tech
Artemis II launch: crowds gather for glimpse of historic Nasa moon mission
Fully crewed rocket will head to moon from Florida – first time since 1972 that humans will have left lower Earth orbit
TL;DR
- The Artemis II mission marks the first time since December 1972 that a fully crewed Nasa rocket will head to the moon, leaving lower Earth orbit.
- The crew of three Americans and one Canadian will undertake a 10-day test flight, not intended for a lunar landing.
- Milestones include Christina Koch becoming the first woman and Victor Glover the first person of color to fly into cislunar space, and Jeremy Hansen the first non-American to do so.
- The Orion capsule may fly the crew farther from Earth than any humans before, potentially exceeding the Apollo 13 distance record.
- Nasa is using this mission to gather data for future plans, including a $20bn moon base and a crewed lunar landing in 2028.
- The mission will test crucial hardware, life-support systems, and monitor astronaut health, including the effects of radiation and microgravity.
- Nasa has addressed issues that previously caused delays, with an 80% chance of favorable launch conditions on Wednesday and backup opportunities.
- Excitement is high on Florida's space coast, with large crowds expected and accommodations in short supply.