Quick Takeaways
NASA invites media to tour its Ames lunar landing simulation October 29–30.
Simulators prepare astronauts and support teams for future commercial lunar landings.
Visitors can ride the Vertical Motion Simulator and interview NASA experts.
RSVP by October 27; Artemis targets another lunar landing in 2028.
NASA Invites Media to Moon Landing Simulation Experience in California
Media can experience NASA’s lunar landing simulator
NASA is inviting members of the media to tour a new lunar landing simulation at its Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley on Thursday, Oct. 29, or Friday, Oct. 30.
The simulation uses motion-based equipment to give astronauts and engineering support teams a chance to rehearse lunar landing scenarios. NASA is preparing crews to fly commercial human landing systems to the Moon as part of its Artemis program. The agency is targeting its next lunar landing for 2028.
During the tour, media participants can take a ride in NASA’s Vertical Motion Simulator and interview subject matter experts. The landing simulation was developed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and integrated into Ames’ recently upgraded simulator flight deck.
The simulator offers a controlled way to practice and assess mission tasks before a real flight. It cannot reproduce every condition of a lunar landing, but it gives crews and support teams a place to build experience without the risks of testing those procedures in space.
Media interested in attending must RSVP to the NASA Ames newsroom at arc-dl-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov by Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. PT. Space is limited, and advance registration is required for consideration. Include a preference for Oct. 29 or Oct. 30. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online.
Simulation supports NASA’s longer-term lunar plans
NASA plans to send Artemis astronauts on increasingly challenging missions near the lunar South Pole. The agency aims to explore more of the Moon than ever before and establish a lasting human presence on its surface.
The landing simulation is one part of that preparation. Motion-based tools can help teams rehearse how people and systems may work together during a mission. Their value depends on how well simulated conditions reflect the challenges crews will face, so practice on the ground supports—but does not replace—testing and experience in space.
NASA says its Moon missions are intended to advance scientific discovery, create economic benefits and build on the experience needed for the agency’s first crewed mission to Mars. Learn more about the Artemis program.
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