NASA's most awaited moon mission, Artemis 1, is finally on its journey towards launch.
After numerous years of working to get back to the moon, NASA is finally close to landing the new rocket and the spacecraft they have designed and developed for years.
NASA's mission to take humanity back to the moon, since the Apollo mission, is called Artemis.
It seemed fitting for the space agency to call this new generation of lunar missions Artemis, since in Greek mythology, Artemis is the Goddess of the moon, and also the twin sister of Apollo.
The Artemis moon mission also aims to build a long-term presence on and around the lunar surface.
As of writing, after an almost 10-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building, Artemis's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft had arrived atop the Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Artemis 1 Launch Date
The launch of Artemis 1 is scheduled for the 29th of August. Since both the rocket and the spacecraft have already been transported to the launch pad, the next several days will be spent by engineers and technicians configuring the launch pad's equipment in preparation for the mission.
Within the next few days, engineers and technicians will configure the equipment at the pad in preparation for the launch, which is currently scheduled to occur no sooner than on August 29th.
The NASA team has been hard at work improving operations and procedures, incorporating lessons learned from the wet dress rehearsal test campaign, and updating the launch timeframe to reflect these changes.
However, there is also another backup launch that is set for September 2 and 5.
Artemis I
The duration of Artemis 1's absence is estimated to be between 26 and 42 days. It will take between one and two weeks to get to the moon, where Orion will make a close approach to the surface of the moon in order to acquire a gravitational boost that will allow it to begin what is known as a far retrograde orbit.
The Orion spacecraft will be launched by NASA's rocket around the moon and back in an effort to test the Orion module, SLS rocket, and ground systems at the Kennedy Space Center.
Artemis 1 Passengers
Artemis 1 is an uncrewed lunar mission. However, the first Artemis flight will carry a few mannequins to deep space.
The mannequins will be secured in place, but it is also necessary to conduct tests in a weightless environment.
Commander Moonkin Campos will be along for the ride to the moon. Moonkin Campos was named after Arturo Campus, an electrical engineer who was an integral part of the Apollo 13 mission and was responsible for its successful and safe return to Earth.
The Orion Crew Survival System is a unique suit that was intended to help defend against the harmful effects of radiation.
Campos will also be accompanied by two virtual female astronauts who will take up the remaining seats on the Orion spacecraft, named Zohar and Helga. Additionally, the flight will also bring the famous character named Shaun the Sheep.
Orion Spacecraft
Orion is expected to remain in that orbit for somewhere between six and 19 days. After that, it will make another pass toward the moon in order to receive another kick that will assist in powering its nine to nineteen-day voyage back to Earth.
In terms of its capabilities, the Orion service module will be equivalent to the lunar modules. The propulsion is essentially the same.
It is quite identical to the time of the Apollo missions, but with the passage of a half-century and the progression of technology, various advances have been made.
This time around, the enormous computers aboard the spacecraft are able to undertake much of the heavy lifting for the crew.
Gateway
Aside from reaching the lunar surface, another technology that NASA is aiming to put on the moon is the Gateway.
According to NASA, the Gateway Program is currently working to construct a miniature space station that will be tended by humans and placed in lunar orbit. This station will provide extensive support for the Artemis mission being conducted by the agency.
The docking ports for a range of incoming spacecraft are part of Gateway's capabilities for sustaining prolonged exploration and study in deep space, which were developed through international and commercial partnerships.
In addition to providing a place for crew members to live and work, the Gateway hosts onboard scientific investigations that look into a variety of topics, including heliophysics, human health, and life sciences.
It is possible that Gateway will be ready as early as November 2024, and its lifespan is expected to be 15 years.
The First Woman on the Moon
This accomplishment has only been accomplished by a dozen astronauts to this point, and they have all been white men. The illustrious list of people who have walked on the moon will soon be joined by the first female astronaut as well as the first person of color to do so.
Artemis 2
Artemis II is the first crewed mission in NASA's Artemis series of lunar expeditions.The initial component of the rocket has arrived in Florida in preparation for the Artemis II mission.
According to NASA, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage that will be used in the second launch of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket arrived in Florida for the last phase of manufacturing.
The stage and its single RL10 engine are responsible for providing the in-space propulsion that is required to propel NASA's Orion spacecraft and its crew on a precise trajectory to the Moon for the Artemis II mission.
Artemis 3
The third and final stage of NASA's Artemis mission to the moon is now in progress. This time, with the assistance of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, it will land astronauts on the moon, namely in the region close to the lunar south pole. This historic mission is anticipated to take place in 2025 or 2026.
CubeSats
Artemis also has another purpose on the moon. It is assigned to deploy 10 tiny CubeSats that are hitch-hiking aboard Artemis 1.
The spacecraft will carry 10 secondary payloads. These payloads carry scientific experiments that will soon be conducted on the moon.
The CubeSats will be deployed following Orion's separation from the upper stage once Orion is a safe distance away.
The BioSentinel Experiment
Another experiment that has been confirmed to belong to one of the 10 secondary payloads is the BioSentinel experiment.
The experiment will study what happens inside the bodies of the astronauts as they get exposed to deep space radiation. It will investigate the harm and threats in the body which will then help the scientists find solutions ahead of time to prevent any danger.
