After the successful launch of the Artemis II mission, NASA has begun a key phase of checking the Orion spacecraft before the crew enters a trajectory to the Moon. This is reported by NASA and Reuters, writes UNN.
Details
Currently, four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – are in Earth orbit and testing the spacecraft's systems. According to NASA, the mission will last about 10 days and is to be the first crewed lunar expedition for the United States in over half a century.
After launch, Orion successfully deployed its solar panels and proceeded to check its onboard systems, including life support, navigation, and communications. Separately, NASA reported that the crew managed to fix a problem with the toilet system that arose after launch.
Next stage – heading for the Moon
The next critical maneuver for "Artemis II" will be the so-called trans-lunar injection – an engine impulse that should take the spacecraft from Earth's orbit onto a course to the Moon.
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If this stage is successful, Orion will perform a flyby of Earth's satellite and return along a free return trajectory. According to NASA's plan, the crew will also fly over the far side of the Moon – a region that humans have not seen up close since the Apollo program.
The "Artemis II" mission is key to the entire US lunar program, as it is intended to prove the readiness of Orion and the SLS rocket for future flights with human landings on the lunar surface.
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