Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
The Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate defines and manages systems development for programs critical to NASA’s Artemis program and planning for NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach. ESDMD manages the human exploration system development for lunar orbital, lunar surface, and Mars exploration.
NASA has established the Moon to Mars Program Office within ESDMD to focus on hardware development, mission integration, and risk management functions for programs critical to the agency’s exploration approach. Artemis missions will open a new era of scientific discovery and economic opportunity at the Moon while validating operations and systems and to prepare for human missions to Mars. The Moon to Mars Program Office oversees development of the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, human landing systems, spacesuits, Gateway, and more related to deep space exploration. The new office will also lead planning and analysis for long-lead developments to support Mars missions.
ESDMD Leadership
Meet the leaders who are guiding NASA's return to the Moon through Artemis and the future of human exploration at Mars.
Moon to Mars Program Office
Strategy and Architecture Office
ESDMD Programs
Explore the programs developing the hardware and systems to send humans to the Moon and Mars
Space Launch System (SLS)
Orion Spacecraft
Exploration Ground Systems Overview
Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility
Gateway Space Station News
Human Landing System
Fission Surface Power
Humans in Space
Learn more about NASA's work in low Earth orbit and future plans for human missions to the Moon and Mars.
Latest News
Stay up-to-date with the latest on humanity's return to the Moon under Artemis and our future plans to explore Mars.
Description Staff at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California watch the agency’s Artemis II mission unfold soon after launch…
Description A graphical representation of the Deep Space Network’s radio frequency antennas indicate signal acquisition from NASA’s Artemis II mission…
Description The acquisition of the radio frequency signal from the Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon by NASA’s Deep…
Description Blanca Renteria, Artemis Deep Space Network (DSN) operations chief, monitors data at the Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA’s…
Description Staff at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California watch the launch of the agency’s Artemis II mission to…
Description A container of “lucky peanuts” sits above workstations within the Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory…