Elizabeth Miri | The Monarch Ranger
Exactly 50 years ago, the most recent manned mission to the moon took flight: Apollo 17. Since the Apollo Program was named after the Greek god of the sun, it is only fitting that the next era of missions is named after his twin sister, Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon.
According to NASA.gov, Artemis will “land the first woman and person of color on the Moon” and will use “innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.” The mission will also “establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.”
“Then,” NASA says, “we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.”
In a press conference on November 3, 2022, Jim Free, Associate Administrator of the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, told The Monarch Ranger that “what we’re really hoping to discover is the history of the moon and how that relates to the history of earth.” Free was particularly interested in “what we can learn about terrestrial planet formation and evolution.”
Although the Artemis mission has faced challenges such as Hurricane Ian pushing back the launch date, Free was confident that these obstacles will be overcome. “That’s why we do a flight test,” he said. “It's about going after the things that can’t be modeled.” Free continued, “those challenges come with this complex of a vehicle, and where we are flying, and how we’re getting there.”
Artemis I is currently scheduled to launch on Monday, November 16, 2022, at 1:04 am EST from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. While Artemis I is an unmanned test, if all goes well, it will give way to a new era of human space exploration.
The unmanned flight of Artemis I is estimated to last roughly 25.5 days before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, December 11, 2022. In order to be successful, Artemis I is coordinating a few key components to launch.
The first component is the Space Launch System, or SLS, itself. This massive rocket carries Orion (the pod that will later carry the astronauts), the astronauts, and their cargo to the moon. NASA’s SLS is projected to be the most powerful rocket in the world.
The next component of Artemis I is called Gateway. This is where the astronauts transfer between the Orion spacecraft and the moon lander. Gateway will already be in the moon’s orbit by the time they launch, and is planned to remain in orbit for more than a decade. Gateway is meant to allow long term exploration of the moon and beyond.
The last component of the trip to the moon is the Human Landing System. This is the final mode of transportation to take the astronauts from lunar orbit, to the surface of the moon, and back. Once the astronauts land on the moon, they will work and live on the Artemis Base Camp. This will be their home for their mission as they explore the resources that the moon and space have to offer.
Like all missions, there is a logo for the Artemis Program, which is rich with symbolism. The Artemis of Greek Mythology is known for her hunting skills with a bow and arrow, and that mythology has been incorporated into the design.
The A, according to NASA, symbolizes the tip of Artemis’s arrow, which will be launched into space.
On one side of the A there is the moon, which symbolizes where we are going. However, notice that the tip of the A is past the moon, which shows that the Artemis Program is aiming beyond the moon. The use of the color red in the trajectory to the moon is meant to symbolize the path to Mars in the future. It also goes from left to right which is the opposite of the Apollo Program logo, which highlights the differences between the two missions.
Finally, the blue crescent represents us, the humans back home, recalling the shape of the curve Atremis’s bow. This symbolizes the Earth, from which the mission will be launched. All of us watching the mission, and those working to make it a reality, make up the bow that is launching these brave explorers into space.
Along with all the scientific discoveries that Artemis hopes to make, they are dedicated to making an impact on the next generation.
Artemis I is just the start, and as Jim Free told The Monarch Ranger, “my hope is that folks like you, who are in school today, at all ages, can see themselves in the people that work on our programs, the people who we are going to land on the moon.” Free hopes that students “are inspired to go take on careers in engineering, math, or science and take my spot or Cliff’s spot one day.”
In addition to the accomplishments above, Artemis is also making history here on Earth. Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director, will be the first woman in NASA’s history to oversee a countdown and liftoff. She told Clemson World that she is “struck with admiration and appreciation for the women who came before me blazing a trail,” and that “when it comes to being the launch director, I want to be the best that I can be. I want to help set the stage for something that lasts a long time.”
It is safe to say that the many accomplishments of the Artemis missions will indeed stand the test of time. “While we’re there,” Free said, “we are going to operate systems in a partial gravity environment.” “That will help us learn how to operate in that environment, which is very similar to Mars.”
In the end, Artemis will accomplish much more than simply putting human feet back on the moon. With what we learn, the mission may finally put the elusive red planet within the grasp of human spaceflight. And along the way, a new generation of students may be inspired to reach for the stars.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND LEARN MORE
A special thanks to Jim Free @jimfree and Cliff Lanham of NASA for graciously answering The Monarch Ranger’s questions during a media teleconference. For more information on Artemis I, click here.
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