In the quiet hours of this morning and during the night in the states, NASA launched the next step into the exploration of Space; the Artemis mission. Previously delayed three times, due to launchpad problems and a hurricane, the massive rocket finally left for the Moon around 6.30 this morning, following a slight delay.
The Orion Capsule successfully separated an hour later and began its move towards a trans-lunar injection trajectory and the 18 minute engine burn started it on its way.
It will take a few weeks to reach lunar orbit, when it will circle the moon, just 60 miles above the surface. As the initial test phase of the programme is unmanned, the spacecraft is loaded with cameras to gather photographic data en route.
The Artemis Missions will hopefully land man on the moon again on the third trip, Artemis 3, sometime in 2025, with Artemis 2 being a manned circumlunar mission. Despite the almost commonplace nature of NASA launches lately, it was quite exciting still to sit on the edge of the bed this morning, in my pyjamas, watching history being made. An hour later, the first pictures arrived from space of the booster separation and the Orion capsule is now set to provide stunning views of distant Earth and the approach to the moon.
This is really impressive but why, when the SLS is more powerful than a SaturnV, is it taking so long to get to the moon compared to Apollo missions, roadworks or are they going the long way round?
ReplyDeleteI think the final stage engine is a different type, so it takes longer to accellerate. Also, once it orbits the moon, its swinging out into deeper space to give the onboard systems a good workout
Deleteand theres no longer a race for the moon, so theyre going the scenic route!
ReplyDeleteHa! It is brilliant that this is starting to happen again.
ReplyDeleteIt is fabulous. So damn big and powerful too. There are dummies inside testing the hazards too. Three years and people will be in one. And then maybe Mars in our lifetimes too!
ReplyDeleteI was reading the NASA blog and they were talking about a bright future with an "Artemis Generation" and I was thinking that's me! Then I realised I'm actually living through the mid sixties all over again and I'm part of the Apollo Genetation!
ReplyDeleteThese craft will us Halo orbits. Gene Meyers wants the SLS cores for wet stage station modules-as discussed on The Space Show-publiusr
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