In orbit around the “invisible side” of the Moon it is expected to be found today Monday, writing , in space exploration. The three American and one Canadian astronauts are preparing to break the record for the greatest distance from Earth as the planet awaits the spectacular total solar eclipse.
Successful outbound trajectory burn!
This means that the Orion spacecraft fired its thrusters to further fine-tune the astronauts’ path to the Moon.
Coverage of the lunar flyby tomorrow begins at 1pm ET (1700 UTC).
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis)
“The Earth looks pretty small now and the Moon sure is getting bigger,” pilot Victor Glover said after the critical firing of the engines that lifted the Orion spacecraft out of Earth orbit.
The “Grand Canyon” of the Moon and the distance record
The crew, consisting of Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen, is the first to approach the Moon after half a century and the end of the Apollo program in 1972. Already, NASA has released a unique photo of the Orientale Basin, the so-called “Grand Canyon” of the Moon, which looks like a shooting target.
As the II crew approaches the Moon, they will get a firsthand view of the Moon’s surface. One of the most striking (pun intended) features they will see is the craters which mark its surface, and are especially numerous on the far side, which the crew will be able to…
— Chris Williams (@Astro_ChrisW)
“It’s an extremely distinct feature, and no human eye has seen this crater this close until now,” said astronaut Christina Koch.
NASA/Handout via REUTERS
While the Apollo missions flew just 70 miles above the surface, Artemis II will pass within 4,000 miles, allowing the crew to see the entire spherical surface of the Moon and its two poles with the naked eye.
The “odyssey” of the toilet in space
Despite the high technology of the Orion capsule, the astronauts face a rather trivial, but serious problem: it shows repeated malfunctions. Engineers suspect ice has blocked the urine disposal pipes, prompting the control center in Houston to instruct the use of special collection bags.
Debbie Korth, deputy director of the Orion program, admitted that there is also an odor problem in the chamber, but pointedly noted: “Toilets in space is something that everyone can understand … it’s always a challenge.”
High morale and ‘Pink Pony Club’
Despite the technical difficulties, morale remains high. The astronauts woke up Sunday to the sounds of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs and coffee.
NASA TV/Handout via REUTERS
Gov. Reid Wiseman shared his emotion after a call with his daughters: “We’re up here, so far away and for a moment I’m reunited with my family. It was the greatest moment of my life.”
The next goal: A permanent base on the Moon
The Artemis II mission is the crash test for NASA’s ambitious plan to return to the moon permanently. The goal is to create a stable base that will serve as a springboard for Mars exploration, with the first human landing in decades planned for 2028, near the Moon’s south pole.
