Inside Iceland’s "Moon on Earth" | How NASA Preps for Moon Exploration

Inside Iceland’s "Moon on Earth" | How NASA Preps for Moon Exploration

To understand the Moon, NASA scientists head somewhere surprisingly similar to it—Iceland. This island nation’s volcanic highlands, ash plains, and rugged lava fields create one of the most accurate lunar stand-ins on Earth. In this expedition, researchers test the tools, techniques, and field strategies that will shape how astronauts explore the Moon during Artemis missions.

As the team navigates sharp basalt ridges, collects samples across unstable terrain, and adapts to rapidly shifting conditions, they are helping NASA prepare to explore the lunar South Pole—where darkness, ice, and unknown geology await.

In this video:

• Why Iceland is one of the best lunar analogs on the planet

• How field research on Earth helps us get ready for science operations on the surface of the Moon

• What Earth’s volcanic terrains reveal about the Moon’s geologic past

• How analog expeditions help prepare astronauts for real lunar exploration

Why it matters:
Artemis will take us farther into the lunar frontier. Field expeditions like this improve our scientific capabilities, mission planning, and can better prepare crews for the practical realities of working on the Moon.

Video Credit: NASA Science
Duration: 5 minutes, 39 seconds
Release Date: Dec. 10, 2025

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