NASA announces dates for landing on the Moon for the Artemis II and III missions

THE NASA (United States Space Agency) announced this Thursday (5) the Expected Moon landing dates for the Artemis II and III missions .

According to the organization, the planning carried out so far suggests that the spacecraft will arrive at the natural satellite in April 26, 2025 and mid-2027 respectively.

During a press event, NASA administrator Bill Nelson reported that scientists used the experience gained on the Artemis I mission to develop a system that simulates the difficulties of space, but still on the Earth’s surface.

One of the biggest challenges for the team was reducing the temperature of the capsules upon returning to our planet.

Previously, problems were identified with the Orion crew capsule, which will be home to astronauts during both lunar missions.

NASA disclosed that the spacecraft’s heat shield, which prevents Orion from burning up when the vehicle re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, unexpectedly charred and eroded during the unmanned Artemis I mission in 2022.

He commented that decisions on new releases were finalized this Thursday morning (5) and the dates were decided unanimously.

The NASA administrator highlighted that in the mission they prioritize the safety of astronauts. “We don’t travel until we are ready […] it’s how the Artemis mission works,” he said at the press event.

The plan to land Artemis III on the Moon is to be at the forefront of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) program, which showed its new spacesuits and projects for the future in September.

The mission aims to not only take humans back to the Moon within this decade, but also send the first female and African-descendant astronauts to the satellite.

The first phase of the program, without astronauts, took place in December 2023 — a test mission that sent NASA’s Orion capsule on a 2.25 million kilometer journey to circle the Moon.

Artemis II was scheduled to take place in 2024, however, in January, NASA announced delays in the mission schedule.

NASA and ETs: check out the latest updates from the American agency

This content was originally published in NASA announces dates for landing on the Moon of the Artemis II and III missions on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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