NASA has relocated the mobile launch tower for the crewed Artemis 2 mission to Launchpad 39B at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. This mission marks the first human voyage near the Moon since 1972. Artemis 2, the second planned flight in the Artemis program, will employ the Space Launch System (SLS) mega-rocket and Orion spacecraft. Four astronauts, including one from the Canadian Space Agency, will orbit the Moon before returning.
The mission aims to assess the Artemis program’s readiness for lunar surface missions, gathering crucial data on crew performance. The overarching Artemis program readies for Moon landings and Mars exploration.
What to study for prelims?
- Artemis Program: NASA’s initiative to reintroduce astronauts to the Moon, setting the stage for future Mars missions. It focuses on diverse lunar exploration and includes constructing the Lunar Gateway space station around the Moon for orbital operations.
- Space Launch System (SLS): A powerful rocket developed by NASA, intended to propel missions like Artemis 2. It will facilitate crewed lunar flights and deep-space missions.
- Orion Spacecraft: NASA’s spacecraft designed for crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. It will play a pivotal role in the Artemis program, enabling human travel to lunar vicinity and potentially Mars.
- Lunar Gateway: A space station planned to orbit the Moon, serving as a hub for scientific research, technology testing, and launching missions to the lunar surface and beyond.
- Artemis I: The inaugural flight of the Artemis program, Artemis I, was an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft launched on the SLS rocket on November 16, 2022. It marked a crucial step toward human lunar exploration and Mars ambitions.