around the moon prior to Artemis 4.[2]

References
  1. Foust, Jeff (20 January 2022). "NASA foresees gap in lunar landings after Artemis 3". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  2. Foust, Jeff (10 February 2021). "NASA selects Falcon Heavy to launch first Gateway elements". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
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