Are you going now? The NASA It will attempt for the second time to send the Artemis 1 mission to the Moon. The launch is scheduled for Saturday (3), at 15:17, and will be broadcast live.
The first attempt was made on Monday (29), but was thwarted by technical problems with the rocket, including a possible crack (which was later eliminated), a small leak of liquid hydrogen (fuel), and overheating of one of the RS rockets. -25 massive SLS (Space Launch System).
“We won’t launch until everything is OK,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at the time. He referred to the space shuttle program, whose first flight in 1981 was a success after being delayed four times. “It’s a complicated machine, a complex system. We won’t light the candle until you’re ready to go.”
Since then, engineers and observers have been analyzing the causes and handling failures. The space agency ensures that the rocket is ready and stable, and is positioned on Platform 39B of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), off the coast of Florida.
The mission is very symbolic for the United States, fifty years after the end of the famous Apollo program – in 1972, man set foot on the moon for the last time. So there will be wide coverage, with the live stream starting at 1:15pm.
Follow the NASA channel:
The transmission will continue throughout the lunar injection process (a maneuver to put the spacecraft on track to the Moon), until the Orion capsule is detached – which will travel alone to our satellite. Updates will be released constantly in the following hours, including the first views of Earth from space, captured by the capsule’s cameras, which will not have astronauts on board.
In the event the launch needs to be delayed again, either due to technical issues or interference with weather, the next launch window option is Monday (5). Remember, it’s the start of storm season in the area.
The strawberry giant moon was photographed in June behind the SLS, NASA’s most powerful rocket
Photo: Joe Skipper/Reuters
Artemis program
Artemis 1 is the first in a series of ambitious missions aimed at returning humans to the Moon – and eventually to Mars. There will be no people on this flight yet; It will be a great test “worthy” of the entire system, including the largest and most powerful rocket in NASA history, the SLS, and the new Orion capsule – where the crew will be in the future.
The voyage is expected to take 42 days, an experience with fire (sometimes literally) to operate the ship and its components, such as Solar Panels and heat shields, all the way to “dive” in the Pacific Ocean. Can it withstand the heat, high speed and radiation of space? Thus, its ability to reach our satellite and return to Earth safely will be tested for future crew members.
Simulation of the Orion capsule, with the Moon and Earth in the background
Photo: NASA
future
If all goes well, in 2024, the flight will be repeated with four astronauts on board. They will “only” make a ten-day flight, circling to the far side of the Moon, some 400,000 kilometers from Earth (the farthest distance in deep space that a human has ever traveled).
In 2025, finally, the goal is to “land” (landing on the moon) and land the crew at the South Pole, a different and more challenging location than the sites visited during the Apollo program. No one landed there, not even a robotic mission.
After 2034, if successful and with funding, the next stage of the Artemis program is to install the “Lunar Gateway”, which will orbit our satellite and serve as an important support point (a miniature space station). In partnership with other agencies and private companies, NASA also intends to establish a permanent base on Earth.
The goal is for the entire architecture and experience to also allow for manned flights to Mars, tentatively planned for the late 2030s. Our satellite will serve as a refueling stop on this long journey.
The first time this man was on the moon was in 1969, in the famous Apollo 11 spacecraft, by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Twelve different people walked on the moon until Apollo 17, the last manned mission, in 1972.
Edward Langley is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developing stories. His work highlights issues, trends and events that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and accessible journalism.