Artemis 2 It already has a date and is closer to what was foreseen. Lakiesha Hawkinsinterim viceader of the POTannounced today at a press conference about the ambitious artemis space program that the first manned mission to the moon in more than half a century It will be launched in February. This is a two -month advance on April, an initially planned month.
Hawkins has pointed out that “We are accelerating the processes as much as we can to launch as soon as in February”, Specifying that the first chance will take place on the day February 5, 2026. Each month, NASA has a launch window between 4 and 8 days, as explained.
The Artemis program, whose first unmanned mission was carried out almost three years ago, has the objective of establishing A continued human presence on the moon and serve as a platform to get Mars later.
The rocket SLS (Space launch system) It was launched on November 16, 2022 by transporting the space capsule Orionwithout crew. Orion separated from the propeller and after deploying a dozen satellites continued towards the moon, which survived on November 21. The space capsule Amerized in the Pacific Ocean on December 11. The mission was considered a success in all its aspects.
Artemis 2 will repeat the flight but with the important difference that it will take four astronauts on board: Christina Kochmission specialist and first woman to travel to the moon, Victor J. Gloverpilot and first person in color traveling to the satellite, Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, and G. Reid WisemanCommander. With the exception of Hansen, Canadian, the rest of the crew is American. The distance closest to what will be from the Moon will be 7,000 kilometers, after having traveled more than 1 million on the way.
With this mission, NASA expects to validate again the technology and systems of the Orion capsule and the SLS rocket, in particular the life support system of the first. The manned space vehicle is manufactured by Lookheed Martin and Airbus Defense and Spacewhile the propeller is the work of AERJET ROKETDYNE BOEING and Northrop Grumman United Launch Alliance. It is planned that Starshipthe gigantic rocket of Spacexjoin the program in the future, but the delays it is having could make it difficult.
The Artemis program, although led by NASA, is an international effort. They also participate The Space Agencies of Europe (ESA), Japan (Jaxa), Canada (CSA), Israel (ISA), Australia (ASA) and the National Space Activities Commission (CONAE)together with private companies. With this announcement, Artemis takes an important step forward so as not to be overcome in the space race by Chinawho plans to put his astronauts on the moon in 2030.
Artemis 3 will be the mission with which NASA will do the same and is currently scheduled to 2027with what accumulates two years late About the original planning. If the deadlines are fulfilled, humanity will step on the moon again for the first time in 55 years. The lunar landing module should participate in this mission Starship HLSa variant of the starship rocket also in development that will serve as transportation between the future space station Lunar Gatewaywhich will be assembled in the lunar orbit, and the surface of the satellite.