NASA Outlines Artemis Mission Phase 1: Plan To Send Humans To Moon And Beyond

NASA is prepping up to take humans back to the moon in an endeavour to speed up its outworldly exploration. Called the Artemis mission, the lunar trip will see the first batch of US citizens visiting the Earth¡¯s satellite since the last Apollo lunar mission in 1972., including a woman for the first time in the history of space missions.

Boeing

The US space agency has now shared an update on the phase-1 of the Artemis plan. The update comes after a series of critical contract awards and hardware milestones. The mission is set to land on the surface of the Moon in 2024.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a recent release, ¡°as we¡¯ve solidified more of our exploration plans in recent months, we¡¯ve continued to refine our budget and architecture. We¡¯re going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers.¡±

In the new plan shared by NASA, the space agency shares the Artemis progress to date. In doing so, it identifies ¡°the key science, technology and human missions.¡± It even highlights the commercial and international partnerships that NASA is ensuing.

In the release, NASA also shared updates on its powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which will power its future space missions. The space agency said that the SLS and the Orion spacecraft ¡°are closer than ever to their first integrated launch.¡± It said that the spacecraft is complete and its core stage and its attached four engines ¡°are undergoing a final series of tests.¡±

Next on NASA Artemis Moon Mission?

NASA Artemis Mission (Representative Image: NASA)

NASA says that the core stage will be transported to Kennedy Space Center in Florida following a successful hot fire test this fall. At the site, it will be integrated with the Orion spacecraft.

In its release, NASA confirms the launch of an SLS and an Orion together on two flight tests around the Moon. Artemis I has been scheduled for 2021 and will take flight without astronauts. Artemis II will fly with crew in 2023.

The test flights will be conducted to check performance, life support, and communication capabilities of the two. Orion has an additional test lined up for it during the Artemis II. A proximity operations demonstration will be conducted soon after Orion separates from the propulsion stage.

During this demonstration, NASA astronauts will manually pilot Orion to assess its handling qualities and related hardware and software. The data will then help NASA during Artemis III.

Return to the Moon

NASA SLS Rocket Booster

Artemis III will mark the return of humanity to the surface of the Moon, landing the first astronauts on the lunar South Pole. After a trip of about 240,000 miles to lunar orbit aboard Orion, the astronauts will directly board one of the new commercial human landing systems for their expedition to the surface.

During both Artemis II and Artemis III, the astronauts will be wearing ¡°modern spacesuits¡± that promise greater flexibility and movement than those of their Apollo predecessors, claims NASA. Post a seven day expedition, the astronauts will use the lander to return to lunar orbit before heading back to Earth aboard Orion.

NASA also shared updates on its Gateway, a planned lunar outpost that will consist of ¡°at least a power and propulsion element and habitation, logistics outpost.¡± NASA says that it will integrate the components in 2023.

Once completed, the Gateway will be able to operate autonomously and conduct remote science experiments even when astronauts are not aboard.

NASA Gateway (Image: NASA)

¡°As we build up a sustainable presence, we¡¯re also building momentum toward those first human steps on the Red Planet,¡± says Bridenstine.

The comment is in line with the eventual goal of Artemis, to set up a human base camp on the Moon. The base camp will also include new rovers, power systems, habitats, and more on the surface for long-term exploration of the Moon.

Throughout the Artemis program, NASA¡¯s robots and astronauts will search for ¡°and potentially extract¡± resources like water, which can further be converted into other usable resources such as oxygen and fuel. This can further empower farther explorations on the surface of the Earth¡¯s satellite.