Washington on the 27th of August : The US space agency is gearing ready to launch its first Space Launch System (SLS) mission dubbed Artemis I into deep space on Monday.The mission will complete an extended orbit around the Moon before returning to Earth.The uncrewed Artemis I mission has a two-hour launch window which begins at 8:33 a.m.EDT (6 p.m.India time) on the 29th of August from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B in Florida in the US.
Artemis I will lay the foundations for a permanent, long-term presence around and on the Moon.
“The SLS rocket and integrated Orion spacecraft will allow us to gain a better understanding of the experiences astronauts will have in the future on flights.Artemis I is a crucial milestone in NASA’s long-term vision in space exploration, and will pave the way to be the first woman on the Moon and also the very first person of color on the Moon,” the space agency stated in an announcement.
The primary objective of Artemis I is to thoroughly test the integrated systems prior to crewed missions.This is done by conducting the spacecraft in deep space and testing Orion’s heat shield and regaining the crew module following the descent, reentry and splashdown.
The US space agency has identified 13 potential landing areas close to the south pole of the moon in preparation to launch astronauts back to the Moon under the Artemis program in 2024.
Each region is home to multiple possible landing spots to be used for Artemis III, which will be the first of the Artemis missions that will bring crew to the lunar surface.
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