Latest news with #Artemis1
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket gets 2nd stage even as Trump tries to scrap Space Launch System (photos)
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The ICPS is lowered onto SLS's stage adapter inside the VAB, May 1, 2025. | Credit: NASA The Artemis 2 megarocket set to launch NASA's next astronauts to the moon in 2026 is almost completely assembled. The giant Space Launch System (SLS) rocket continues to grow inside the NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Technicians at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), in Florida, stacked the rocket's second stage onto the launch vehicle Thursday (May 1). The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) is responsible for carrying the Orion spacecraft and crew the rest of the way into orbit around the Earth, and then sending them on their way to the moon. This SLS rocket will launch the Artemis 2 mission, with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The quartet are flying the second installment of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent presence on the moon as a technology springboard to one day send humans to Mars. The next mission, Artemis 3, would then deliver astronauts to the moon with the help of a Starship lander in 2027. That could be the last SLS rocket to fly, though. The Trump administration proposed canceling the SLS and Orion program after Artemis 3 in its 2026 budget proposal on Friday (May 2). Artemis 2 is scheduled to launch sometime in early 2026 — more than three years after the launch of Artemis 1, in November 2022. Artemis 1 sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft into lunar orbit on a mission that lasted about 25 days. Orion and crew won't enter lunar orbit for Artemis 2, but they will fly around the moon. Rather than enter orbit, the ICPS will steer Orion and the Artemis 2 crew out of Earth orbit into a free-return trajectory around the moon. This slingshots the spacecraft around the lunar far-side on a course directly back to Earth. Unexpected damage to Orion's heat shield caused by atmospheric reentry during Artemis 1 is to blame for the long wait time between Artemis 1 and Artemis 2. That damage delayed Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 by more than a year each. Artemis 3 is currently targeted for 2027, and will carry the first astronauts to land on the moon since the Apollo missions. Image 1 of 2 a large section of a rocket is hoisted in a factory Image 2 of 2 a large section of a rocket is hoisted in a factory RELATED STORIES: — NASA begins stacking SLS rocket for Artemis 2 moon mission (photos) — 'We're pushing the limits:' Artemis 2 backup astronaut on 2025 round-the-moon mission (exclusive) — Astronauts won't walk on the moon until 2026 after NASA delays next 2 Artemis missions The ICPS arrived at the VAB last month. Now, NASA has shared photos of the ICPS being stacked inside the VAB on X, showcasing the stage as it was hoisted from the warehouse floor and lowered into the SLS stage adapter. NASA also took deliver of Orion and its service module this week from the spacecraft's main contractor Lockheed Martin. Before it heads to the VAB for incorporation with SLS, Orion will be transferred KSC's Exploration Ground Systems for processing.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
It's alive! It's alive! Orion throws back its cover
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. NASA's Orion test article was exposed to launch abort-level acoustics prior to testing its forward bay cover's ability to jettison at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The cover is the last component of the spacecraft that must eject before parachutes deploy to ensure a safe landing. Although the setting might look like something out of a Mary Shelley novel or a noir film, it is actually a key test of NASA's next-generation space capsule in a state-of-the-art facility. Engineers and technicians from NASA and Lockheed Martin subjected the Orion environmental test article to the extreme conditions Orion may experience in a launch abort scenario, including the jettison of its forward bay cover, the last component that must eject before the parachutes deploy for a safe landing. The November 2024 test took place at the Space Environments Complex (SEC) at NASA's Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility (previously Plum Brook) in Sandusky, Ohio. The SEC houses the world's largest and most powerful space environment simulation facilities. The Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility (RATF), seen here, is the world's most powerful spacecraft acoustic test chamber. Before this Orion capsule entered tests in support of the Artemis 2 mission — the first planned flight to return astronauts to the moon since the Apollo program — and before it became an environmental test article, it flew to the moon and back as the Artemis 1 mission Orion crew module. Further, testing Orion at such high acoustic levels was a major milestone for the Artemis program. "These tests are absolutely critical, because we have to complete all of these tests to say the spacecraft design is safe and we're ready to fly a crew for the first time on Artemis 2," said Michael See, ETA vehicle manager, Orion Program. "This is the first time we've been able to test a spacecraft on the ground in such an extreme abort-level acoustic environment." You can watch a video of the forward bay cover jettison test and read more about the trials at the Space Environments Complex. You can also read more about the Artemis 2 mission.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
