Bemannte Mondmission Artemis-2: NASA-Riesenrakete vor ihrem Weg zur Startrampe
In February, after 53 years, humans could launch to the moon again for the first time. NASA is now beginning the final necessary preparations for Artemis-2.
The prepared giant rocket SLS in the Vehicle Assembly Building
(Image: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA wants to bring the rocket, with which humans are to fly to the moon for the first time in more than 53 years in less than a month, to its launch site for the first time this weekend. The US space agency announced this and at the same time explained what still needs to happen for the Artemis-2 mission to launch no earlier than February 6. For example, it must be tested at the end of the month whether more than 2.6 million liters of liquid fuel can actually be filled into the rocket. If necessary, the rocket can then be brought back to the huge assembly hall. Otherwise, it could be determined that the rocket and spacecraft are ready for launch.
The final preparations for the historic flight could begin next Saturday, NASA writes. The transport of the giant rocket SLS (Space Launch System) with the Orion space capsule to launch pad 39B of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida alone will take up to twelve hours. There, a long checklist will be immediately processed before the crew will complete a final walkthrough. At the end of the month, the dress rehearsal for refueling, the “wet dress rehearsal,” will take place, during which it will be tested in several runs whether the process can be stopped and resumed at any time. Only when everything has proceeded to the satisfaction of those responsible can flight readiness be certified.
The Return to the Moon
The launch window for Artemis-2 opens on February 6. For the rocket to actually take off by then, everything must have gone smoothly. The mission could then launch by February 11, with the next opportunity between March 6 and 11, and again later in early April. However, the weather would also have to be right. Due to the special requirements for manned flight to the moon, other parameters would also have to be correct, such as the position of the Earth's moon in relation to the Earth. The exact time of day is also important so that the solar panels of the spacecraft receive enough sunlight.
Videos by heise
So, a lot still needs to go well before humans can actually fly to the moon again. The Artemis-2 crew consists of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch from NASA, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen. On their ten-day flight, they will first orbit the Earth and then accelerate towards the Earth's moon, with four days allocated for the flight there. The Orion capsule will then orbit the moon at a distance of 4,700 kilometers, taking the four further from Earth than any human has before. Four days are planned for the return flight. If everything works out, on the follow-up mission Artemis-3, humans will reach the surface of the moon – this is currently planned for 2028.
(mho)
