NASA Prepares Astronauts for the Moon Using Earthbound Simulators

Long before astronauts pilot commercial human landing systems to the lunar surface, they must master the descent right here on Earth. NASA is opening its doors to tour a new lunar landing simulation at the Ames Research Center in California, offering a rare look at how flight crews train for future missions.

Built by the Johnson Space Center and integrated into an upgraded simulator flight deck, the setup combines in-house and partner motion-based simulators. These tools let astronauts and engineering support teams practice the hazardous approach to the Moon, targeting a lunar landing by the year 2028 under the Artemis program.

Our read is that relying on ground-based motion systems highlights a heavy operational shift, where NASA increasingly leans on integrated partner technology to de-risk commercial spacecraft before crews ever leave Earth orbit. That careful preparation aims to establish an enduring human presence near the lunar South Pole and lay the groundwork for eventual crewed missions to Mars.

Visitors on upcoming media tours will have the chance to experience a Vertical Motion Simulator ride-along and interview subject matter experts.

As space agencies race to build out a new era of exploration, watching how these earthbound dry runs translate to actual flight behavior will remain the ultimate test to follow.