Artemis 1 is the first Moon mission of NASA after Apollo. Its launch was now revised from March to April. The Space Launch System SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft would be a future mode of flying astronauts. Additional preparatory work on the SLS rocket led to the delay. The launch would be from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA has tentatively fixed mid-April for launching Artemis 1. The first launch window will be from April 8 through April 23. There would be two backup windows in May and June.
Observer quotes an official saying: "We're basically down to a punch list of things that we need to complete." He explains that these could be minor, like polishing out a scratch or fixing some paint.
He adds: "It's a really big vehicle." It is a 322-foot-tall rocket, and the diameter of its booster is 30 feet. President Joe Biden gave the thumbs up to NASA for its Artemis program and revisiting the Moon. Artemis 1 will be a crewless mission, and Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and renewable energy would play major roles.
NASA plans Artemis I to be unmanned and the first step to carry astronauts
The mission of Artemis 1 will be to send the Orion spacecraft flying around the Moon. It will be a multi-week journey, and its purpose would be to check out its capability to carry astronauts. The subsequent one, Artemis 2, will have a crew of four. They would circle the Moon and return to Earth.
That would be a stepping-stone for future journeys to the Moon. Observer adds that NASA has already carried out necessary tests to ensure the smooth performance of vital systems. These include communication between ground control and onboard computers. Then will come a wet run test. That will be with fuel and the final test before the official launch.
Returning humans to the Moon is the objective of NASA
NASA has drawn up its Artemis 1 mission to return humans to the Moon. America had sent the first man to the Moon in 1969, and the space agency wants Americans to revisit it. In fact, NASA is determined to see the first woman on the Moon by 2024. The original launch date of Artemis 1 was in February, but there are delays, and it could shift to a later date.
It seems the U.S. space agency is fine-tuning some systems prior to rolling out the integrated rocket and spacecraft. An official of NASA said: "Right now, we're kind of looking at mid-March." There can be delays in such major projects because of innumerable uncertainties.
The long-term goal of NASA is for a sustainable lunar presence
NASA's last Apollo mission was in 1972. Now, in 2022, its mission is to return to the Moon with renewed vigor after half a century. Business Standard goes on to add that the long-term goal would be for a sustainable lunar presence. The testing phase is on. There will be a wet dress rehearsal and checks to ensure a successful mission. This first journey would be unmanned.
The Orion spacecraft would go past the Moon and return to Earth. This is required to test out the technology because that will pave the way for humans to travel to the Moon and set up a base. There could be many reasons for having a lunar base. It could be taken as a base to explore planets like Mars. Another could be to lay hands on useful natural resources. Americans have procured samples of moon rocks from earlier missions, and China has also laid hands on moon rocks. Obviously, there are unlimited possibilities, and humans on the Moon could become a reality.
