At last, the Artemis I lunar mission lifted off. Artemis I’s launch was originally scheduled for August 29, but an engine problem forced the attempt to be scrapped — test No. 2 on September 2 was also a no-go, but lucky No. 3 appears to be a resounding success . However, with space missions, the future is never truly certain, and landing was really only the beginning of Artemis I’s journey. However, after years of delays and a lot of money, Artemis I’s star excursion began and the launch was a spectacle for the ages. Thousands at the Kennedy Space Center watched as Artemis A hit the sky. Keegan Barber/NASA Although the vehicle commissioned for this venture — officially named the Space Launch System and also known as the world’s most powerful rocket — didn’t take astronauts to the surface of the moon this time, Artemis I is somewhat of NASA’s gold. ticket to new adventures in space. Showing off the brilliant orange hue of its spray-insulated coating, Artemis I’s SLS helped carry instruments into lunar orbit that will soon gather vital information for the Artemis II mission, which will put humans into orbit around the lunar sphere . Artemis II will then pave the way for Artemis III, a 2025 mission that may finally add more boot prints to the gray ground, along with those captured decades ago by Apollo astronauts. And that’s just an overview of the first three steps of NASA’s Artemis odyssey. Ultimately, this program is poised to enable NASA to achieve exciting feats such as landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon, building a lunar base camp, building a spaceship in lunar orbit, connecting an off-world internet and even laying the groundwork for a future in which humanity settles on Mars. “When we think of Artemis, we focus a lot on the moon,” Reid Wiseman, chief astronaut at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, said at an Aug. 5 press conference. “But I just want everyone in the room and everyone watching to remember our sights are not on the moon. Our sights are squarely on Mars.” Earth’s moon is seen rising behind the SLS rocket with the Orion spacecraft. Aubrey Gemignani/NASA All things considered, Artemis I is such a big deal because the success of this mission will dictate the timeline for NASA’s sci-fi moon goals. You can think of Artemis I as an extremely high-stakes precursor to everything to come for American lunar exploration, building on everything that came before. Before blasting off into space, the SLS even sat for its big day at launch pad 39B, standing poetically where NASA’s Saturn V once stood for Apollo 10. Not only did Apollo 10 christen 39B, it also lit up the road to Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 and Buzz Aldrin’s historic landing on the glowing sphere (with Michael Collins patiently hovering in the Command Unit). “To all of us who look up at the moon, dreaming of the day when humanity returns to the lunar surface,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during a press conference, “kids, we’re here — we’re coming back. The journey begins with Artemis A’. Now let’s talk about some details of Artemis I.
Artemis and Apollo: How NASA’s SLS Moon rocket stacks up to Saturn V
See all photos
Artemis I 101
There are two main components of the Artemis I space probe: an apricot-colored SLS rocket and a conical, white spacecraft called Orion. Before launch, Orion topped the SLS like a castle tower. And inside Orion, there’s a lot going on. It is essentially the Artemis I cabin. Ultimately, the goal was for the superpowered SLS to propel Orion into lunar orbit. So far everything seems to be going well. Orion is on his way. NASA’s rendering of the Orion spacecraft leaving Earth’s orbit and heading into lunar orbit. NASA And during its journey, all the fun bric-a-brac will be christened the alien club, scientific mechanisms will detail what orbit looks like and feels like, and human mannequins will react to dangerous aspects of space travel, such as radiation absorption. for on-site evaluation. Once completed, Orion is expected to launch safely off the coast of San Diego. If you’re into the technical details, you can find a detailed look at the SLS launch sequence here. “Orion will venture farther than any human-built spacecraft has ever flown,” Nelson said. “And after its long test flight, Orion will return home faster and hotter than any spacecraft before. It will hit Earth’s atmosphere at 32 times the speed of sound.” That piece could be especially important if, as the agency hopes, the SLS and Orion plan supports future missions designed to one day reach Mars, and perhaps even deep space. According to Nelson, if Orion were to return to Earth from a Mars mission, it could reach speeds of about 36 times the speed of sound. Fortunately for us space watchers (yes, I meant not to say astrologers), Orion also has cameras installed so we can keep an eye on what’s going on as it pursues its mission. “We’re going to try to catch the East of Earth,” enthused Rick LaBrown, chief flight officer at the Johnson Space Center at a news conference. “This is an impressive picture.” Earthrise, taken during Apollo 8, the first crewed trip to the outskirts of the Moon. Bill Anders/NASA Even as Orion began its ascent from our planet, NASA began live-streaming its approach. “We plan to bring every single one of you during the mission,” Mike Sarafin, director of the Artemis mission, said during the press conference. “We will be sharing images from both the ground and the launch vehicle on the spacecraft throughout.” Screenshot of the Orion live stream broadcast at 12:51 p.m. ET on November 16. NASA
Okay, I’m on the edge of my seat. But what comes next?
