The Artemis programme is NASA’s plan to return people to the Moon as a preliminary mission to a future voyage to Mars. Artemis wants to be the first woman and person of colour to set foot on the moon.
A robotic Artemis rocket is slated to launch for its initial test mission on August 29. The Apollo programme was mentioned when naming the spacecraft Artemis. Artemis, a goddess associated with the Moon in Greek mythology, was Apollo’s identical twin sister. Between 1969 and 1972, 12 men walked on the moon.
Artemis 1
During Artemis 1, the 322-foot Space Launch System rocket and the Orion crew capsule are being tested. On August 29 at 6:03 PM Indian time, Blastoff will launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center (12:33 GMT).
In order to assess the levels of vibration, acceleration, and radiation during the flight, sensor-equipped mannequins will take the place of the crew members. Orion will orbit the Moon before coming to a stop in the Pacific Ocean.
Artemis 2
Similar to Apollo 8, the crewed Artemis 2 mission, scheduled for 2024, will orbit the Moon without performing a surface landing. The four members of the crew will have their names revealed before the year is finished. One of them is probably a Canadian.
Artemis 3
The Artemis 3 mission will take astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in December 1972. NASA’s first crewed spaceship landing will take place in the southern pole of the Moon, which has been found to have water in the form of ice. Moon landings have happened before close to the equator.
According to a programme audit carried out by a third party, even though Artemis 3 is scheduled to launch in 2025, it may not do so until at least 2026. With the launch of Artemis 3, NASA plans to begin launching crewed missions about once per year.
Gateway
As part of the Artemis mission, a space station called Gateway will be constructed and placed in lunar orbit. The power and propulsion system, as well as the living quarters module, are expected to be launched by a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at the earliest in late 2024.
Orion personnel would have to assemble the Gateway. Astronauts would eventually have access to a lander after spending 30 to 60 days in Gateway, which would allow them to go to the Moon and back. Gateway would also serve as a stopover for any future journeys to Mars.
SpaceX
NASA has chosen Elon Musk’s SpaceX to build the Moon lander for Artemis 3. The still-in-development SpaceX Starship will act as a shuttle to transport astronauts from the Orion crew capsule to the lunar surface and back.
Mars Mission
NASA describes the ultimate objective of the programme as “the next major leap – human exploration of Mars.” NASA will make use of the data collected by Artemis regarding prospective spacesuits, vehicles, propulsion, resupply, and other areas to prepare for a trip to Mars. The goal is to learn how to keep humans in deep space for a lengthy amount of time.
