There will be only lunar flyby, no landing plan. NASA disclosed objectives of its upcoming Artemis 2 mission.
NASA's Artemis program is an ambitious effort to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972. The program consists of three main phases: Artemis 1, an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that launched in November 2022; Artemis 2, a crewed test flight that will take four astronauts around the moon and back in November 2024; and Artemis 3, a crewed landing mission that will put the first woman and the first person of colour on the lunar surface in 2025.
But why will Artemis 2 only fly around the moon, not orbit it or land on it? After all, NASA has already achieved lunar orbit and landing with the Apollo program, so what is the point of repeating a similar feat without touching down?
The answer is that Artemis 2 is not just a repeat of Apollo 8 or Apollo 10, but a crucial step in testing and validating new technologies, systems and procedures that are essential for future deep space exploration. Artemis 2 will be the first time that humans will fly on Orion and SLS, the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA. It will also be the first time that humans will venture beyond low Earth orbit since 1972, exposing them to higher levels of radiation and extreme temperatures. Therefore, NASA needs to ensure that Orion and SLS can safely and reliably perform their functions and protect the crew during this challenging mission.
Some of the objectives of Artemis 2 include:
- Testing Orion's life support systems, such as oxygen supply, temperature control, waste management and fire suppression.
- Testing Orion's communication systems, such as voice and data transmission, navigation and tracking.
- Testing Orion's flight control systems, such as attitude control, propulsion and docking.
- Testing Orion's crew interface systems, such as displays, controls and emergency procedures.
- Testing Orion's thermal protection system, which shields the spacecraft from the intense heat of reentry into Earth's atmosphere.
- Testing Orion's launch abort system, which can pull the crew module away from the rocket in case of an emergency during ascent.
- Testing SLS's performance and stability during launch, ascent and separation stages.
- Testing SLS's Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), which provides the final boost to send Orion to the moon.
- Testing SLS's Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), which will be used for future missions beyond the moon.
By flying around the moon once and returning to Earth, Artemis 2 will also allow the crew to experience various phases of a deep space mission, such as trans-lunar injection (TLI), lunar flyby, trans-Earth injection (TEI) and splashdown. These phases will require different manoeuvres and operations that will challenge both the crew and the spacecraft. For example, during TLI and TEI, Orion will have to fire its main engine for several minutes to change its velocity and trajectory. During the lunar flyby, Orion will have to adjust its attitude to point its solar arrays toward the sun and its antennas toward Earth. During the splashdown, Orion will have to deploy its parachutes and airbags to slow down and cushion its landing in the Pacific Ocean.
By conducting these tests and demonstrations during Artemis 2, NASA will be able to collect valuable data and feedback that will inform its future missions under the Artemis program. For instance, NASA will be able to evaluate how well Orion can support a crew of four for up to 10 days in deep space. NASA will also be able to assess how well SLS can deliver heavy payloads to various destinations beyond low Earth orbit. Moreover, NASA will be able to identify any issues or risks that may arise during a deep space mission and develop solutions or mitigations accordingly.
Artemis 2 is therefore not a mere lunar flyby mission, but a vital precursor for lunar landing missions. By proving that Orion and SLS are ready for human exploration of deep space, Artemis 2 will pave the way for Artemis 3 and beyond. Through these missions, NASA aims to establish a sustainable presence on the moon, conduct scientific research and exploration activities on the lunar surface and prepare for future missions to Mars.
Artemis 2 is an exciting milestone in human spaceflight history