The countdown for the Artemis II programme has already begun. The Kennedy Space Center in Florida is making the necessary arrangements for the launch. This is the first crewed mission which is going to take place in decades, and here’s everything you should know.
First Crewed Moon Mission
The Artemis II will mark a historic milestone under the NASA Artemis programme, which is also built on the uncrewed mission Artemis I in 2022. This mission will carry out the astronauts in a Space Launch System (SLS) in the Orion spacecraft.
Artemis II Duration
The Artemis II is going to be a 10-day mission, which will include astronauts Reid Wiseman (mission commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist). The launch time is expected to happen on April 1 at 6.24 PM. This mission is expected to cover almost 1,102,400 kilometres.
Orion’s First Crewed Mission
Orion’s spacecraft will serve as the transport module which will carry the crew during the Artemis missions to the moon and will bring them back safely to the Earth. Orion will be launched on NASA’s new heavy-lift rocket, AKA the Space Launch System (SLS).
What Will These Astronauts Do?
During the mission the astronauts will take control of the Orion spacecraft and will fly it manually around the moon and back. This test flight mission is under the Artemis campaign, giving the opportunity to test whether the spacecraft functions properly with astronauts onboard or not.
Preparation Before The Explorations
This mission will take place from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Before starting the trek, they will first run some experiments near the Earth for almost 2 days.
Stepping Into A Milestone
The Artemis II is not just a mission, but it will also set the foundation for future space exploration programmes. It will also make a path to any future mission like Artemis III, which will help NASA to achieve its long-term goal, like the exploration of Mars.
Watch The Launch Live
People who want to enjoy the launch of Artemis II on 1st April can view it through NASA’s YouTube channels and their official media platforms. NASA offers free streaming access to almost everyone.
