NASA schedules media tour of new lunar landing simulation

NASA said media members would tour a new lunar landing simulation at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley on Thursday, Oct. 29 and Friday, Oct. 30. The announcement said the tours would include simulator activities and interviews with subject matter experts. NASA published the announcement Monday 26 October 2026.

The simulation used a combination of in-house and partner motion-based simulators. NASA said it gave astronauts and engineering support teams simulated experiences before crew members piloted commercial human landing systems to the surface of the Moon. NASA described the activities as preparation for operations at the lunar surface. Through the Artemis program, NASA was targeting the next lunar landing in 2028.

Media would have an opportunity to participate in a Vertical Motion Simulator ride-along and interview subject matter experts. NASA said its media accreditation policy was available online. The agency said space was limited and media had to register in advance for consideration. The RSVP deadline was Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 5:00 pm PT.

The landing simulation at Ames was developed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and integrated into the recently upgraded simulator flight deck. The system was located at Ames and originated at the Johnson Space Center.

As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA said it would send Artemis astronauts on increasingly difficult missions near the lunar South Pole. NASA said the missions would explore more of the Moon than ever before.

NASA said its Moon missions would provide economic benefits and advance scientific discovery. The agency said it would establish an enduring human presence on the lunar surface and build on its foundation for the first crewed mission to Mars.