The crew also broke the distance record and reached approximately 406,700 km away from the planet
NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, announced on Monday night (6) that the astronauts from the Artemis II Mission began their return to Earth. The expedition marked the return to the Moon after 53 yearswhen the Apollo 17 Mission was undertaken, in December 1972.
“Before they leave, [os astronautas] said they hoped this mission would be forgotten, but it will be remembered as the moment when people began to believe that the United States can, once again, accomplish the nearly impossible and change the world,” Isaacman wrote on his X profile.
At around 8pm, the Artemis II team. During the flight over the far side of the Moonthe spacecraft reached 406,700 km away.
It was also at this time that the astronauts. The first message after signal loss was from astronaut Christina Koch: “We will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.”
The Orion spacecraft made a trip towards the Moon to carry out an historic flyby around Earth’s natural satellite. During the expedition, the astronauts analyzed and documented the characteristics of the lunar surface.
Delays and pressure from Trump
The expedition that began on Wednesday (1st) was initially scheduled to be released in February. Nonetheless, setbacks delayed and forced the NASA rocket to return to its hangar for analysis and repairs.
In addition to the delays, the mission suffered pressure from the president of the United StatesDonald Trump, who accelerated the pace of the project. Like this, The goal is for astronauts to set foot on the lunar surface before 2029when the Republican’s term ends.
The objectives of Artemis II include verifying that both the SLS moon rocket and the Orion spacecraft are in perfect condition. operational, in the hope of pave the way for a return and moon landing in 2028. This deadline arouses skepticism among experts, in part because depends on technological advances in the private sector. Astronauts will need a second vehicle to descend to the lunar surfacea landing module that is still in development by rival space companiesbelonging to Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Who are the astronauts of the Artemis II Mission?
As for the crew, Artemis II features significant changes in relation to the Apollo expeditions. The team has the first woman, black person and astronaut from outside the United States participating in a mission of this type.
Reid Wiseman
At 50 years old, Reid Wiseman will be the mission commander. Born in Baltimore, he joined NASA in 2009, after a long career in the Navy.
For Wiseman, the mission fulfills a dream he previously considered impossible. In 2014, he completed a 165-day mission on the International Space Station and later headed NASA’s astronaut office.
Victor Glover
Victor Glover, aged 49, will pilot the Orion spacecraft. A Navy veteran and father of four daughters, he was selected by NASA in 2013.
His interest in space began after watching the launch of a NASA space shuttle on television.
In 2020, he became the first black American to participate in a mission long-lasting to the International Space Station.
Com a Artemis II, will be the first black man and the first non-white person to travel to the Moona milestone he attributes to the path paved by pioneers like Guion Bluford, the first black American in space.
Christina Koch
Christina Koch, 47 years old, will be the first woman on a lunar mission. An engineer by training and an experienced researcher, she has worked in extreme environments such as Antarctica.
Since he was young, he dreamed of being an astronaut and grew up watching the iconic images from the Apollo program.
Also selected in 2013, she holds the record for longest space flight performed by a womanwith 328 days, and participated in the first all-female spacewalk, alongside Jessica Meir.
Jeremy Hansen
Canadian Jeremy Hansen, 50 years old, completes the crew and will be the first astronaut from outside the United States to orbit Lua.
A former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, he joined the Canadian Space Agency in 2009. He worked as a liaison to the International Space Station and as an instructor for new generations of astronauts.
He says that, as a child, he saw a photo of Neil Armstrong on the Moon, a moment that sparked his passion for space exploration.
The Artemis II mission will be its first trip beyond Earth’s orbit.
Check out the Artemis II Mission live stream
*With information from AFP
