Tags: Artemis 2, Artemis II, artemis 2 launch, artemis 2 crew, what will artemis 2 do, what comes after artemis 2
Artemis 2 marks the second planned mission within the Artemis program and represents the program’s inaugural crewed expedition.
The Artemis 2 mission roster comprises three NASA astronauts and one astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). NASA’s Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and CSA’s Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen will embark on a lunar flyby mission, circumnavigating the Moon before their return to Earth. This approximately 10-day-long mission is tentatively scheduled for launch in November 2024.
The mission will utilize the formidable Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket in conjunction with the Orion spacecraft to transport the crew on this lunar flyby journey. Throughout the mission, both the astronauts and mission controllers will gather valuable data concerning Orion’s performance and the crew’s capabilities, contributing to the evaluation of the Artemis program’s preparedness for lunar surface missions.
The participation of a CSA astronaut is a result of Canada’s commitment to provide Canadarm3, a robotic arm intended for servicing the NASA Gateway space station. In exchange for this contribution, CSA will be granted astronaut seats and opportunities for scientific research on forthcoming Artemis missions, including Artemis 2.
Artemis 2 Launch Date
The launch date for Artemis 2, tentatively scheduled for November 2024, is contingent upon several factors.
NASA is diligently assessing the data amassed during Artemis 1 to facilitate necessary adjustments for the upcoming Artemis 2 mission. Artemis 1 was successfully launched at 01:47 a.m. EST (0647 GMT) on November 16 from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During this mission, valuable radiation and engineering data were collected to evaluate the readiness of both the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft for human missions.
The forthcoming crewed Artemis 2 mission mandates the development of new spacesuits designed to withstand the heightened radiation levels present in the cislunar environment, surpassing the protection afforded within the lower Earth orbit where astronauts benefit from increased shielding. Axiom Space unveiled its prototype spacesuit in March 2023, but significant updates on its development have yet to be provided.
As of June 2023, NASA is in the process of assembling critical components for Artemis 2’s hardware, with plans for subsequent testing and integration. A notable departure from the Artemis 1 mission is the inclusion of an environmental system that will supply oxygen to the astronauts. This system is imperative for crewed missions, unlike the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission, which did not necessitate such provisions.
Artemis 2 Crew
The announcement of the Artemis 2 crew took place on April 3, 2023, at an event held at Ellington Field, the base for NASA’s aviation operations situated near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed, “Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy, each of these explorers possesses a unique journey. However, together, they embody our motto: E pluribus unum — from many, one. Together, we will pave the way for a new era of exploration, inspiring the Artemis Generation of stargazers and dreamers.”
In brief, the quartet of astronauts comprises:
NASA Commander Reid Wiseman: Wiseman, an aviator in the U.S. Navy, served as a test pilot and project officer at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland before being chosen by NASA in 2009. Artemis 2 will mark Wiseman’s second mission, building upon his 165 days of space experience during Expedition 41, which journeyed to the International Space Station from May to November 2014.
NASA Pilot Victor Glover: Glover, set to become the first Black astronaut to orbit the moon, boasts a background as a Naval aviator who piloted aircraft in various locations, including the U.S., Italy, Japan, and the Middle East. Selected by NASA in 2013, Artemis 2 represents his second space mission. On his maiden voyage, Glover served as the pilot on the Crew-1 flight of SpaceX’s Crew-1 capsule, launched on November 15, 2020, marking the inaugural operational commercial crewed mission to the ISS.
NASA Mission Specialist Christina Koch: A scientist and engineer, Koch previously contributed to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, participating in multiple missions. Her extensive experience also includes service in Antarctica at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and Palmer Station. She was selected by NASA in 2013 and notably set a female record with her 328-day spaceflight on the ISS, during which she took part in the first all-female spacewalk.
CSA Astronaut Jeremy Hansen: Hansen, a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, has collaborated on various projects, including assignments with NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and in Arctic environments. Chosen by the CSA in 2009, he has not yet embarked on a space mission due to Canada’s limited involvement in space endeavors. Nonetheless, he possesses substantial space program expertise gained from working in remote settings and holding numerous senior management roles. Notable achievements include managing the training schedules for the entire 2017 astronaut class (comprising Canadians and Americans), advising Canadian policymakers on space planning initiatives, and crafting the spacewalk sequence for the intricate refurbishment of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer instrument on the ISS.
