The Artemis one mission is an uncrewed flight test of
the Orion spacecraft, placing a human rated crew vehicle into
lunar orbit for the first time since the Apollo missions. The
mission will showcase the capabilities of both Orion and
the Space Launch System, or SLS, NASA's powerful new rocket.
Communication services for the Artemis I mission are provided
by NASA's two major networks, the Near Space Network and the
Deep Space Network. For Artemis I launch the Near Space Network's
launch communication segment provides critical links with SLS
and Orion. The network's constellation of tracking and
data relay satellites, or TDRS, provides near continuous
communication services to the mission during ascent and low
Earth orbit. As Artemis I journeys to the Moon, the Deep
Space Network acts as the mission's primary service
provider beyond low-Earth orbit. With the Near Space Network
providing supplemental navigation data, the Deep Space
Network will maintain communications with Orion while
in distant retrograde orbit around the moon. The network
will also help facilitate communications for all of the
mission's CubeSat deployment stops. Returning to Earth, Orion
will receive communication support from the Deep Space
Network with assistance from the Near Space Network's TDRS
constellation. TDRS will be integral to communications
during reentry and splashdown with NASA search and rescue
technology standing by in case of contingencies. Artemis I will
begin a new era of lunar exploration supported by NASA
Space Communications and Navigation innovation. NASA's
networks are empowering our sustained return to the Moon as
we set our sights on Mars.