science
Artemis II Mission on Looping Path Around the Moon
Artemis II, a NASA-led mission, has entered a looping trajectory that will take its crew around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth. The mission is part of the broader Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface. The BBC reported this development as the next phase in the crew's journey.
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Artemis II is a crewed mission under NASA's Artemis program, designed to send astronauts on a flight around the Moon. The mission launched on November 16, 2024, with a four-person crew including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
The BBC reported that the spacecraft is now on a looping path, marking a key milestone in lunar exploration efforts.
The looping path involves the Orion spacecraft traveling around the far side of the Moon, a region that is not visible from Earth, before returning on a free return trajectory. This path ensures the crew can safely orbit the Moon without landing, testing systems for future missions.
According to the BBC, this maneuver began after the spacecraft entered lunar orbit, with the crew expected to complete the loop in approximately 10 days.
The Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, with Artemis II serving as a test of the Orion spacecraft's capabilities for deep space travel. Key stakeholders include NASA, international partners like the European Space Agency, and private companies such as Lockheed Martin, which built the Orion capsule.
The mission's success could pave the way for Artemis III, which plans to land astronauts on the lunar south pole as early as 2026.
The crew and mission control teams at NASA's Johnson Space Center are monitoring the spacecraft's systems, including life support and propulsion, to ensure safe operations. Potential risks include communication blackouts during the far side passage, as direct contact with Earth will be lost.
The BBC reported that the mission includes scientific experiments to gather data on radiation exposure and spacecraft performance in deep space.
Following the completion of the looping path, the crew will re-enter Earth's atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean, with recovery operations handled by NASA teams. This phase will provide valuable data for refining future Artemis missions, including those involving lunar landings and potential Mars explorations.
