How helicopters in the Rockies are helping NASA Artemis astronauts train for the Moon’s south pole
Amid the razor-edged ridges and thin air of Colorado’s high Rockies, where even helicopters strain to fly, NASA Artemis astronauts are rehearsing one of the most dangerous…
August 20, 2025
Amid the razor-edged ridges and thin air of Colorado’s high Rockies, where even helicopters strain to fly, NASA Artemis astronauts are rehearsing one of the most dangerous landings in human history.
Far from the pristine consoles of mission control, they’re braving snow, wind, and altitude not for war games, but to prepare for the first crewed descent to the Moon’s uncharted South Pole by piloting military helicopters through Earth’s harshest terrain.
Colorado Army National Guard provides proving ground for NASA’s astronauts
The thunder of Black Hawks and Chinooks may seem far removed from the silence of space, but for NASA’s Artemis astronauts, the Rocky Mountains are proving to be the most down-to-Earth training ground for one of humanity’s boldest missions.
The terrain at NASA’s chosen lunar destination is no ordinary moonscape. The South Pole is riddled with deep craters, shadowed ridges, and steep inclines, bathed in light that never rises more than a few degrees above the horizon. Visual illusions can trick even the most experienced pilot, while fine, clingy lunar dust may cloud visibility, confuse sensors, and obscure landing paths.
To prepare, NASA has teamed up with the Colorado Army National Guard to create an extraordinary flight training course, blending the thin air of Earth’s high mountains with the eerie conditions expected on the Moon.
The unlikely setting is the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (HAATS) in Gypsum, Colorado, where helicopter pilots have long honed their skills in some of the most challenging conditions on Earth.
Since 2021, HAATS has also served as a testbed for NASA’s lunar landing simulations. “Helicopters at or above 10,000 feet are not really efficient in the thin air,” said NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, who helped coordinate the programme.
“That’s what makes it ideal. Astronauts have to manage power, momentum, and energy the same way they will when piloting a lunar lander — and every decision counts.”
NASA Artemis astronauts use down-to-earth helicopters to prepare for the moon
As part of a rigorous week-long course, astronauts train with experienced Guard pilots, flying to mountaintops and valleys in LUH-72 Lakotas, CH-47 Chinooks, and UH-60 Black Hawks. One astronaut pilots the aircraft; another navigates from the back, identifying landmarks and hazards just as they will when descending to the Moon’s rugged surface.
Each flight grows more demanding, testing communication, judgment, and split-second decision-making under pressure. “We are reaching new heights by providing realistic and relevant training with NASA for Artemis,” said First Sergeant Joshua Smith of HAATS. “Our motto is de montibus ad astra — from the mountains to the stars — and this is exactly that.”
This training is one piece of NASA’s broader Artemis strategy. With Artemis III, NASA will send astronauts — including the first woman — to explore the Moon’s South Pole, laying the groundwork for future missions to Mars.
SpaceX’s towering Starship will serve as the human landing system, while astronauts will wear next-generation spacesuits from Axiom Space. Revealed in Texas as a sleek prototype, the suits promise greater mobility, durability, and life support in the Moon’s extremes.
The Rocky Mountains are good preparation for the lunar environment
While companies like SpaceX and Axiom push engineering boundaries, NASA’s role is to ensure astronauts are mission-ready — and that means rigorous Earth-based training.
The Colorado partnership blends military precision with space agency ambition, replicating not only the terrain but also the optical illusions and low-angle lighting that make the lunar South Pole so hazardous.
For NASA, the Moon is no longer just a destination but a proving ground. Through Artemis, the agency is building a foundation for a sustainable lunar presence and, ultimately, the first human journeys to Mars.
As NASA Administrator Bill Nelson put it: “This partnership is investing in America, supporting America’s workers, and demonstrating another example of America’s technical ingenuity.”
