After a hiatus of 52 years, humanity is gearing up for a return to the moon with NASA’s Artemis program. Artemis II is set to mark a significant milestone as four astronauts, including Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Victor Glover, will embark on a mission to orbit the moon. The launch is currently scheduled for no earlier than Feb. 6.
Before the astronauts can embark on this historic journey, the rocket and spacecraft must undergo thorough checks. The massive 100-meter tall Space Launch System (SLS) is set to roll out on Saturday for preparations. John Honeycutt, the Artemis II mission management team chair, expressed excitement, emphasizing the historic nature of the upcoming mission.
The SLS and Orion spacecraft, where the astronauts will spend 10 days, have only been launched once for the uncrewed Artemis I mission around the moon in 2022. Now, they are poised to carry human passengers. Although the four astronauts will not land on the lunar surface, they will engage in lunar surveillance, experiments, and spacecraft testing in readiness for Artemis III, where astronauts are slated to walk on the moon, with a launch no earlier than 2028.
The upcoming rollout of the rocket is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET on Saturday, with an estimated travel time of eight to 12 hours for the five million-kilogram rocket to reach the launch pad. Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, explained the intricate process involved, including the retraction of the crew access arm before the rocket’s connections are completed.
Following the rollout, preparations will continue, leading up to the wet dress rehearsal where the rocket will be fueled as if for launch. This crucial practice run ensures that all systems are primed for a successful launch. Blackwell-Thompson highlighted the lessons learned from Artemis I, emphasizing the meticulous preparation required for each launch attempt.