What will Artemis 2 do?
Artemis 2 represents the maiden extensive trial of the SLS and Orion spacecraft systems with human crew members aboard. The mission aims to fulfill four key readiness criteria, as outlined by the Canadian Space Agency: comprehensive mission planning, optimal system performance, seamless crew interfaces, and precise guidance and navigation systems.
The mission trajectory entails Orion executing an orbit around Earth known as “hybrid free return.” This involves the spacecraft orbiting Earth twice to gain velocity for trans-lunar injection. Subsequently, Orion will follow a “free-return trajectory” as it swings around the Moon, facilitating a direct return journey to Earth, as specified by NASA.
Anticipated to span between eight and ten days, the mission’s duration may extend up to three weeks depending on mission objectives. Notably, the four astronauts aboard Artemis 2 will travel farther from Earth than anyone since the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, reaching an expected maximum altitude of 5,523 miles (8,889 km) above the lunar surface.
The European Space Agency has identified several critical milestones for the mission:
- Launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B to attain low-Earth orbit.
- An Earth orbit maneuver, occurring approximately 40 minutes after liftoff, to elevate the perigee, or the orbit’s lowest point. This maneuver will be executed using the SLS Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS).
- A burn operation to raise the apogee, the orbit’s highest point, also employing the ICPS.
- A system check conducted 42 hours into the mission to ensure the correctness of the orbit, ranging from a closest point to Earth of 112 miles (185 km) to a highest point of 1,616 miles (2,600 km).
5. Following these phases, the ICPS will be discarded, and Orion will undergo a translunar injection, embarking on a four-day journey to the Moon with a peak altitude of 5,523 miles (8,889 km) above the lunar surface.
The return journey to Earth will conclude with the crew module’s separation from the European Service Module and the crew module adapter, leading to a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
NASA anticipates that mission preparation will span approximately 18 months. Ascent training will encompass prelaunch operations around the launch pad, offering the crew an in-depth comprehension of the significant milestones leading up to and during launch, along with the initial hours in orbit.
Preparation for the return phase will encompass instruction on monitoring and executing entry operations, communication protocols with recovery teams, and the handling of various post-splashdown scenarios while awaiting recovery on the ocean’s surface.
Throughout the coasting, moon-circling, and Earth-orbiting phase, astronauts will engage in mission activities, scientific experiments, and contingency training. Additionally, they will undertake a “rendezvous and proximity operations demonstration” in Earth orbit to simulate docking with NASA’s forthcoming Gateway station.
Specialized training will be provided to equip the astronauts with the necessary skills for operating Orion and the Space Launch System in both routine and emergency situations. This training will also encompass communication procedures with Mission Control from deep space, among other critical aspects.
What happens after Artemis 2?
Researchers involved with the Artemis 2 mission will dedicate several months, at a minimum, to the thorough analysis of collected data. The subsequent mission in the pipeline is Artemis 3, a lunar landing mission scheduled for 2025, provided all aspects proceed as planned.
However, NASA’s Office of the Inspector General has expressed reservations regarding this timeline. Delays in preparing the human landing system, which relies on SpaceX’s Starship, have arisen due to a combination of technical challenges and legal considerations. Furthermore, setbacks in the development of NASA’s spacesuits prompted the agency to turn to commercial suppliers to bridge the gap.
Starship has encountered a range of development obstacles, including environmental permit issues and an unsuccessful maiden launch to space in April 2023. While SpaceX has committed to promptly relaunching Starship, the timeline for Artemis 3’s lunar landing may be delayed, possibly extending the mission’s target date to at least 2026.
When Artemis 3 eventually touches down on the lunar surface, it will mark a span of at least 53 years since humans last set foot on the moon, during NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Apollo program witnessed 12 individuals, all of whom were white men, landing on the moon between 1969 and 1972. NASA has pledged that the first lunar landing mission, as well as future ones, will incorporate both a woman and a person of color.
Read more: Crewed Artemis II Mission Reaches Key Milestone as All RS-25 Engines Integrated into SLS Core Stage