NASA Releases Over 800GB of Lunar Data from Artemis 2 Mission

NASA has announced the release of over 800 gigabytes of scientific data collected during the Artemis 2 lunar flyby mission. The data, uploaded to the Planetary Data System, is now accessible to researchers and the public worldwide.

The extensive dataset comprises more than 11,000 full-resolution images and videos, approximately 8.5 hours of astronaut scientific observation recordings, and astronaut annotations on images. This data was gathered during the mission conducted in April 2026, which marked the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century.

Notable findings within the released data include observations of five faint impact flashes near the far side of the Moon. Astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft recorded these brief flashes at a distance of approximately 46,000 miles (74,030 km) from the Moon. NASA scientists interpret these flashes as light produced by small rocky debris impacting the lunar surface.

In addition to imagery and audio, NASA has also released preliminary scientific reports and user guides detailing the mission's scientific observation plan and data usage. This information will inform the scientific planning for subsequent Artemis missions. Some images captured by astronauts using iPhones during the mission are still undergoing processing and are not included in this initial release.