At Stevens, space travel offers itself as an interest for students across a variety of majors, as essentially every major is involved in one way or another in launching a rocket into space. That said, the space-traveling world was ecstatic recently, as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched their Artemis I mission, the first flight of the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and Orion spacecraft. The Artemis mission is NASA’s first attempt in 50 years to send humans back to the moon. The launch did not have people onboard but will bring scientific payloads to conduct experiments on the moon.
The first launch two attempts at the Artemis mission were nearly three months ago, but NASA had to abort due to difficulties in filling the immense fuel tanks, twice the size of those in the Space Shuttle program. Hurricane Ian disrupted the third attempt at the end of September, but NASA was able to return the craft to the safety of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). However, another attempt in November damaged the rocket during Hurricane Nicole, as a return to VAB was infeasible. Despite sustaining damage, this launch was greenlighted, with the craft on the way to the moon.
The Artemis is the first time NASA launched a rocket able to carry humans in 11 years since the final launch of the Atlantis in 2011. If this mission is successful after 25.5 days, then Artemis II will be the next step: a four-person crew to lunar orbit as early as 2024. Artemis II would be the first step in a new lunar program: the first woman on the moon, the first person of color on the moon, a lunar orbit satellite, a permanent lunar outpost, and a step forwards to farther missions, like to Mars.
However, despite the scientific and technological developments and milestones in these missions, there is some controversy and doubt over them, notably because of the $90 million bill American taxpayers will be paying. Questions are arising as to the reason to return to the moon: is it for science, patriotism, or to go farther than we have before, and how much damage, money, and potential danger will it cost? Some responses vary, with space historian Jordan Bimm, from the University of Chicago saying it reminds him of explorer George Mallory’s remarks of climbing Mt. Everest “because it’s there.”
The keystone of the Artemis mission is the Orion capsule. The capsule is the cabin where the astronauts will be during travel. Orion has safety features that can shoot it away from a malfunctioning SLS rocket up to 400 mph in just two seconds. Although an essential aspect of the craft during a crewed launch, it is deactivated for this mission since no one is onboard. Thankfully, the SLS rocket successfully got Orion into orbit to its next step and the moon.
After separating from the SLS rocket, Orion used the interim cryogenic propulsion systems (ICPS). About one hour after the launch, Orion used ICPS to complete a translunar injection (TLI), which burns its rockets for 18 minutes, accelerating the capsule from 17,500 mph to 22,000—enough to escape the Earth’s gravity and head to the moon. If done incorrectly, Orion could have missed the moon, bound for infinite space, or crashed back to Earth (the infamous “go/no-go”).
Orion is to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, ending the Artemis I mission on December 11. The steps after that would be Artemis II and III, ushering the return of humans to the moon and exploring beyond!
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