Mark your calendars: NASA’s Artemis program to return to the Moon could launch its first uncrewed test flight as soon as August 29, the agency said Wednesday.
Artemis-1 is the first in a series of missions as the United States seeks to return humans to the Moon, build a sustained presence there, and use the lessons gained to plan a trip to Mars sometime in the 2030s.
NASA associate administrator Jim Free told reporters the first window of possible launch dates for the giant Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion crew capsule were August 29, September 2, and September 5.
The decision follows final checks on the ground at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida known as “wet dress rehearsals.”
The last of these tests, carried out in June, met 90 percent of the team’s goals, and on Wednesday Cliff Lanham, senior vehicle operations manager, said engineers have now replaced faulty seals that had caused a hydrogen leak on SLS during the final trial.
Artemis-1 is set to journey around the far side of the Moon in a mission lasting four to six weeks — longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking, before returning home faster and hotter than every vessel before.
It will also deploy a number of small satellites called CubeSats to perform experiments in space.
Artemis mission manager Mike Sarafin told reporters: “Our first and our primary objective is to demonstrate Orion’s heat shield in lunar reentry conditions.”
When the capsule returns from the Moon, it will be traveling about 24,500 miles an hour (39,400 kilometers per hour) and experience temperatures half as hot as the Sun outside its heat shield.
The second objective is to demonstrate the flight worthiness of the rocket and crew capsule as they perform all their maneuvers over the course of the mission.
Finally, NASA will look to successfully retrieve Orion after splashdown, and thoroughly inspect it.
Artemis-2 will be the first crewed test, flying around the Moon but not landing, while Artemis-3 will see the first woman and first person of color touch down on the lunar south pole.
Related Links
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more
|
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook – our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don’t have a paywall – with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution. |
||
|
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal |
 |
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only |
NASA delays VIPER lunar rover’s launch by one year
Washington DC (UPI) Jul 19, 2021
NASA is delaying a major moon mission as it continues testing the spacecraft that will deliver a rover to the lunar surface in search of water, ice and other potential resources, the agency announced Tuesday.
The launch of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, has been pushed back to November 2024, from its originally planned launch day of November 2023.
The yearlong delay will allow for additional testing of the Griffin lunar lander – built by Astrobotic of Pit … read more