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NASA has confirmed that will probably be heading again to the moon early subsequent 12 months, asserting that the uncrewed Artemis I mission will launch in February 2022.
This week, the company accomplished the stacking of its Orion spacecraft on the Area Launch System, the world’s strongest rocket. The Orion craft was lifted onto the rocket and secured in place, and now testing can start forward of the launch subsequent 12 months.
NASA’s Orion spacecraft is totally stacked on the Area Launch System rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle in Florida. NASA
“It’s laborious to place into phrases what this milestone means, not solely to us right here at Exploration Floor Techniques, however to all of the extremely gifted individuals who have labored so laborious to assist us get thus far,” stated Mike Bolger, Exploration Floor Techniques program supervisor, in an announcement. “Our crew has demonstrated great dedication getting ready for the launch of Artemis I. Whereas there may be nonetheless work to be accomplished to get to launch, with continued built-in assessments and Moist Gown Rehearsal, seeing the totally stacked SLS is actually a reward for all of us.”
The testing consists of 5 separate check campaigns, overlaying the interfaces between completely different spacecraft programs, checking particular programs just like the booster thrust management, testing communications between the spacecraft and the bottom, testing the countdown to launch system, and eventually a “moist costume rehearsal.” On the moist costume rehearsal, gasoline is loaded into the rocket as it could be for the true launch and the rocket is rolled out to the launch pad to observe the launch countdown. When the countdown is accomplished, the gasoline is eliminated as observe within the occasion the launch is scrubbed on the final minute.
The Artemis 1 mission will see Orion launched from Earth on a path towards the moon, touring for a number of days throughout which period engineers on the bottom can examine programs like navigation and communication. It would fly 62 miles above the floor of the moon, then use the moon’s gravity to maneuver into orbit for six days, amassing information earlier than returning to Earth.
The thought is to check out rockets and programs forward of a crewed mission to orbit the moon, generally known as Artemis II, adopted by a crewed touchdown on the moon, generally known as Artemis III.
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