Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
NASA’s Artemis II lunar science release is a collection of different kinds of records, not one universal file format. NASA says the October 2026 release includes more than 800 gigabytes of data, more than 11,000 full-resolution images and video, 8.5 hours of crew audio observations, and crew annotations. For images in NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) collection, the stated default is converted, lossy JPEG; original camera RAW files, including Nikon NEF examples, can be requested from individual image pages while processing continues. NASA’s published material identifies several other kinds of science and telemetry data, but it does not establish a complete file-format or packet inventory for the public archive.
What Artemis II data did NASA release?
NASA announced on October 7, 2026, that more than 800 gigabytes of Artemis II lunar science data had been uploaded to the Planetary Data System (PDS). The release includes more than 11,000 full-resolution images and video from handheld and Orion cameras, 8.5 hours of audio recordings of scientific observations, and crew-annotated images. NASA also published the Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report, the Artemis II Lunar Science Operations Report, and the Artemis II Data User Guide.
These are distinct evidence types: pictures and video show what the cameras recorded; audio captures crew descriptions; annotations connect observations to visual details; and measurements record conditions such as crew health or radiation. Their presence in one release does not mean they share an extension, schema, or packaging format.
Which image formats are available?
NASA’s JSC Artemis II image collection says the images it serves by default are converted, lossy JPEG files. Individual image pages may also offer an original camera RAW file under Download Options. NASA gives Nikon Raw NEF as an example and says RAW files are available by request as processing continues.
| Image version | What NASA states | Practical distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Converted JPEG | Default image served by the JSC collection; lossy conversion. | A processed, broadly viewable copy. Lossy conversion means some image information is discarded compared with the camera original. |
| Camera RAW, such as Nikon NEF | Available by request from an image page under Download Options, as processing continues. | Closer to the original camera capture and useful when working from unconverted image data; it may require compatible software and is not the default download. |
This description applies to the JSC collection, not automatically to every camera product or every PDS archive file. NASA’s release separately identifies full-resolution images and video, but the announcement does not enumerate the formats of all those products. Check the specific archive item or image page rather than assuming the JSC collection’s JPEG/RAW options describe the entire release.
What formats are used for audio, annotations, and scientific measurements?
NASA identifies 8.5 hours of audio observations and crew-annotated imagery, but the pages described in the release do not specify audio extensions, annotation encoding, measurement field names, or a shared export schema. NASA says annotations include handwritten notes on images; crew members also identified impact flashes and their locations in an eclipse visualization. That establishes the content and context, not whether an annotation is embedded in an image file or stored separately.
Rank #2
The science record also includes crew descriptions of lunar geology, including impact craters and ancient lava flows, as well as observations of shapes, textures, and colors. Linking what crew members said with where they looked, the imagery, and their annotations can provide context beyond any one item. The exact machine-readable relationships and metadata fields are not established in the release announcement.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Health and radiation data
NASA describes crew members providing consistent health information to a data bank for future astronaut-health research. It also says equipment monitored radiation levels inside and outside Orion to characterize the deep-space environment. These descriptions confirm types of information collected; they do not identify the files’ extensions, field names, or export formats.
Does Artemis II use CCSDS for telemetry?
The available NASA material does not confirm a specific telemetry packet encoding for the public Artemis II science archive. NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation overview describes the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) as an international standards effort covering areas such as mission-operations data exchange, spacecraft onboard interfaces, space-link services, and cross-support for telemetry, tracking, and command. That explains the standards context for spacecraft-ground communications; it is not evidence that a particular CCSDS packet is the format of a public Artemis II science file.
NASA’s Space Launch System reference guide explains that vehicle flight data comes from sensors and measurements and groups instrumentation into operational flight, engineering flight, and developmental flight categories. These categories help explain why vehicle telemetry is collected—for operation, post-flight performance analysis, and engineering-model validation or improvement. They do not provide a file-level specification for the Artemis II lunar science release.
Rank #4
Are Artemis II images or measurements in FITS?
FITS, the Flexible Image Transport System, is a NASA-documented astronomy format for transporting, analyzing, and archiving scientific data. It can represent multidimensional arrays, tables, and descriptive header information. NASA’s cited FITS documentation describes Version 4.0 and was language-edited on August 13, 2018.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →FITS is useful background for understanding scientific data containers, but the Artemis II materials described here do not confirm that the mission’s released images, measurements, or telemetry use FITS. Do not infer FITS from the fact that a product is scientific; rely on the Artemis II Data User Guide or the actual archive labels for a file-specific identification.
Best Value
- ICONIC NASA MISSION DESIGNS: Includes 50 die-cut vinyl stickers featuring a detailed mix of historic NASA missions, spacecraft, planets, mission patches, space shuttles, astronauts, and iconic NASA logos inspired by real space exploration.
- PREMIUM VINYL WITH SHARP DIE-CUT FINISH: Printed on high-quality adhesive vinyl with clean die-cut edges for a smooth, professional look. Designed to maintain bold colors and detailed imagery on everyday surfaces.
- VERSATILE FOR SMOOTH SURFACES: Perfect for laptops, water bottles, tablets, notebooks, journals, scrapbooks, lockerss, mirrors, and other smooth, flat surfaces.
- OFFICIALLY LICENSED & IN-HOUSE DESIGNED: Officially licensed NASA artwork designed in-house, capturing the legacy, innovation, and exploration spirit behind NASA’s most recognized missions and programs.
- GREAT FOR COLLECTING & GIFTING: A visually rich sticker assortment for space enthusiasts and collectors—ideal for displaying, mixing, layering, or adding a space-themed touch to personal items and projects.
How to identify a specific file
- For a JSC collection image: open that image’s page and inspect Download Options. NASA says the default is a converted JPEG and that an original RAW file may be requested there if available.
- For an item in the PDS release: consult its archive label and the Artemis II Data User Guide. Those are the appropriate places to verify the product’s actual format, metadata, and processing details rather than extrapolating from another collection.
- For a telemetry or measurement product: distinguish the way data may be exchanged during a mission from the format of a file distributed to the public. A general standard such as CCSDS, or an astronomy container such as FITS, does not identify a particular archive file unless its documentation or label says so.
NASA’s report page lists the Data User Guide as published October 6, 2026. Exact extensions, schemas, metadata fields, and processing details should be taken from that guide and the relevant archive labels; they are not fully enumerated in the release announcement.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
