NASA's Artemis I Mission Returns To Earth, Paving Way For Crewed Moon Missions
The first mission in NASA's Artemis moon programme is a success! On December 11, the uncrewed Orion capsule splashed down into the Pacific Ocean, right off the coast of Baja California.
The Artemis I mission ended after a 2.3 million kilometre-long journey. "Splashdown! From Tranquility Base to Taurus-Littrow to the tranquil waters of the Pacific, the latest chapter of NASA's journey to the moon comes to a close: Orion back on Earth," said NASA spokesperson Rob Navias during an event livestream.
Artemis I mission a success
Artemis I carried Orion, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) mega rocket and corresponding ground systems. While scientists await deep analysis, it appears that the mission has been a success so far.
This means that NASA can now start preparing for the first crewed Artemis flight - a round-the-moon effort in 2024. The journey for Artemis I wasn't easy. NASA tried to launch the spacecraft in late August, but several glitches got in the way.
Also read:?NASA's Orion Spacecraft Sends Back Historic Image Of Earth And Moon Together
The SLS shot Orion into space as expected, with the rocket generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. According to Space.com, this it the most powerful launcher ever to fly successfully.
On November 26, Orion got farther away from Earth than any other spacecraft designed to carry human beings, breaking the record of 400,171 kilometres set by Apollo 13 command module in 1970. Two days later, the record was extended to 432,210 kilometres.
The mission last 25.5 days and came to an end on Sunday. Orion's heat shield was put to the test during its return, as it endured temperatures of 2,800 degree Celsius - half as hot as the Sun.
Also read:?Orion Spacecraft Reaches Farthest Distance From Earth, Breaks 1970¡¯s Apollo 13 Record
Now, NASA hopes to send astronauts to the Moon in 2024 with its Artemis II mission. The third mission, Artemis III, will try to land humans on the Moon's south pole in 2025 or 2026.
What do you think about Artemis I's success? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.?
References
Wall, M. (2022, December 11). Splashdown! NASA¡¯s Artemis 1 Orion capsule lands in Pacific to end epic moon mission. Space.com. https://www.space.com/artemis-1-orion-splashdown-moon-mission-success
