NASA has chosen Iceland as a training base for the Artemis II mission, maintaining a long tradition of astronaut training on the Nordic island dating back to the Apollo days. This summer, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen trained in geology while exploring Iceland’s lunar-like landscape.
According to Cindy Evans, Artemis geology training director at NASA, Iceland’s geology is similar to the Moon’s, including basalt and breccia formations, making it suitable for preparing astronauts for future trips.
During training, astronauts exercised navigation and field skills while giving input to instructors. They tested tools like hammers and scoops, which are necessary for collecting lunar rock samples. Trevor Graff, Artemis’ exploration geologist, stated that while the tools are identical to those used in Apollo, changes are required to accommodate launch limits and the unique lunar environment.
The Artemis II mission will be NASA’s first crewed voyage under the Artemis program, laying the groundwork for future missions to land the first woman, person of colour, and international partner astronaut on the Moon. The training objectives include analysing surface characteristics from orbit, which allows astronauts to record geological facts for future investigation.
