We might just be a few months away from watching humans launch to the Moon. NASA‘s next crewed lunar mission – Artemis 2 – is reportedly set for launch in February 2026, sooner than the previous target in April. While none of the four astronauts on this mission will land on the Moon, their trip around it will test critical technologies both on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
The Artemis 2 mission
Artemis 2 is the second lunar mission of NASA’s Artemis Program. Having tested the SLS rocket’s performance during Artemis 1 in November 2022, Artemis 2 will focus on validating Orion’s systems in actual deep space environment with humans onboard.
The crew members are commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and two mission specialists – Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Artemis 2 will prove that Orion’s life support systems are reliable and robust for long duration missions while allowing the crew to practice essential operations in microgravity. It will be the first crew mission launching to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972 and includes the first female astronaut selected for a lunar trip.
The Orion spacecraft encountered some issues like communication blackouts during Artemis 1 and its heatshield got damaged more than expected during re-entry. Since then, NASA has worked to fill the gaps and make Orion human rated.
The launch and the journey
Artemis 2 will launch atop the SLS from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the rocket’s upper stage, while still attached to Orion, will circle the Earth twice. This is to ensure the spacecraft’s systems are working as expected before they escape Earth’s orbit.
The first orbit (an ellipse about 185 km X 2,253 km) will last 90 minutes and the second orbit, a larger one, will take approximately 23.5 hours (altitude 185 km X 74,030 km). The second orbital manoeuvre will enable Orion to achieve enough speed to fly toward the Moon. During the initial stages, the crew will test Orion’s hardware and software performance after it separates from SLS rocket’s upper stage. This will prepare NASA for critical rendezvous, proximity operations and docking, as well as undocking operations in lunar orbit during Artemis 3.
After the proximity operations demonstrations, the crew will handover Orion’s control to mission controllers at the Johnson Space Center, remove their spacesuits and spend the rest of the mission in plain clothes. They will don the spacesuits again during re-entry. On their way to the Moon, the astronauts will assess Orion’s life support systems that generate breathable air and remove carbon dioxide and water vapour from the capsule when the crew is awake and asleep.
ALSO READ: What Are Interstellar Comets And What Makes Them Special?
“A change between the suit mode and cabin mode in the life support system, as well as performance of the system during exercise and sleep periods, will confirm the full range of life support system capabilities and ensure readiness for the lunar flyby portion of the mission,” NASA stated. Orion’s communication and navigation systems will also be tested in Earth orbit and when it briefly flies beyond GPS satellites’ range to allow an early checkout of NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN). The DSN is what mission controllers will rely on to communicate with the crew when it’s near and around the Moon.
Orion will then finally perform a translunar injection burn that will send the crew on a 4-day outbound lunar journey. Artemis 2 flight director Jeff Radigan said per BBC, “They’re going at least 5,000 nautical miles (9,200km) past the Moon which is much higher than previous missions have gone.”
The way back home
The return journey will also take about four days and the entire mission will last 10 days. On the way back, NASA says Orion will follow a fuel-efficient trajectory as it will be pulled naturally by Earth’s gravity instead of relying on propulsion. The spacecraft will then re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and use its parachute system for a safe splashdown in the ocean.
Artemis 2 will set the stage for Artemis 3, the landing mission, which is targeted for 2027. However, there are concerns about delays due to slow development of SpaceX‘s Starship which will take astronauts to the lunar surface.
ALSO READ: NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission Is Off To Mars. What Happens Next?
