NASA: launched the Artemis II mission to the Moon, a crew approaches our satellite

Finally, after years of waiting, we have arrived! Last night, at 0:35 (Italian time), the NASA SLS rocket took off from Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the Orion Integrity capsule of the Artemis II mission. On board are four astronauts, three Americans and one Canadian, who will undertake a mission lasting about 10 days, which includes a close pass by the Moon before returning to Earth.

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch (from NASA) and Jeremy Hansen (from CSA) have trained hard to get to this point. This is a crucial milestone because since the end of the Apollo program in the 1970s, humans have not gone beyond low Earth orbit. Specifically, the Artemis II crew will reach about 402,000 km from Earth, passing about 7,600 km from the Moon's surface, slightly surpassing what was achieved by the 'unfortunate' Apollo 13 mission (which reached approximately 400,171 km).

With the NASA SLS rocket having left the pad, Artemis II has inaugurated a new era of human exploration in Space. The trajectory chosen for this mission is called a free-return trajectory, allowing the spacecraft to return even in the case of a propulsion failure, while in the first 36 hours after takeoff, a 'turn and burn' maneuver can be executed. Just before launch, a problem with a battery in the Launch Abort System (LAS) caused some concern about a possible delay, but engineers and technicians resolved the malfunction very quickly, preventing significant delays (it was a faulty temperature sensor).

NASA has taken all possible precautions to ensure the astronauts can return safe and sound, with a risk that is much lower compared to the Apollo missions. The Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) suits could allow for crew survival for 144 hours or 6 days in case of a cabin loss. On board, there is a zero-gravity indicator, a small doll named Rise, in tribute to the historic Apollo 8 photo known as Earth-rise. Inside it, there is a microSD card with the names from the campaign 'Send Your Name with Artemis'.

Artemis II, the mission from takeoff to return

As stated, NASA SLS and Orion Integrity liftoff occurred at 0:35 (Italian time). During the first hours, the capsule will be placed into Earth orbit with Orion separating from the upper stage ICPS, while the crew begins to configure the cabin and verify systems that will be useful during the mission, such as survival and communication systems. There will be some operational demonstrations, medical checks, and a short break to recharge.

Day two features an important event: the Trans-Lunar Injection maneuver (TLI). Here, the capsule's engine will push Orion Integrity out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon. Before making the actual maneuver toward the satellite, the Artemis II crew will complete tests in high Earth orbit. The day will conclude with further health checks and a long sleep period.

On the way to the Moon

In the following two days there will be technical demonstrations, scientific activities, sessions with international partners, and navigation checks. Among other things, thermal checks will be performed while the astronauts document the trip to the Moon via the Deep Space Network and other support stations. The crew will perform exercises, participate in public connections, and continue to monitor system status.

Artemis II is scheduled to launch on Wednesday evening.

Day five will see the entry into the Moon's gravitational influence. This precedes the close pass (flyby). The crew will carry out depressurization operations, imaging, and further tests, preparing Orion for the most spectacular moment of the mission. On day six, the Artemis II mission will skim the Moon at the point known as Lunar Close Approach, a close pass that will allow for observations and photographs as the astronauts use Nikon D5 cameras to capture as many images as possible.

Shortly thereafter, Orion will reach its maximum distance from Earth, also surpassing the record of Apollo 13. It is the moment when humanity ventures farther from our Planet than in over half a century and well beyond where astronauts typically are aboard the ISS.

After this moment, the spacecraft will leave the sphere of lunar influence and begin the Trans-Earth phase. Here, astronauts will have two days dedicated to exercises, environmental tests, demonstrations like the Rad Shelter Demo, and communications system checks. It is a quieter phase but crucial for ensuring a safe return. It is also worth noting that National Geographic will have exclusive access to footage taken by the astronauts on board for a documentary that will be available in the coming weeks.

On day nine, the Artemis II crew will prepare for atmospheric entry and the mission's conclusion. The crew will don their suits, stow their equipment, and configure the capsule for the most delicate phase of the mission. The last day will see a tight sequence of events. There will be the separation between the command module and the service module, atmospheric entry, and landing in the Pacific Ocean.