NASA has announced plans to launch an unmanned flight around the moon in February 2022, paving the way for astronauts to once again set foot on Earth’s satellite.
The US space agency said Friday that it is in the final stage of tests to send its Orion capsule into lunar orbit on its Space Launch System rocket.
It announced this week that Orion is secured on the 98-meter (322-foot) rocket.
NASA said the Artemis 1 mission “will pave the way for future flight testing with the crew” before “more complex missions with astronauts on and around the lunar surface.”
The agency will conduct a series of tests through February, including the interface and communication systems, and rehearsals several weeks before launch.
NASA said it would set a launch date if the rehearsal is successful.
“Artemis 1 will provide a foundation for human exploration of deep space and demonstrate our commitment and ability to expand human presence to the Moon and beyond prior to the first crewed flight on Artemis 2,” the company said.
It’s been 52 years since NASA’s space program put humans on the moon, starting with the Apollo 11 mission and Neil Armstrong’s famous giant steps.
A total of 12 men walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972 when missions were abandoned in favor of workspace shuttle flights and the International Space Stations. ♦
Courtesy: The Guardian
