NASA to Share Artemis Lunar Science Data With the Global Scientific Community

NASA will make scientific findings from lunar rock samples, research datasets, and discoveries generated through the Artemis program available to the global scientific community. The commitment is supported by the countries that have signed the Artemis Accords, a framework promoting safe, peaceful, transparent, and cooperative space exploration.

NASA reinforced this commitment through a two-part virtual workshop series held from July 28 through September 8. The sessions focused on one of the Artemis Accords’ key principles: sharing scientific data promptly with the public and international research community.

“Artemis efforts will help us maximize the potential for scientific discovery through transparency, collaboration, and accessibility as we return humans to the Moon,” said Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist. “We will make the data, tools, and results freely available and invite our Artemis Accords partners to innovate with us and share their data as well. This will accelerate our understanding of lunar processes and lay the foundation for human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

The workshops followed discussions led by the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, in May. During those discussions, Artemis Accords signatories explored ways to advance open-data practices and establish common standards for future collaboration. NASA later divided the data-sharing discussions into two virtual sessions so technical experts from around the world could participate.

NASA Promotes Open Science Through Artemis

The first workshop examined open-science principles and implementation practices. These discussions helped promote interoperability, reproducibility, accessibility, and transparency in scientific research connected to NASA’s Artemis program.

The second session focused on open-science tools and offered a practical model that Artemis Accords signatories can use as they develop or improve their own scientific data-sharing systems.

“NASA is committed to setting an example when it comes to open science,” said Andrew Mitchell, deputy chief science data officer for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “These workshops provided Artemis Accords partners with practical tools and common ground on which to move forward together.”

Planetary Data System Supports Lunar Research

NASA introduced participants to the Planetary Data System, one of the agency’s primary archives for planetary science data. The agency also demonstrated openly available lunar datasets, data visualization and analysis tools, and information-model standards used to organize and manage scientific data.

These resources provided real-world examples of how NASA collects, preserves, manages, and shares scientific information with researchers worldwide. By making lunar data accessible, NASA aims to encourage new discoveries and expand international cooperation in space science.

During both sessions, NASA shared data-management practices developed over decades, invited technical experts from the Artemis Accords community to contribute, and encouraged collaboration at the working level.

“Advances in technology can help enable open science, but technology alone is not enough,” Mitchell said. “Open science requires a shift to more transparent and collaborative scientific processes, which improves the pace and quality of scientific progress. To foster further research, scientific processes and results need to be as open and reproducible as possible.”

What Are the Artemis Accords?

Established in 2020 by NASA, the U.S. Department of State, and founding partner nations, the Artemis Accords provide practical principles for peaceful and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. The agreement was created in response to growing interest in lunar exploration by governments and private companies.

The Artemis Accords encourage participating countries to:

• Explore space peacefully, safely, and transparently
• Provide assistance to astronauts and others in need
• Share scientific data openly and promptly
• Avoid harmful interference with the activities of other nations
• Protect historically significant lunar sites and artifacts
• Use space resources responsibly and sustainably

By signing the Artemis Accords, countries support future opportunities for cooperative lunar exploration with NASA. Open access to Artemis science and data could accelerate research into lunar geology, planetary processes, and the technologies needed for long-term human exploration.

NASA’s open-science efforts are designed to help build a more collaborative future in space—one that extends from the Moon to Mars and beyond.

Learn more about the Artemis Accords and NASA’s open-science initiatives.