Artemis II, which was launched on April 2nd AEST, is the first crewed lunar mission in 50 years, laying the groundwork for a future moon-landing mission.  CSIRO has been using its spacecraft communication and tracking capability to support NASA’s Orion spacecraft on its 10-day mission around the Moon. CSIRO has operated and managed NASA’s Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) since 2010, and the station is one of three that make up NASA’s Deep Space Network, responsible for providing around-the-clock contact with Artemis II and more than 40 other spacecraft exploring the Solar System and beyond.  Secondly, Murriyang, the Parkes radio-telescope, has passively tracked Artemis II as part of Intuitive Machines’ ground station network, demonstrating the network’s capabilities for future missions.  And CSIRO’s new mobile mission operations centre has also played a role in Artemis II, supporting ANU’s Quantum Optical Ground Station.  NASA is flying a laser-based optical communications system aboard the Orion spacecraft. While radio communications remain the primary channel for staying in touch with the spacecraft, demonstrating laser communications will inform future exploration missions. The image above shows Murriyang tracking Artemis II on April 7th. (Image credit: John Sarkissian)