Quick Facts: Artemis Program
| Program Owner | NASA (US Federal Government) |
| NASA Administrator | Jared Isaacman |
| Goal | Return humans to the Moon; establish sustainable lunar presence |
| Key Contractors | Boeing (SLS rocket), Lockheed Martin (Orion capsule), SpaceX (Human Landing System) |
| International Partners | 60+ countries signed Artemis Accords |
| Program Launched | 2017 (congressional authorization) |
| Publicly Owned | Yes — US government program; not privately traded |
Who Owns the Artemis Program?
The Artemis program is owned and operated by NASA — the National Aeronautics and Space Administration — a US federal government agency. NASA is funded by Congress and the program is fully publicly owned, meaning it belongs to the American people through the federal government rather than to any private entity or publicly traded corporation. Jared Isaacman was appointed as NASA Administrator in 2025 and serves as the agency’s top executive overseeing Artemis and all other NASA programs. While NASA owns and directs the Artemis program, it relies on a constellation of private contractors and international partners to build and operate the hardware that will carry humans back to the Moon.
Key Contractors Behind Artemis
Artemis is a government program that relies on major aerospace contractors for its critical hardware. Boeing builds the Space Launch System (SLS) — the massive rocket that launches Artemis missions from Kennedy Space Center. Lockheed Martin manufactures the Orion crew capsule, in which astronauts ride to the Moon. SpaceX won the contract for the Human Landing System (HLS), developing a modified Starship vehicle to land astronauts on the lunar surface. Aerojet Rocketdyne (now L3Harris) builds the RS-25 engines for the SLS core stage, while Northrop Grumman provides the SLS solid rocket boosters. These contracts are valued at tens of billions of dollars but the contractors do not “own” Artemis — NASA does.
Key Facts About Artemis
- Artemis is a NASA (US federal government) program; it is publicly owned and not traded on any stock exchange.
- Jared Isaacman, appointed as NASA Administrator in 2025, leads the agency overseeing Artemis.
- Key hardware contractors include Boeing (SLS rocket), Lockheed Martin (Orion capsule), and SpaceX (Human Landing System — Starship).
- Over 60 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of international agreements on peaceful space exploration principles.
- Artemis I (uncrewed) launched in November 2022. Artemis II — the first crewed Moon flyby since Apollo — is planned for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Artemis program?
The Artemis program is owned by NASA, a US federal government agency. It is publicly funded through congressional appropriations and is not owned by any private company or traded on any stock exchange.
Who is the NASA Administrator overseeing Artemis?
Jared Isaacman serves as NASA Administrator, appointed in 2025. He is the agency’s top executive and oversees all NASA programs, including Artemis.
What companies are building hardware for Artemis?
Boeing builds the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket; Lockheed Martin builds the Orion crew capsule; SpaceX is developing the Human Landing System (a modified Starship); Northrop Grumman provides the solid rocket boosters. These companies are contractors — NASA owns and directs the program.
When will humans return to the Moon through Artemis?
Artemis I flew an uncrewed test mission in 2022. Artemis II, a crewed lunar flyby, is planned for 2026. Artemis III — targeting an actual Moon landing with astronauts — is planned for a subsequent mission depending on mission readiness and schedule.
