NASA is counting down to the launch of the giant Space Launch System to kick off the new Artemis that aspires to send humans to the Moon again.
Fifty years after the end of the historic "Apollo" program, NASA's new American space mission begins today.
Today at 15:33 Greek time, NASA is scheduled to launch from the Space Center in Florida the "Artemis 1" mission with the huge Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will carry the unmanned Orion capsule around the Moon for a six-week test flight.
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If all goes well on this test flight, astronauts will board the ship for a future series of increasingly complex missions, starting in 2024.
NASA says that at this stage they are reviewing everything and will observe this first unmanned mission to eliminate any risk to the next Artemis II mission that will be sent to the Moon with a crew.
Weather forecasts so far indicate that today's weather conditions are favorable. If something goes wrong (due to a technical problem or weather), alternative launch dates of September 2nd or 5th have been given.
NASA: Artemis Mission – A New Era in Lunar Exploration
In 1969, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took their first small steps on the Moon, they ushered in a golden age of space. Now, 50 years later, NASA wants to learn even more about the Moon.
The new missions under the Artemis program will be different since NASA plans to send a woman and a person of color , showing that exploration space is open to everyone.
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But returning to the Moon is just the beginning. NASA has ambitions to go much further, setting its sights on Mars . And that would truly be a giant leap forward in space exploration
For today's launch, over 200,000 people are expected to line the beaches and trails around Kennedy Space Center.
The launch will certainly be impressive, as the Space Launch System mega-rocket is the most powerful space vehicle NASA has ever built.
"This rocket will be bigger, more powerful and more impressive than any you've seen before," experts say.
The main goal of the launch actually comes right at the end.
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Engineers are most concerned about seeing that the Orion capsule's heat shield will effectively cope with the extreme temperatures it will encounter during reentry into Earth.
This flight is a big moment not only for NASA, but also for the European Space Agency. It provided the service module for the Orion capsule. It is the rear section that propels the capsule into space. It is an in-kind contribution that Europe hopes will lead to its citizens being included in future trips to the Moon.
NASA TV will broadcast the Artemis mission launch live (in English).
Source: www.bbc.com
