In a momentous step for space exploration, NASA has announced plans to launch its Artemis II mission in early March 2024, marking the first time in over half a century that humans will orbit the Moon. This ambitious endeavour promises to take astronauts on a ten-day journey around the Moon, paving the way for future lunar exploration, including a potential landing.
Countdown to Launch
NASA has set March 6, 2024, as the earliest possible launch date, coinciding with the early hours of March 7 in the UK. This decision follows a successful “wet dress rehearsal” at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was fully fuelled and put through its countdown procedures.
This rehearsal came on the heels of an earlier attempt in February that was cut short due to a hydrogen fuel leak. However, Lori Glaze, the director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, expressed her optimism, stating, “The excitement for Artemis II is really, really starting to build. We can really start to feel it. It’s coming.”
Meet the Artemis II Crew
The crew for this historic mission comprises four astronauts: Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Jeremy Hansen. Following the successful rehearsal, the astronauts will enter a period of quarantine to prepare for their journey. They will board the SLS, a towering 98-metre (322-foot) rocket, which has flown only once before during the uncrewed Artemis I mission in November 2022.
The astronauts will travel in the Orion capsule, which is roughly the size of a minibus, where they will live, work, and sleep throughout the mission. The first day will be spent in low Earth orbit before the crew embarks on their four-day journey to the Moon. This leg of the mission will take them around the far side of the Moon—an area that remains unseen from our planet.
An Unprecedented Lunar Voyage
During their flyby, the astronauts will reach an altitude of approximately 6,500 to 9,500 kilometres (4,000 to 6,000 miles) above the Moon’s surface. They will dedicate several hours to gathering scientific data and capturing images of the lunar landscape. After completing their flyby, the crew will embark on the return journey to Earth, concluding with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis II mission is pivotal as it sets the stage for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2028—the first such mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The road to this goal is fraught with challenges. SpaceX has been contracted to develop the lunar lander for Artemis III, although delays with the Starship rocket have prompted NASA to seek a revised and expedited plan from the company.
The Race for Lunar Exploration
In the competitive arena of lunar exploration, NASA is not alone. China aims to accomplish a lunar landing by 2030, focusing on the south pole of the Moon—a region both nations are eyeing for potential base operations. The growing rivalry between the United States and China adds an urgent dimension to NASA’s lunar aspirations, pushing the agency to expedite its plans and ensure that it remains at the forefront of space exploration.
Why it Matters
The Artemis II mission is more than just a journey around the Moon; it is a critical step towards humanity’s return to the lunar surface and beyond. As nations vie for dominance in space, the outcomes of these missions will not only shape our understanding of the Moon but also establish a foundation for future interplanetary exploration. The excitement surrounding Artemis II encapsulates a renewed commitment to push the boundaries of human achievement, exploring the cosmos in ways previous generations could only dream of.
