After a few tries, the third time was the charm. Artemis 1, the first mission of the space program from the United States to return to the moon 50 years after the Apollo era it is already a reality.
Finally the sls rocket (Space Launch System Rocket) of NASA, the most powerful in the worldlifted off in the early hours of this Wednesday, Nov. 16, from Florida to the Moon, in the first unmanned mission of the US space agency’s Artemis program.
The rocket soared into the night sky like a giant ball of fire at 1:47 am (local time; 3:47 am in Argentina) from the Kennedy Space Center in front of hundreds of spectators who had gathered at the scene.
The Artemis 1 mission to the Moon
The mission Artemis 1 The expected duration is 25 days and some delicate phases still await him.
Fifty years after the last Apollo mission, this unmanned test flightThat will fly over the moon without landing on its surface, try to confirm if the vehicle is safe to carry a future crew.
This release marks the great start of the artemis program, who wants to send the first woman and first person of color to the moon. Also, the goal is to establish there a constant human presenceWhat prepare for a trip to Mars.
“What an incredible sight to see the SLS rocket and spacecraft lift off together for the first time,” he said. account nelsonthe director of NASA.
He added, “We will be returning to the Moon to learn about living on the Moon and prepare to send humans to Mars. The Moon is just days away and we are seeing through the James Webb telescope how vast the universe is.”
“Artemis travels to the Moon! Congratulations to the incredible team that brought us to this moment”, Nelson posted on his Twitter account, moments after takeoff.
The launch of Artemis 1
As in the previous two failed attempts, NASA has done it this time difficulty filling the rocket with cryogenic fuel (more than 2.7 million liters of liquid hydrogen and oxygen).
In the afternoon, a leak of highly flammable hydrogen fuel was detected at the base of the rocket, forcing a team of technicians to be sent to the launch pad to repair it. stop preparations for about an hour and causing a slight delay in the original take-off schedule.
The first try takeoff a few months ago was canceled at the last moment due to a faulty sensorand the according to from a hydrogen leak.
As a result of these technical problems, two Hurricanes -Ian and then Nicole- forced to postpone take-off for several weeks.
This Wednesday, immediately after takeoff, the teams from the control center in Houston (Texas) took over. After two minutes, the two white boosters dropped back into the Atlantic.
After eight minutes, the main floor also separated.. Then, about an hour and a half after liftoff, a final push from the upper stage will put the Orion capsule traveling to the moon which will arrive in a few days.
There, it will be placed in a distant orbit for about a week, venturing thus far 64,000 kilometers behind our natural satellitea record for a habitable capsule.
In the end, Orion will begin his return to Earthtesting his heat shield, the largest ever built. In passing through the atmosphere it will have to withstand temperatures half the surface of the Sun.
Landing in the Pacific Ocean is scheduled for December 11th.
With information from AFP.
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.