It's alive! It's alive! Orion throws back its cover
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. NASA's Orion test article was exposed to launch abort-level acoustics prior to testing its forward bay cover's ability to jettison at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The cover is the last component of the spacecraft that must eject before parachutes deploy to ensure a safe landing. Although the setting might look like something out of a Mary Shelley novel or a noir film, it is actually a key test of NASA's next-generation space capsule in a state-of-the-art facility. Engineers and technicians from NASA and Lockheed Martin subjected the Orion environmental test article to the extreme conditions Orion may experience in a launch abort scenario, including the jettison of its forward bay cover, the last component that must eject before the parachutes deploy for a safe landing. The November 2024 test took place at the Space Environments Complex (SEC) at NASA's Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility (previously Plum Brook) in Sandusky, Ohio. The SEC houses the world's largest and most powerful space environment simulation facilities. The Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility (RATF), seen here, is the world's most powerful spacecraft acoustic test chamber. Before this Orion capsule entered tests in support of the Artemis 2 mission — the first planned flight to return astronauts to the moon since the Apollo program — and before it became an environmental test article, it flew to the moon and back as the Artemis 1 mission Orion crew module. Further, testing Orion at such high acoustic levels was a major milestone for the Artemis program. "These tests are absolutely critical, because we have to complete all of these tests to say the spacecraft design is safe and we're ready to fly a crew for the first time on Artemis 2," said Michael See, ETA vehicle manager, Orion Program. "This is the first time we've been able to test a spacecraft on the ground in such an extreme abort-level acoustic environment." You can watch a video of the forward bay cover jettison test and read more about the trials at the Space Environments Complex. You can also read more about the Artemis 2 mission.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA continues stacking its giant Artemis 2 SLS moon rocket (photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The next rocket to launch astronauts to the moon is nearing completion. NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) continues to make progress toward its Artemis 2 mission planned for next year; SLS is currently being stacked inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. At this point, the final pieces of the rocket are being assembled. The rocket's conical stage adapter, which connects the SLS core booster to the launch vehicle's upper stages, was added to the stack on Saturday (April 12), according to NASA. The next piece of the puzzle arrived a short three days later: The SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) was transported to the VAB on Tuesday (April 15), after wrapping up testing and checkouts at KSC's Multi-Payload Processing Facility, NASA's Exploration Ground Systems team said in a post. SLS will launch NASA's Orion spacecraft with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch as well as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The quartet will fly Orion on a course that runs around the moon and back to Earth on the first crewed mission of the Artemis Program. Through Artemis, NASA hopes to establish a permanent presence on the moon before evolving the technologies used to start sending crewed missions to Mars. Artemis 1 launched in November of 2022, sending an uncrewed Orion capsule on a 25-day mission to lunar orbit. Upon its return to Earth, that capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Artemis 2 won't actually enter lunar orbit in this way, but will rather circle the moon once on a free-return trajectory that keeps Orion on a constant course for Earth as it circumnavigates our celestial neighbor. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3 RELATED STORIES: — NASA begins stacking SLS rocket for Artemis 2 moon mission (photos) — 'We're pushing the limits:' Artemis 2 backup astronaut on 2025 round-the-moon mission (exclusive) — Astronauts won't walk on the moon until 2026 after NASA delays next 2 Artemis missions Artemis 2 is targeting a Spring 2026 launch and Artemis 3, NASA's mission to finally land astronauts on the moon, is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2027. Both missions had been expected to launch this year and next, but damage to Orion's heat shield during atmospheric entry at the end of Artemis 1 forced NASA to delay them each by more than a year.