Considering how much I write about the moon, I’ve often wondered what might have happened if NASA had continued with the Apollo program – unhindered by Cold War tensions and budget cuts. Could there have been an international space station orbiting the moon? Maybe there were lunar settlements? Or could astronauts ride from crater to crater on ATVs? Well, in a way, we might be about to find out. Artemis kind of picks up where her Greek-speaking twin, Apollo, left off. (Apollo was a god, Artemis a goddess.) “This is now the generation of Artemis,” Nelson said. I mean, assuming everything goes according to all Artemis stages, here’s a few things to look forward to over the next decade or so. (Okay, but to reiterate, a lot has to go into planning for any of this to happen.) The Lunar Gateway With the help of international space agencies from at least 18 other countries, NASA signed the Artemis Accords, which basically outline the principles needed for peaceful space cooperation. Part of this agreement gave rise to an idea called a lunar portal. The Lunar Gateway is a planned small space station that will sit in lunar orbit and serve as a solar-powered communications hub, a science lab, a housing unit for astronauts, a rover or robot detention center, and other such things. It’s like a moon ISS. A complete view of the Lunar Gate, including input from international collaborators. Built with commercial and international partners, Gateway will be critical to sustainable lunar exploration and serve as a model for future missions to Mars, NASA says. Alberto Bertolin/NASA Already, in fact, NASA has sent a satellite the size of a microwave oven named…
title: “What Is Artemis I Breaking Down The Major Moon Mission Nasa Has Just Launched " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-08” author: “Alfred Ching”
At last, the Artemis I lunar mission lifted off. Artemis I’s launch was originally scheduled for August 29, but an engine problem forced the attempt to be scrapped — test No. 2 on September 2 was also a no-go, but lucky No. 3 appears to be a resounding success . However, with space missions, the future is never truly certain, and landing was really only the beginning of Artemis I’s journey. However, after years of delays and a lot of money, Artemis I’s star excursion began and the launch was a spectacle for the ages. Thousands at the Kennedy Space Center watched as Artemis A hit the sky. Keegan Barber/NASA Although the vehicle commissioned for this venture — officially named the Space Launch System and also known as the world’s most powerful rocket — didn’t take astronauts to the surface of the moon this time, Artemis I is somewhat of NASA’s gold. ticket to new adventures in space. Showing off the brilliant orange hue of its spray-insulated coating, Artemis I’s SLS helped carry instruments into lunar orbit that will soon gather vital information for the Artemis II mission, which will put humans into orbit around the lunar sphere . Artemis II will then pave the way for Artemis III, a 2025 mission that may finally add more boot prints to the gray ground, along with those captured decades ago by Apollo astronauts. And that’s just an overview of the first three steps of NASA’s Artemis odyssey. Ultimately, this program is poised to enable NASA to achieve exciting feats such as landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon, building a lunar base camp, building a spaceship in lunar orbit, connecting an off-world internet and even laying the groundwork for a future in which humanity settles on Mars. “When we think of Artemis, we focus a lot on the moon,” Reid Wiseman, chief astronaut at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, said at an Aug. 5 press conference. “But I just want everyone in the room and everyone watching to remember our sights are not on the moon. Our sights are squarely on Mars.” Earth’s moon is seen rising behind the SLS rocket with the Orion spacecraft. Aubrey Gemignani/NASA All things considered, Artemis I is such a big deal because the success of this mission will dictate the timeline for NASA’s sci-fi moon goals. You can think of Artemis I as an extremely high-stakes precursor to everything to come for American lunar exploration, building on everything that came before. Before blasting off into space, the SLS even sat for its big day at launch pad 39B, standing poetically where NASA’s Saturn V once stood for Apollo 10. Not only did Apollo 10 christen 39B, it also lit up the road to Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 and Buzz Aldrin’s historic landing on the glowing sphere (with Michael Collins patiently hovering in the Command Unit). “To all of us who look up at the moon, dreaming of the day when humanity returns to the lunar surface,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during a press conference, “kids, we’re here — we’re coming back. The journey begins with Artemis A’. Now let’s talk about some details of Artemis I.
