In a monumental leap forward for space exploration, NASA is preparing to launch the Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed flight under the Artemis program. This critical mission will see astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, venturing into the vastness of deep space to ensure that all systems function correctly and safely with humans on board. The overarching goal of the Artemis program is to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic gains, and lay the groundwork for future manned missions to Mars, all for the advancement of humanity.
The Artemis II mission represents a significant step forward from its predecessor, the uncrewed Artemis I flight. It aims to demonstrate the extensive capabilities of both the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft, which are essential for deep space missions. The mission will test critical life support systems on Orion, ensuring they are prepared to sustain astronauts on longer missions, and provide the crew with the opportunity to practice operations that will be vital for the success of Artemis III and beyond.
### Leaving Earth
The mission is set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, utilizing a Block 1 configuration of the SLS rocket. The crew, comprising NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will embark on this historic journey. Initially, Orion will perform a series of maneuvers to elevate its orbit around Earth, eventually placing the crew on a lunar free return trajectory. This trajectory allows Earth’s gravity to naturally bring Orion back after its lunar flyby.
The launch sequence will mirror that of Artemis I, where the SLS will propel Orion into space and subsequently jettison the boosters, service module panels, and the launch abort system. Once the core stage engines complete their burn, the core stage will separate from the upper stage and the spacecraft. With astronauts aboard this mission, Orion and the upper stage, known as the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), will orbit Earth twice. This orbiting phase serves to verify Orion’s systems while still within close proximity to Earth.
Initially, the spacecraft will reach an elliptical orbit with an altitude ranging from about 115 to 1,400 miles, lasting over 90 minutes. The ICPS will conduct its first firing to maintain this path. Following this, the ICPS will elevate Orion into a high-Earth orbit, a crucial maneuver for building up the speed needed for its journey toward the Moon. This second, larger orbit will take approximately 23.5 hours, with Orion traveling between 115 and 46,000 miles above Earth. For context, the International Space Station orbits Earth at a distance of roughly 250 miles.
Once Orion enters high-Earth orbit, it will separate from the upper stage, which will then serve one last purpose before re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. The crew will use it as a target for a proximity operations demonstration. This exercise will involve mission controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston closely monitoring Orion as the astronauts switch to manual control, piloting the spacecraft’s flight path and orientation. The crew will utilize onboard cameras and the views from Orion’s windows to align with the ICPS, approaching and retreating to assess Orion’s handling and related systems. This demonstration will provide invaluable data and experience, preparing for future critical operations like rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, slated for Artemis III.
### Checking Critical Systems
Post-proximity operations, control of Orion will revert to mission controllers, while the crew focuses on verifying spacecraft systems within the space environment. They will transition from their Orion Crew Survival System suits to plain clothes for the remainder of the mission, only donning their suits again for Earth re-entry and ocean recovery.
During this phase, the crew will evaluate the performance of life support systems crucial for maintaining breathable air and managing carbon dioxide and water vapor produced by the astronauts. The extended orbital period around Earth offers a prime opportunity to test these systems during various activity levels, from exercise to rest, ensuring they function across the full range of conditions. This includes switching between suit mode and cabin mode, which will confirm the system’s readiness for the lunar flyby.
Orion will also undergo checks on its communication and navigation systems to guarantee they are ready for the lunar journey. While still in Earth’s elliptical orbit, Orion will briefly fly beyond the reach of GPS satellites and NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, allowing an early assessment of the Deep Space Network’s capabilities. The Deep Space Network will play a crucial role in maintaining communication with astronauts, transmitting imagery back to Earth, and commanding the spacecraft during its lunar voyage.
Once the necessary system checks are completed, Orion will execute the next propulsion maneuver, known as the translunar injection (TLI) burn. While the ICPS performs most of the work to place Orion in high-Earth orbit, the service module will provide the final push needed to set Orion on its path to the Moon. The TLI burn will propel the crew on a four-day outbound trip around the far side of the Moon, creating a figure-eight trajectory extending over 230,000 miles from Earth before returning home.
### To the Moon and “Free” Ride Home
Throughout the remainder of the mission, astronauts will continue evaluating the spacecraft’s systems, practicing Earth departure and return operations, emergency procedures, and testing the radiation shelter, among other tasks. The Artemis II crew will travel approximately 4,600 miles beyond the Moon’s far side. From this vantage point, they will witness the Earth and Moon through Orion’s windows, with the Moon in the foreground and Earth nearly a quarter-million miles away.
The return trip, expected to last about four days, will bring the mission’s total duration to around 10 days. Rather than requiring propulsion for the return, this energy-efficient trajectory leverages the gravitational forces of Earth and the Moon. This ensures that after circling the Moon’s far side, Orion will naturally be brought back by Earth’s gravity in a ‘free return’ portion of the mission.
### Two Missions, Two Different Trajectories
Looking beyond Artemis II, NASA plans for Orion and its crew to return to the Moon, this time to witness history as astronauts walk on the lunar surface. Starting with Artemis III, missions will aim to establish lunar surface capabilities and construct the Gateway in lunar orbit.
Through the Artemis program, NASA endeavors to explore more of the Moon than ever before, establishing a lasting presence in deep space and paving the way for humanity’s future in the cosmos. For more information on the Artemis missions, visit NASA’s official website.
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