Source: IE
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: NASA is set to launch the Artemis II mission on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, marking the first time humans will venture to the Moon’s neighbourhood since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
About Artemis II Mission:
What It Is?
- Artemis II is the first crewed mission under NASA’s Artemis program. It is a test-ride mission designed to fly a crew of four astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth without landing on the lunar surface.
Organisation Involved: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Timeline & Current Status
- Debut of Systems: The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft first debuted during the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022.
- Artemis II Launch: Scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Aim: The primary objective is to test and validate the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems with a crew on board. It serves as a foundational step for deeper space exploration and future lunar landings.
How It Works?
- Launch: The mission uses the SLS rocket, the most powerful launch vehicle currently available to NASA.
- Earth Orbits: The Orion spacecraft will complete two rounds of the Earth to gain necessary velocity and test systems before departing for the Moon.
- Lunar Transit: It will take three to four days to reach the Moon’s neighborhood, following a quicker, high-power trajectory similar to the Apollo missions.
- Lunar Flyby: Orion will circle the Moon, reaching a distance of approximately 6,500 km from the far side of the lunar surface.
- Return: After the flyby, the spacecraft will embark on a return journey, concluding the 10-day mission with a splashdown on Earth.
Key Features:
- Crewed Debut: This is the first time the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft are being used to carry human astronauts.
- Powerful Propulsion: Unlike fuel-efficient uncrewed missions (like Chandrayaan-3) that take weeks, Artemis II uses a powerful SLS rocket to reach the Moon in just a few days.
- Deep Space Trajectory: The spacecraft will travel farther into space than any previous human mission, exceeding the 110 km altitude reached by Apollo missions on the far side of the Moon.
Significance:
- It represents the first human return to the lunar vicinity in over five decades.
- By reaching 6,500 km from the Moon’s far side, the crew will venture farther into space than humans have ever gone before.
