atlanTTic takes part in NASA’s Artemis II mission 

A group of researchers from atlanTTic, a research centre affiliated with the University of Vigo and part of the CIGUS Network —an initiative promoted by the Xunta de Galicia that brings together research centres in the Galician research system recognised for their scientific excellence—, is taking part in NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar mission since the 1970s.

The Aerospace Technology Research Group (ATRG) is contributing to this historic mission, which is set to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in early April 2026, carrying four astronauts on an approximately ten-day journey around the Moon. The mission’s primary objective is to test the Orion spacecraft’s critical systems under real deep-space conditions.

atlanTTic’s role focuses on ground-based tracking of the Orion capsule, in collaboration with the Spanish company Integrasys, selected by NASA to monitor the radio signals emitted by the spacecraft throughout the mission using the Doppler effect. These signals, transmitted in the S-band, enable highly precise real-time determination of the spacecraft’s position and trajectory, with antennas at the University of Vigo and Integrasys operating as specialised listening stations.

This work requires a high level of expertise in aerospace engineering. According to the University of Vigo, atlanTTic’s team of operators will work continuously throughout the ten-day mission to process the data, carrying out a critical technical monitoring task to ensure that the spacecraft remains on the trajectory planned by NASA.

This participation reflects the commitment of the University of Vigo and atlanTTic, as a member of the CIGUS Network, to rigorous research, and highlights the capability of Galician research centres to contribute to scientific initiatives of international significance.