Artemis II Crew Completes Lunar-Like Geology Training in Iceland

2026-01-26 - 09:10

Astronauts preparing for NASA’s Artemis II mission spent part of their training in Iceland’s volcanic interior to practise rock identification and landscape interpretation ahead of their lunar orbit flight. As reported by WRAL News, the four-person crew, trained in Vatnajökull National Park where basalt lava flows and rugged surfaces approximate some features of the Moon’s terrain. What's the Story? Field geology training at Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland, by the Artemis II crew Exercises in documenting geological features and navigation in volcanic terrain Additional rock-sample identification training in northern Canada Artemis II mission planned as a four-astronaut lunar flyby, launch targeted for early 2026 Artemis II trajectory. Photo: NASA. Wikimedia Commons. Moon geology skills During field exercises, astronauts learned how to document geological features and navigate barren landscapes; skills that complement classroom instruction and simulations. Iceland’s complex geology, formed by volcanic eruptions interacting with ice and water, resembles surface conditions expected near the lunar south pole and other areas of scientific interest. The exercises are designed to help the crew link what they see from orbit with real-world geology, an important ability for future lunar surface missions. “Apollo astronauts said Iceland was one of the most lunar-like training locations they visited during their training,” said Cindy Evans, geology training lead at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The crew also conducted geology training in northern Canada to practise identifying and describing rock samples. Artemis II, scheduled for launch in early 2026, will carry four astronauts: Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen. The mission will last for roughly ten days, looping around the Moon before returning to Earth. Vatnajökull. Photo: Golli.