Artemis 1
The Artemis mission is a mission by NASA and other space agencies including; ESA, Boing, Space X, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), back to the Moon by 2025 and then to Mars following on from NASA's Apollo missions in the late 60s and throughout the 70s.
Artemis was the twin goddess (sister) of the moon.
The Artemis 1 test mission launched successfully without a crew (however with mannequins to test the instrument sensors) on the Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) at 6:47:44 UTC (1:47:44 am EST) on November 16, 2022. The Orion spaceship that was on top of it was released and circled around the moon for 1.4 million miles - 6 weeks, and splashed down to the earth safely in the Pacific Ocean, west of Baja California, at 9:40 a.m. PST Sunday.
There are 11 other Artemis Missions planned that will cover different stages including making a Lunar Gateway orbiting the Moon, Moon bases, Rovers and Lunar vehicles..
NASA say:
" NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars."
Artemis 2 will be manned by 4 astronauts,. The Artemis 2 crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. and will take place. 2024.
Credit. Today, Artemis II crew details their upcoming historic moon mission
Artemis 3 will also be crewed and take place in 2025. Artemis 4 will dock with the Lunar Gateway (see below) in 2028 and further yearly landings on the moon will follow.
Credit NASA, Path to the Pad. Artemis 1
The Artemis mission is a complex mission the video below investigates NASA's plans and missions to return back to the moon.
Credit Furtology, NASA's $93BN Plan to Return to the Moon
Space Launch System (SLS)
The Space Launch System (SLS) made by Boeing launched the Artemis rocket to the Moon.
Consisting of two massive rocket boosters and 4 massive RS25 engines.
Orion Spacecraft
The Orion Space Craft will accommodate the astronauts to their journey to the moon.
It will splash back down via parachute to the Pacific Ocean at 25,000 miles per hour and a temperature of 5000 degrees protected by its heat shield.
Credit NASA.
Lunar Gateway
The Lunar Gateway will provide accommodation for astronauts going back to the Moon.
The Orion spacecraft will dock with the Lunar Gateway on all missions from Artemis 4.
The gateway is modular and separate missions will add modules to it. planned for 2025, the Gateway will consist of two modules initially, Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO). Further modules will be added later by separate Artemis missions.
Credit Space.com: https://www.space.com/lunar-gateway-station-claustrophobic-architect-says
Lunar Base
Artemis mission will create a Lunar Basecamp to accommodate astronauts and Lunar vehicles by 2028.
Credit NASA
Human Landing System
Artemis has a Human Landing System (HLS) to drop astronauts to the Lunar surface and Base Camp.
Credit NASA.
More about the Artemis mission from our favourite Awesome Astronomy Podcast:
Cheers
Mark Brown