As four astronauts prepare for humanity’s first lunar journey in over 50 years, comparisons with the Artemis program are unavoidable.
The inaugural lunar travelers orbited the moon during Apollo 8, while the Artemis II crew will take a more cautious approach, making a slingshot maneuver around the moon before returning.
Another significant difference is that Artemis better reflects contemporary society, featuring a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian astronaut on this mission.
While Artemis builds on the legacy of Apollo, it’s important to acknowledge that “there is no way we could be that same mission or ever hope to even be,” remarked NASA astronaut Christina Koch, a member of the Artemis II crew.
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Here’s a breakdown comparing Apollo and Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, as NASA aims for a liftoff in the first six days of April.
Run-up to moonshot
NASA advanced from its first astronaut in space to landing Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon in 1969 in just eight years, surpassing President John Kennedy’s deadline.
“The Apollo program still absolutely astounds me,” stated Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, noting that Artemis has progressed more slowly due to years of indecision regarding whether to focus on the moon or Mars as the next destination.
The new moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), has only flown once in a test without a crew over three years ago.
This slow pace prompted NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, to revamp the Artemis program in February. Aiming to replicate the spirit of Apollo, he introduced an additional mission now set for Artemis IV in 2028, positioned between Artemis II and the moon landing.
During the revamped Artemis III next year, astronauts will stay closer to home similar to Apollo 9 in 1969. Instead of a moon landing as initially planned, they will practice docking their Orion capsule in Earth orbit with one or both lunar landers, currently under development by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Both companies are accelerating their work to be the first to launch.
Political rivalries
During the Apollo era, the Soviets were the primary rivals, but their rockets frequently failed at launch, ultimately leading them to withdraw. Today, the competition comes from China.
Having already landed robotic spacecraft on the moon’s far side—an achievement no other country has matched—China is pushing to land astronauts near the lunar south pole by 2030.
NASA aims for the same region, where shadowed craters are believed to contain substantial ice reserves that could provide drinking water and rocket fuel. Like former administrator Bill Nelson, Isaacman is adamant about beating China in this second space race.
Moon rocket
The Saturn V rockets of Apollo stood at 110 meters, featuring five first-stage engines. In comparison, the Artemis SLS rocket is 98 meters tall and boasts greater liftoff thrust with four main engines and two strap-on boosters.
Nearly all Saturn V rockets launched from Kennedy Space Centre’s Launch Complex 39-A, which is now leased by SpaceX. NASA will utilize the adjacent pad 39-B for all SLS launches. While the Saturn V had two flights before carrying astronauts, the SLS has only flown once.
Hydrogen fuel leaks delayed the SLS debut in 2022 and reemerged during a countdown test in February, causing further holdups for Artemis II. NASA is currently aiming for a liftoff in April.
Launch Control remains in the same location. For the Apollo 11 launch, there was one woman in the crowded firing room. Currently, a woman leads it: Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson.
First lunar crews
Apollo 8 is still regarded as one of the most daring space missions ever. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders marked history as the first humans to head towards the moon in 1968. Commander Borman insisted on minimizing lunar orbits due to the inherent risks, ultimately deciding on 10 orbits as a preparatory step for Armstrong and Aldrin’s moonwalk in 1969.
NASA ruled out orbiting the moon for Artemis’ first crewed mission, deeming it too risky. The primary objective remains to test the Orion capsule’s life-support systems on its inaugural flight.
A similarity between Apollo 8 and Artemis II is the challenging times surrounding both missions. “If we can contribute a little bit to hope for humanity,” said Artemis II pilot Victor Glover of NASA, “that is a significant accomplishment.”
Shades of Apollo 13
Artemis astronauts will spend a day orbiting Earth to confirm that all systems are functioning correctly before firing the main engine to head for the moon. The capsule is expected to reach the moon in three to four days and continue over 8,000 kilometers beyond it, surpassing the record set by the ill-fated Apollo 13 in the 1970s.
Like Apollo 13, Artemis II will utilize the gravity of the moon and Earth, executing a figure-eight trajectory after looping around the moon to return home on a free-return trajectory, requiring minimal fuel. This strategy successfully brought the Apollo 13 crew back home, despite their moon landing being canceled.
Following their mission, Artemis astronauts will parachute into the Pacific Ocean, reminiscent of the Apollo crews.
Suiting Up
For Apollo, the astronauts’ white, bulky spacesuits served dual purposes. The same suits were worn for launch and return, as there wasn’t enough space to accommodate different outfits for moonwalks.
The Orion capsules for Artemis are larger, designed for four astronauts instead of three, plus two sets of spacesuits. NASA has developed new spacesuits for use inside the capsule and has contracted with private companies for the moonwalking gear.
Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew will don custom-fitted orange suits for launch and reentry, which they will also use in emergencies, such as depressurization. The suits can support life for up to six days, allowing astronauts to sip water or protein shakes through a straw embedded in the helmet and using built-in bags and bladders for waste management.
White moonwalking suits for future Artemis crews are being designed by Houston-based Axiom Space.
Long-term goals
Apollo focused on surpassing the Russians to the moon and raising the US flag. Astronauts accomplished this feat six times between 1969 and 1972, with the longest surface stay lasting 75 hours. Of the 24 Apollo astronauts who flew to the moon, five are still alive.
For the inaugural Artemis moon landing, astronauts may remain on the lunar surface for nearly a week—a more complex plan compared to Apollo.
Artemis moonwalkers will travel to the moon aboard Orion, and once in lunar orbit, they will transfer to either SpaceX’s Starship or Blue Origin’s Blue Moon, whichever is prepared first. After descending to the surface and spending a few days there, they will launch back into orbit to meet their Orion capsule. Orion will be their return vehicle.
NASA aims for a sustainable lunar presence, with plans for Mars to follow, although Isaacman noted, “day one of the moon base is not going to look like this glass-enclosed, domed city.” Recently, he presented a plan for the moon base featuring habitats, rovers, drones, power stations, and more. NASA intends to invest $20 billion over the next seven years.
