NASA has announced plans to launch its Artemis II mission in early March, marking humanity’s return to lunar exploration after more than half a century. This mission will see four astronauts embark on a daring 10-day journey around the Moon, setting the stage for future lunar landings and igniting excitement for a new era in space travel.
Countdown to Launch
The proposed launch date for Artemis II is set for March 6, with early morning lifts expected on March 7 in the UK. This timeline follows a successful “wet dress rehearsal” at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was filled with fuel and taken through a simulated countdown. This critical test is a significant milestone, especially after an earlier rehearsal was cut short due to a hydrogen fuel leak.
Lori Glaze, NASA’s Director of the Planetary Science Division, expressed enthusiasm during a recent press briefing, stating, “Every night I look up at the Moon and I see it and I get real excited because I can feel she’s calling us and we’re ready.” The palpable excitement among the Artemis team is now building momentum as the launch draws near.
Meet the Artemis II Crew
The crew for this historic mission comprises three American astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—alongside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Following the successful rehearsal, the crew will enter quarantine to prepare for the mission. They will board the Orion spacecraft, which sits atop the 98-metre-tall (322-foot) SLS rocket, a vehicle that has previously flown only once during the uncrewed Artemis I mission in November 2022.
The Orion capsule, comparable in size to a minibus, will serve as the astronauts’ home for the duration of their voyage. It is here that they will live, eat, work, and rest while they traverse the vastness of space.
The Journey Ahead
The mission will begin with a day spent in Earth’s orbit before the crew embarks on their lunar journey. If all systems function as expected, the astronauts will head towards the Moon, a journey that will take approximately four days. They will fly around the Moon’s far side, a region unseen from Earth, at an altitude of 6,500 to 9,500 kilometres (4,000 to 6,000 miles) above the lunar surface.
During their flyby, the astronauts will dedicate several hours to studying the Moon and capturing images, contributing invaluable data to our understanding of our celestial neighbour. Once they complete their orbit, they will return to Earth, concluding their mission with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Paving the Way for Future Exploration
Success in this mission is vital for NASA’s long-term goals, particularly the subsequent Artemis III mission, which hopes to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2028. The last time humans set foot on the Moon was during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. However, this timeline is ambitious, with challenges ahead.
NASA has contracted SpaceX to build the lunar lander for Artemis III, which will be launched aboard a SpaceX Starship rocket. However, delays in the Starship development have prompted NASA to seek a more streamlined approach to meet their ambitious deadlines. Additionally, the agency has reached out to Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, to propose accelerated plans for lunar exploration.
Why it Matters
The Artemis II mission represents a pivotal moment in space exploration, rekindling humanity’s ambitions for deep-space travel and lunar presence. As nations like China aim for their lunar landing by 2030, the pressure is on for the US to demonstrate leadership in space exploration. Artemis II is not just a mission; it is a statement of intent, showcasing technological prowess and the human spirit’s unyielding desire to explore the unknown. The race to the Moon is on, and its implications for science, technology, and international cooperation are profound, potentially reshaping our understanding of space and our place within it.