Artemis and Apollo: How NASA’s SLS Moon rocket stacks up to Saturn V
See all photos
Artemis I 101
There are two main components of the Artemis I space probe: an apricot-colored SLS rocket and a conical, white spacecraft called Orion. Before launch, Orion topped the SLS like a castle tower. And inside Orion, there’s a lot going on. It is essentially the Artemis I cabin. Ultimately, the goal was for the superpowered SLS to propel Orion into lunar orbit. So far everything seems to be going well. Orion is on his way. NASA’s rendering of the Orion spacecraft leaving Earth’s orbit and heading into lunar orbit. NASA And during its journey, all the fun bric-a-brac will be christened the alien club, scientific mechanisms will detail what orbit looks like and feels like, and human mannequins will react to dangerous aspects of space travel, such as radiation absorption. for on-site evaluation. Once completed, Orion is expected to launch safely off the coast of San Diego. If you’re into the technical details, you can find a detailed look at the SLS launch sequence here. “Orion will venture farther than any human-built spacecraft has ever flown,” Nelson said. “And after its long test flight, Orion will return home faster and hotter than any spacecraft before. It will hit Earth’s atmosphere at 32 times the speed of sound.” That piece could be especially important if, as the agency hopes, the SLS and Orion plan supports future missions designed to one day reach Mars, and perhaps even deep space. According to Nelson, if Orion were to return to Earth from a Mars mission, it could reach speeds of about 36 times the speed of sound. Fortunately for us space watchers (yes, I meant not to say astrologers), Orion also has cameras installed so we can keep an eye on what’s going on as it pursues its mission. “We’re going to try to catch the East of Earth,” enthused Rick LaBrown, chief flight officer at the Johnson Space Center at a news conference. “This is an impressive picture.” Earthrise, taken during Apollo 8, the first crewed trip to the outskirts of the Moon. Bill Anders/NASA Even as Orion began its ascent from our planet, NASA began live-streaming its approach. “We plan to bring every single one of you during the mission,” Mike Sarafin, director of the Artemis mission, said during the press conference. “We will be sharing images from both the ground and the launch vehicle on the spacecraft throughout.” Screenshot of the Orion live stream broadcast at 12:51 p.m. ET on November 16. NASA
Okay, I’m on the edge of my seat. But what comes next?
Considering how much I write about the moon, I’ve often wondered what might have happened if NASA had continued with the Apollo program – unhindered by Cold War tensions and budget cuts. Could there have been an international space station orbiting the moon? Maybe there were lunar settlements? Or could astronauts ride from crater to crater on ATVs? Well, in a way, we might be about to find out. Artemis kind of picks up where her Greek-speaking twin, Apollo, left off. (Apollo was a god, Artemis a goddess.) “This is now the generation of Artemis,” Nelson said. I mean, assuming everything goes according to all Artemis stages, here’s a few things to look forward to over the next decade or so. (Okay, but to reiterate, a lot has to go into planning for any of this to happen.) The Lunar Gateway With the help of international space agencies from at least 18 other countries, NASA signed the Artemis Accords, which basically outline the principles needed for peaceful space cooperation. Part of this agreement gave rise to an idea called a lunar portal. The Lunar Gateway is a planned small space station that will sit in lunar orbit and serve as a solar-powered communications hub, a science lab, a housing unit for astronauts, a rover or robot detention center, and other such things. It’s like a moon ISS. A complete view of the Lunar Gate, including input from international collaborators. Built with commercial and international partners, Gateway will be critical to sustainable lunar exploration and serve as a model for future missions to Mars, NASA says. Alberto Bertolin/NASA Already, in fact, NASA has sent a satellite the size of a microwave oven named…
