{"id":19828,"date":"2022-11-16T10:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T09:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=130219"},"modified":"2022-11-16T10:57:12","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T09:57:12","slug":"in-pictures-nasas-artemis-1-heads-for-the-moon","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/in-pictures-nasas-artemis-1-heads-for-the-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"In pictures: NASA\u2019s Artemis 1 heads for the Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By James Cutmore\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 16 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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NASA\u2019s long-awaited Artemis 1 mission<\/a> has finally launched successfully from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA, after months of setbacks and delays. It is the first mission in a large programme to send astronauts to the Moon, using the most powerful rockets ever built. This first Artemis launch is uncrewed, but will see the Orion spacecraft travel to the Moon, orbit around it and then return to Earth.\u00a0Artemis 2 will follow in May 2024, and this time will be crewed.<\/p>\n

The mission is the first step to constructing the habitable Lunar Gateway<\/a> in space, and also aims to take humans back to the Moon, which is tentatively\u00a0scheduled for 2025, using Artemis 3.<\/p>\n

Artemis 4 will hope to take four astronauts up to the Lunar Gateway in 2027, establishing a space station that will orbit the Moon. In the long-term, as well as aiding lunar exploration, it is hoped that the Lunar Gateway will be the launching point for a crewed mission to Mars.<\/p>\n

Orion\u2019s belting<\/h2>\n
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After months of rigorous testing in the world\u2019s premier space environments simulation facility at NASA\u2019s Plum Brook Station, Ohio, USA, the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission was certified, and took another step towards being ready for flight.\u00a0The test campaign, which was completed in March 2020,\u00a0subjected the spacecraft to the extreme temperatures and electromagnetic conditions it will endure during its uncrewed test flight around the Moon. Orion is the part of the craft that will house astronauts of the Artemis mission, and is complete reusable.\u00a0Photo by NASA\/Marvin Smith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Some assembly required<\/h2>\n
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Teams with NASA\u2019s Exploration Ground Systems and contractor Jacobs are pictured here as they prepare to integrate NASA\u2019s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the massive SLS core stage on the mobile launcher. This process took place in NASA\u2019s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on 22 June 2021. Photo by NASA\/Frank Michaux<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The engine room<\/h2>\n
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In this image, the Artemis I Space Launch System main engines are pictured inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center, on 10 January 2022. Artemis I is the first integrated test of NASA\u2019s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at the Kennedy facility. In later missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of colour on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence. Photo by NASA\/Corey Houston<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Leaving home<\/h2>\n
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NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket, with the Orion capsule atop, slowly rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 17 March 2022, on its journey to Launch Complex 39B. Carried on the crawler-transporter 2, NASA\u2019s Moon rocket is venturing out to the launch pad for a wet dress rehearsal ahead of the uncrewed Artemis I launch. Photo by NASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Rolling Out<\/h2>\n
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The Artemis I Moon rocket arrives at Launch Pad 39B at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA on 6 June 2022. The rocket travelled the 7km to the launch pad for a \u2018wet\u2019 rehearsal, ahead of the first launch attempt on 29 August 2022.\u00a0Photo by NASA\/Ben Smegelsky<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

More images from Science Focus<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n