NASA will host a What’s on Board media teleconference at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 29, to discuss the science payloads flying aboard the first commercial robotic flight to the lunar surface as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative under the Artemis program.
NASA is discussing the science highlights of the first Artemis robotic moon landing. The Artemis program is working with multiple CLPS vendors to deliver payloads to the moon. The payloads will be used for experiments, technology testing, and capability demonstrations. The goal is to explore the lunar surface and prepare for human missions to Mars.
The Artemis missions will also:
- Land the first woman and person of color on the moon
- Establish a long-term presence on the moon
- Collaborate with commercial and international partners
The Artemis 1 mission traveled 450,000 km to the moon. It orbited 130 km above the lunar surface and then traveled 64,373 km into deep space. The mission lasted 25.5 days and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near California on December 11.
The Artemis 1 mission was a test flight to return astronauts to the moon. The main objective was to test the Orion spacecraft and its heat shield. The mission also included:
- Launching the Orion spacecraft
- **Testing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket
- **Testing the spacecraft’s heat shield
The Artemis 1 mission launched on November 16, 2022 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion spacecraft was carried by the SLS rocket. The mission included robots and mannequins.
The Artemis program has three ongoing missions:
- Artemis 1: An uncrewed test flight around and beyond the moon
- Artemis 2: A crewed flight beyond the moon
- Artemis Accords: A NASA-led initiative to work with other countries on space exploration
NASA considers the Artemis 1 mission a success. The mission proved that the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and Earth’s communications and recovery systems are ready to fly astronauts to the moon. The mission also marked the first step toward returning humans to the moon(source google)
The Artemis program’s future plans include:
Artemis 2 A crewed flight that will take place in 2024. The mission will send three NASA astronauts and one Canadian Space Agency astronaut around the moon.
Artemis 3 A crewed lunar landing that will take place in 2025. The mission will land two astronauts on the moon’s south polar region for about a week. This will be the first crewed moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Artemis 4 Docking with the Lunar Gateway in 2028.
- Future landings Yearly landings on the moon after 2028.
NASA also plans to build an Artemis Base Camp on the moon’s surface and the Gateway in lunar orbit. These elements will allow astronauts and robots to explore and conduct more science.
NASA’s most ambitious goal is to use the moon as a stepping stone for a mission to Mars. NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars by the 2030s( source google)
The Lunar Gateway is a small space station that will orbit the moon for over a decade. It will be a hub for Artemis missions, providing a place to live and work. The Gateway will also support long-term science and human exploration
The Gateway will be made up of two modules:
- Power and Propulsion Element (PPE):
- Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO):
The Gateway will be essential for the Artemis 3 mission. The mission will use the Gateway as a hub for Artemis missions. The Gateway will also provide a place for astronauts to transfer between Orion and the lander.
The Human Landing System (HLS) will transport cargo and humans from the Gateway to the moon’s surface. NASA has selected SpaceX to provide the HLS for Artemis 3
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