Excitement is growing for NASA’s Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon.
The highly anticipated endeavor will be the first manned flight to the moon since the last Apollo mission in 1972.
The four crew members – Americans Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen – could begin their epic journey as early as February 6, although NASA has not yet confirmed a specific schedule.
They will be launched into orbit by NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket before continuing the rest of their journey in the Orion spacecraft.
In preparation for the mission, the astronauts have begun a routine two-week quarantine period at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The important procedure limits crew members’ contact with others in the days before liftoff, reducing their risk of becoming ill before or during the mission.
“Starting quarantine now ensures flexibility as teams work toward potential opportunities in the launch phase in February,” NASA said on its website. If engineers find problems with the rocket during final preparations, the crew can leave quarantine and re-enter 14 days before a new target date is set.
“If testing continues to go well and activities progress toward a possible launch next month, they will fly to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida approximately six days before launch,” NASA said. “There, the Artemis II crew will reside in astronaut crew quarters in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building prior to launch day.”
During quarantine, the astronauts live together and can have regular contact with friends, family and colleagues while adhering to quarantine guidelines. This includes avoiding public places, wearing masks and maintaining a certain distance from other contact persons as part of the final training.
Meanwhile, about 900 miles east at the Artemis II launch site in Kennedy, NASA engineers are continuing preparations for the vehicle. The mechanical propulsion systems, cryogenic fuel lines and engines are all reported to be in good condition. The next big event is a wet dress rehearsal for the SLS rocket, scheduled for this weekend.
The Artemis II mission will test the systems and hardware required for increasingly complex human missions aimed at exploring more of the moon for scientific discoveries and potential economic benefits. The moon will also serve as a stepping stone for the first manned mission to Mars.
