NASA has confirmed that it is going to be heading again to the moon early subsequent yr, asserting that the uncrewed Artemis I mission will launch in February 2022.
This week, the company accomplished the stacking of its Orion spacecraft on the Area Launch System, the world’s strongest rocket. The Orion craft was lifted onto the rocket and secured in place, and now testing can start forward of the launch subsequent yr.
“It’s laborious to place into phrases what this milestone means, not solely to us right here at Exploration Floor Techniques, however to all of the extremely proficient individuals who have labored so laborious to assist us get thus far,” mentioned Mike Bolger, Exploration Floor Techniques program supervisor, in a statement. “Our workforce has demonstrated super dedication getting ready for the launch of Artemis I. Whereas there may be nonetheless work to be completed to get to launch, with continued built-in assessments and Moist Gown Rehearsal, seeing the totally stacked SLS is actually a reward for all of us.”
The testing consists of 5 separate take a look at campaigns, overlaying the interfaces between totally different spacecraft techniques, checking particular techniques just like the booster thrust management, testing communications between the spacecraft and the bottom, testing the countdown to launch system, and at last a “moist costume rehearsal.” On the moist costume rehearsal, gas is loaded into the rocket as it could be for the actual launch and the rocket is rolled out to the launch pad to apply the launch countdown. When the countdown is accomplished, the gas is eliminated as apply within the occasion the launch is scrubbed on the final minute.
The Artemis 1 mission will see Orion launched from Earth on a path towards the moon, touring for a number of days throughout which period engineers on the bottom can examine techniques like navigation and communication. It’s going to fly 62 miles above the floor of the moon, then use the moon’s gravity to maneuver into orbit for six days, gathering knowledge earlier than returning to Earth.
The concept is to check out rockets and techniques forward of a crewed mission to orbit the moon, referred to as Artemis II, adopted by a crewed touchdown on the moon, referred to as Artemis III.
Editors’ Suggestions