NASA’s Artemis III mission is edging closer to its historic goal of landing astronauts on the lunar South Pole, and in preparation for this monumental task, the space agency is taking astronauts through a series of intricate training simulations on Earth. One of the most recent and unconventional training exercises took place in the San Francisco Volcanic Field in Northern Arizona, where NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Kate Rubins conducted a simulated moonwalk. The activity, held on May 14, 2024, took place in the rugged and remote desert landscape, providing a valuable analog for the harsh conditions astronauts will face on the Moon.

This training comes on the heels of a critical study outlined in Behind the Scenes of a NASA Moonwalk in the Arizona Desert, which detailed how scientists and astronauts are testing various mission operations in preparation for Artemis III. The Arizona desert serves as an ideal location, simulating lunar conditions and allowing scientists to test the integration of astronaut teams with flight control systems. Just as astronauts will need to work seamlessly with mission control when exploring the Moon, these Earth-bound exercises are essential for mission success.

Training for a Historic Mission

The Artemis III mission will take astronauts where no one has gone before — the lunar South Pole, an area rich in resources and scientific potential. But to succeed in this challenging environment, astronauts must first hone their skills in a setting that mirrors the Moon’s surface. The San Francisco Volcanic Field, with its rugged terrain and volcanic formations, offers an excellent analog for the Moon’s harsh surface. This area’s barren landscape and challenging navigation make it an ideal training ground.

The training exercises are critical for fine-tuning astronaut skills in conducting geological surveys, sample collection, and other scientific operations on the lunar surface. This particular training was not only about physical readiness but also about testing how astronauts communicate and collaborate with the flight controllers and mission scientists back on Earth. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston guided the simulation, ensuring the astronauts could operate within the confines of the mission plan and handle real-time challenges that might arise during actual moonwalks.

Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Experiencing Moonwalks on Earth

One of the most significant challenges of conducting these simulations is adapting to the harsh environmental conditions that simulate the lunar landscape. “My experience in Arizona was incredible! I worked with several teams, explored an exotic landscape, and got a taste of what it’s like to be on a mission with a crew,” said astronaut Andre Douglas after completing the exercise. The ability to walk and work in spacesuits under the intense Arizona sun gives astronauts a real feel for what they’ll face on the Moon.

Simulating the low gravity and lunar dust conditions, astronauts wear specially designed spacesuits and practice navigating uneven terrains, performing tasks like collecting geological samples, and marking locations of interest. The feedback gathered from such exercises is invaluable, not just for astronaut performance, but also for the advancement of the technology that will support them on the Moon.

In a more in-depth analysis, “So this ‘landing site’ was a good analog for the types of small changes in regolith astronauts will look for at the lunar South Pole,” noted Lauren Edgar, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona, who co-led the science team for the simulation. Regolith, the Moon’s surface dust, is crucial to understanding how astronauts will interact with the Moon’s surface. The experience of testing these regolith analogs in Arizona helps to ensure that astronauts will be prepared to detect and interpret minute surface changes on the lunar surface when they arrive.

Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene A. Cernan, wearing a green and yellow cap, and Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, during geology training at Cinder Lake Crater Field in Flagstaff, Ariz. In this 1972 image the NASA astronauts are driving a geologic rover, or “Grover,” which was a training replica of the roving vehicle they later drove on the Moon.

(NASA/Josh Valcarcel)

Night Training for Lunar Exploration

Training is not limited to daylight hours. To prepare for the darkness of the Moon’s surface during lunar exploration, NASA also conducts night simulations to challenge the astronauts’ ability to navigate in complete darkness. On the Moon, the contrast between light and dark is far more extreme than on Earth, making it crucial for astronauts to adapt to working without the luxury of constant daylight. “Night simulations show us how tough it is for the astronauts to navigate in the dark. It’s pretty eye opening,” said astronaut Kate Rubins.

These night-time training sessions are designed to test the astronauts’ ability to adjust their vision, use artificial lighting, and navigate difficult terrain while wearing bulky space suits. Since the lunar day and night cycle differs from Earth’s, understanding how to operate during the Moon’s long nights is critical to the mission’s success. Astronauts are put through rigorous scenarios where they must conduct tasks in the dark, further simulating the unpredictable nature of the lunar environment.

Preparing for the Lunar South Pole

One of the key objectives of Artemis III is to land at the Moon’s South Pole, a region that has never been explored by humans. This area holds significant scientific value, with water ice deposits that could provide future astronauts with essential resources. But exploring the South Pole presents its own unique set of challenges. The terrain is uneven, with deep craters and rugged hills that will require careful navigation and the ability to work efficiently in challenging conditions.

The training exercises in Arizona are designed to prepare astronauts for such an environment, where small changes in the landscape could have a significant impact on mission outcomes. The lessons learned here will directly inform how astronauts interact with the surface of the Moon and how they collect samples for analysis. Scientists, geologists, and mission planners are constantly refining their approaches based on the data gathered from these simulations, ensuring that every detail is taken into consideration before the crew sets foot on the lunar surface.