For the first time in over half a century, people will fly to the Moon again
In February, NASA plans to launch the Artemis II mission, in which four astronauts will embark on a journey around the Moon. This will be the first human flight beyond low Earth orbit since the completion of the Apollo program in 1972.
Artemis II mission crew. Photo: NASA
The four-astronaut mission will test the Orion spacecraft in deep space conditions and prepare for a landing on the Moon's south pole by the end of the decade, writes ixbt.com.
The crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch from NASA, as well as Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.
The Artemis II mission is designed to test the systems and components of the Orion spacecraft. Astronauts will perform a lunar flyby along a trajectory that will allow them to return to Earth even in the event of an engine failure. Unlike the Apollo missions, Artemis II will not enter a low lunar orbit, but will perform a wide circumlunar flyby.
The Artemis II flight also has geopolitical significance, as it is seen as a response to the rapid development of China's space program. The mission will be an important step towards landing astronauts in the region of the Moon's south pole, planned for the end of this decade.
During the 45-minute period of closest approach to the Moon, the spacecraft will lose communication with Earth. "I'd be thrilled if the entire world – all 8 billion people… could get together and just hope and pray that we get the signal back," said Glover.
In addition to technical tests, Artemis II will conduct a series of scientific studies. Astronauts will assess their cognitive state, sleep, stress levels, immune response, and cardiovascular health. Chips with human organ tissues will also be on board to study the effects of deep space on the body. The crew will analyze and photograph geological features of the lunar surface, such as impact craters and ancient lava flows.
The mission will take place on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft. After reaching the specified trajectory, Orion will separate from the SLS upper stage and begin its independent flight. Orion will cover 385,400 kilometers between Earth and the Moon. At this distance, astronauts will face higher levels of radiation than on the ISS.
Special attention has been paid to the Orion spacecraft's heat shield, which protects it from extreme heat upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. During the Artemis I test flight in 2022, damage was detected on the shield, and NASA carried out work to address the problem.
Artemis II will be an important step towards establishing a permanent lunar settlement where astronauts can work and train, preparing for even more complex missions, such as a flight to Mars.
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