4 http://www.nasa.gov/launching-science-and-technology.html

NP-2020-05-25-MSFC

UNMATCHED 

DEEP 

SPACE 

ACCESS

MOON 

Lunar Flashlight – Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California

Searching for ice deposits and resources using a laser.

Lunar IceCube – Morehead State University, Kentucky

Searching for water in all forms and other volatiles with an 

infrared spectrometer.

LunaH-Map – Arizona State University, Arizona

Creating higher-fidelity maps of near-surface hydrogen in 

craters and other permanently shadowed regions of the lunar 

South Pole with neutron spectrometers.

OMOTENASHI – JAXA, Japan

Developing world’s smallest lunar lander and studying the 

lunar environment.

LunIR – Lockheed Martin, Colorado

Performing advanced infrared imaging of the lunar surface.

SUN 

CuSP – Southwest Research Institute, Texas

Measuring particles and magnetic fields as a space 

weather station.

ASTEROID 

NEA Scout – Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama

Traveling by solar sail to a near-Earth asteroid and

taking pictures and other characterizations of its surface.

EARTH 

EQUULEUS – University of Tokyo/JAXA, Japan

Imaging the earth’s plasmasphere for a better understanding 

of Earth’s radiation environment from Earth-Moon L2 point.

OTHER MISSIONS 

BioSentinel – Ames Research Center, California

Using single-celled yeast to detect, measure and 

compare the impact of deep-space radiation on living 

organisms over a long period of time.

ArgoMoon – European Space Agency/ASI,

ArgoTec, Italy

Observing the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage 

with advanced optics and software imaging system.

CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES 

Team Miles – Miles Space, Florida

Demonstrating propulsion using plasma thrusters and 

competing in NASA’s Deep Space Derby.

Cislunar Explorers – Cornell University, New York

Demonstrating an inert water-based propulsion system 

and competing in NASA’s Lunar Derby.

CU-E3 – University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado

Demonstrating use of solar radiation pressure for 

propulsion and competing in NASA’s Deep Space Derby.

For more technical information on payload integration 

and launch environments, please refer to the SLS 

Mission Planner’s Guide, ESD 30000, available for 

download. For more information, contact

nasa-slspayloads@mail.nasa.gov

ARTEMIS I MANIFESTED PAYLOADS
SLS Block 1 will return 

astronauts to the Moon 

and offer CubeSats 

access to deep space.

2 

FLY WITH SLS

With the Artemis Program, NASA has its sights firmly on 

going forward to the Moon. This time, the Agency will 

leverage capabilities and partnerships with international 

space agencies, industry and academia to emplace 

infrastructure that will enable humanity to go to the 

Moon, and prepare for missions to Mars.

NASA selects CubeSats to ride along on SLS deep space 

missions based on their ability to return data or test 

technologies that will address the Agency’s Strategic 

Knowledge Gaps (SKGs) related to exploration of the 

Moon and Mars. 

CubeSats can play a key role in the Artemis missions 

by gaining knowledge and demonstrating potential 

technologies that reduce risk, increase effectiveness 

and improve the design of robotic and human space 

exploration missions.

SLS BLOCK 1 

ACCOMMODATIONS

The initial SLS flights will use the Block 1 vehicle, which 

houses CubeSats in the Orion stage adapter, a ring 

that attaches the interim cryogenic propulsion stage to 

Orion’s spacecraft adapter. The volume can potentially 

accommodate up to 17 CubeSat slots in a combination 

of 6U and 12U form factors, plus the SLS Programsupplied avionics unit. Payloads will deploy on a 

heliocentric trajectory toward the Moon after the vehicle 

safely separates from Orion.
SLS Block 1 will return 

astronauts to the Moon 

and offer CubeSats 

access to deep space.

2 

FLY WITH SLS

With the Artemis Program, NASA has its sights firmly on

going forward to the Moon. This time, the Agency will

leverage capabilities and partnerships with international 

space agencies, industry and academia to emplace 

infrastructure that will enable humanity to go to the

Moon, and prepare for missions to Mars.

NASA selects CubeSats to ride along on SLS deep space 

missions based on their ability to return data or test 

technologies that will address the Agency’s Strategic 

Knowledge Gaps (SKGs) related to exploration of the

Moon and Mars. 

CubeSats can play a key role in the Artemis missions

by gaining knowledge and demonstrating potential 

technologies that reduce risk, increase effectiveness

and improve the design of robotic and human space 

exploration missions.

SLS BLOCK 1 

ACCOMMODATIONS

The initial SLS flights will use the Block 1 vehicle, which 

houses CubeSats in the Orion stage adapter, a ring 

that attaches the interim cryogenic propulsion stage to 

Orion’s spacecraft adapter. The volume can potentially 

accommodate up to 17 CubeSat slots in a combination 

of 6U and 12U form factors, plus the SLS Programsupplied avionics unit. Payloads will deploy on a 

heliocentric trajectory toward the Moon after the vehicle 

safely separates from Orion.
4 http://www.nasa.gov/launching-science-and-technology.html

NP-2020-05-25-MSFC

UNMATCHED 

DEEP 

SPACE 

ACCESS

MOON 

Lunar IceCube – Morehead State University, Kentucky

Searching for water in all forms and other volatiles with an 

infrared spectrometer.

LunaH-Map – Arizona State University, Arizona

Creating higher-fidelity maps of near-surface hydrogen in 

craters and other permanently shadowed regions of the lunar 

South Pole with neutron spectrometers.

OMOTENASHI – JAXA, Japan

Developing world’s smallest lunar lander and studying the 

lunar environment.

LunIR – Lockheed Martin, Colorado

Performing advanced infrared imaging of the lunar surface.

SUN 

CuSP – Southwest Research Institute, Texas

Measuring particles and magnetic fields as a space weather 

station.

ASTEROID 

NEA Scout – Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama

Traveling by solar sail to a near-Earth asteroid and

taking pictures and other characterizations of its surface.

EARTH 

EQUULEUS – University of Tokyo/JAXA, Japan

Imaging the earth’s plasmasphere for a better understanding 

of Earth’s radiation environment from Earth-Moon L2 point.

OTHER MISSIONS 

BioSentinel – Ames Research Center, California Using 

single-celled yeast to detect, measure and compare the 

impact of deep-space radiation on living organisms over 

a long period of time.

ArgoMoon – European Space Agency/ASI,

ArgoTec, Italy

Observing the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage 

with advanced optics and software imaging system.

CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES 

Team Miles – Miles Space, Florida

Demonstrating propulsion using plasma thrusters and 

competing in NASA’s Deep Space Derby.

For more technical information on payload integration 

and launch environments, please refer to the SLS 

Mission Planner’s Guide, ESD 30000, available for 

download. For more information, contact

nasa-slspayloads@mail.nasa.gov

ARTEMIS I MANIFESTED PAYLOADS