NASA has selected 34 global volunteers to track the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II mission's journey around the Moon. The Artemis II test flight will launch NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, carrying the Orion spacecraft and a crew of four astronauts, on a mission into deep space. This mission is a crucial step in NASA's plan to establish a long-term presence on the Moon and prepare for future lunar exploration and the first crewed mission to Mars. The agency's Near Space Network and Deep Space Network, coordinated by the SCaN program, will provide primary communications and tracking services. However, participants from various backgrounds will also contribute to the mission's success. These volunteers, including commercial service providers, academics, and amateur radio enthusiasts, will use their equipment to passively track radio waves transmitted by Orion during its approximately 10-day journey. This initiative aims to build a resilient, public-private ecosystem that will support the Golden Age of innovation and exploration. The data collected will be analyzed by NASA to assess the broader aerospace community's tracking capabilities and identify ways to enhance future Moon and Mars mission support. This collaborative effort builds on a previous successful tracking of the Orion spacecraft during Artemis I in 2022, which provided valuable data and lessons learned. Public interest in tracking the Artemis II mission has grown, with 47 ground assets from 14 countries participating. The networks supporting Artemis receive programmatic oversight from NASA's SCaN Program office, which also develops technologies and capabilities for NASA's missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The Deep Space Network is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Near Space Network is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. This mission will test the systems that will carry astronauts to the lunar surface, fostering economic benefits and scientific discovery during the Golden Age of exploration and innovation.
