In a groundbreaking announcement, NASA has set its sights on early March for the launch of Artemis II, marking humanity’s first crewed journey around the Moon in over five decades. This ambitious mission is poised to take four astronauts on a 10-day expedition that will not only explore the far side of the Moon but also lay the groundwork for future lunar landings.
Countdown to Launch
NASA has identified March 6 as the target launch date, with the countdown commencing in the early hours of March 7 in the UK. This milestone follows the successful completion of a crucial “wet dress rehearsal,” during which the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was fuelled and put through its countdown sequence. The Artemis team achieved this significant step on their second attempt at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after an earlier rehearsal was curtailed due to a hydrogen fuel leak.
Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, expressed her exhilaration 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 enthusiasm surrounding Artemis II is palpable, as the team prepares for what promises to be an extraordinary journey.
Meet the Artemis II Crew
The crew for this momentous mission consists of three American astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—alongside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Following the recent successful rehearsal, the astronauts are set to enter quarantine to ensure their health and safety ahead of the launch.
The crew will embark on their journey aboard the SLS, a towering 98-metre (322-foot) rocket that has only flown once before, during the uncrewed Artemis I mission in November 2022. The astronauts will reside in the Orion capsule, which is roughly the size of a minibus, where they will live, work, and rest during the mission.
The Journey Ahead
The mission will commence with the crew spending the first day in Earth’s orbit. Provided all systems function as planned, they will then journey towards the Moon, a voyage expected to take approximately four days. The astronauts will fly around the Moon’s far side, a region unseen from Earth, at altitudes ranging from 6,500 to 9,500 kilometres (4,000 to 6,000 miles) above its surface. During this phase, they will dedicate several hours to conducting observations and capturing images of the Moon’s landscape.
Once the lunar flyby is completed, the crew will initiate their return journey, culminating in a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Paving the Way for Future Lunar Exploration
If successful, Artemis II will set the stage for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA has ambitious plans to achieve this landing by 2028, though the timeline remains tight.
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has been contracted to develop the lunar lander for Artemis III, but delays with the Starship rocket have prompted NASA to request a revised strategy to expedite the return to the Moon. Additionally, the agency has approached Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, to propose an accelerated lunar plan.
As the space race heats up, the United States faces increasing pressure to re-establish its presence on the Moon, especially with China’s lunar ambitions set for 2030. Both nations are vying for advantageous positions at the Moon’s south pole, where they aim to establish permanent bases.
Why it Matters
The Artemis II mission represents a significant leap not only in human space exploration but also in international competition for lunar dominance. As nations rally their resources to reach the Moon, the outcomes of these missions could influence global power dynamics and inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers. This mission marks a vital step towards sustainable human presence on the Moon, expanding our horizons and igniting a renewed passion for exploration that could ultimately lead humanity beyond our celestial neighbour.
