Artemis 2 Moon Mission to launch on April 1

PeppermintPatty said:
Iā€™m surprised by the amount of members interested in this thread. Thereā€™s enough members to count on one had. Years ago this would be a HUGE deal. People couldnā€™t wait to see it.
Click to expand...
I am so interested in star stuff, I have my name aboard the Europa Clipper space probe which is on its way to Jupiter's moon, Europa.
Due to arrive in 2030.
Also have a boarding pass for Artemis ll.
Love all things to do with the universe.
 
I signed up as well, and am on that disc that's aboard. When NASA was just starting back in the 50s I was shocked to receive a phone call from my former hospital commander asking me to join the program. I had just been discharged and home from France less than a month.

Little did I know this Colonel had been impressed with my nursing skills that he'd followed my career to date. I told him, I had already been accepted in the Master's program at the University of Maryland, so couldn't possibly consider this.

Well, it was late spring, and I was free all summer, so he talked me into going down to Florida and at least having a look around and listen to what would be expected of me, should I change my mind. Down I went and he introduced me to the original astronauts.They showed me around, and I definitely knew I would not work there. As much as John Glenn and Deke Slayton tried to convince me that this would be a walk in the park, as all I'd had to do would be make sure they were well after each trial they went through.

They were great guys and if the place were more inviting, I may have delayed getting my advanced degree. Merritt Island in those days where Cape Canaveral was located was a dump. The main building wasn't much more than a shack, so, at dinner that night, I wished the guys and their wives well. Went home and the rest is history. It became quite a place in later years and when I took my son there, he was impressed.
 
Artemis II is going to leave earth's orbit in a little less than two hours and head for the moon!

Artemis II is scheduled to fire its main engine for the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn tonight, Thursday, April 2, 2026, at approximately 7:49 p.m. EDT.

This critical maneuver will propel the Orion spacecraft and its four-person crew out of Earth's orbit and onto a trajectory toward the moon.

Key Details of the TLI Burn
  • Time: Scheduled for 7:49 p.m. EDT (23:49 GMT).
  • Duration: The burn is expected to last approximately 5 minutes and 49 seconds.
  • Engine: The firing will use the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engine on the European Service Module.
  • Result: This "slingshot" maneuver will place the spacecraft on a free-return trajectory, ensuring the crew returns to Earth even if further propulsion systems fail.
 
Video from the Orion spacecraft...
They are able to have high definition video communication with earth stations because they're transmitting back and forth with lasers, which have far greater bandwidth than radio communications.

The Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O) is a cutting-edge laser communication terminal designed to transmit data using invisible infrared light rather than traditional radio waves.

By using higher-frequency infrared light, the O2O system can pack more data into a single transmission, achieving speeds up to 260 Megabits per second (Mbps). This is more than 100 times faster than conventional radio networks used for deep space missions.
 
Lewkat said:
I signed up as well, and am on that disc that's aboard. When NASA was just starting back in the 50s I was shocked to receive a phone call from my former hospital commander asking me to join the program. I had just been discharged and home from France less than a month.

Little did I know this Colonel had been impressed with my nursing skills that he'd followed my career to date. I told him, I had already been accepted in the Master's program at the University of Maryland, so couldn't possibly consider this.

Well, it was late spring, and I was free all summer, so he talked me into going down to Florida and at least having a look around and listen to what would be expected of me, should I change my mind. Down I went and he introduced me to the original astronauts.They showed me around, and I definitely knew I would not work there. As much as John Glenn and Deke Slayton tried to convince me that this would be a walk in the park, as all I'd had to do would be make sure they were well after each trial they went through.

They were great guys and if the place were more inviting, I may have delayed getting my advanced degree. Merritt Island in those days where Cape Canaveral was located was a dump. The main building wasn't much more than a shack, so, at dinner that night, I wished the guys and their wives well. Went home and the rest is history. It became quite a place in later years and when I took my son there, he was impressed.
Click to expand...
You have a great story for you and your family...... and us! Thanks for sharing.
 
Artemis II mission is supported by Australia, just as the Apollo missions were.

Australia Joins Artemis II for Lunar Mission Connection​

As the first crewed lunar mission in 50 years takes four astronauts further from Earth than humans have ever travelled before, Australia will play a crucial role in keeping them connected with ground control. CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, is continuing its long and proud history supporting space exploration, dating back to the 1960s.
CSIRO will use its spacecraft communication and tracking capability to support NASA's Orion spacecraft on its 10-day mission around the Moon.

Helping NASA keep in touch​

CSIRO has operated and managed NASA's Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) since 2010. The station is one of three that make up NASA's Deep Space Network, responsible for providing around-the-clock contact with more than 40 spacecraft exploring the Solar System and beyond.

More details here - Australia Joins Artemis II for Lunar Mission Connection
 
ā€œTHAT IS NO MOONā€ says horrified Artemis II crew

No photo description available.

  • Sorry. Couldnt resist :)
 
George1959 said:
Mankind has not even created peace on earth.
Click to expand...
Peace on Earth requires the cooperation and agreement of everyone on earth...approximately 8.3 billion.
George1959 said:
But flying around the moon. How ridiculous.
Click to expand...
I doubt we'll be around to realize the benefits of this flight, but -hopefully- somebody will be.
 
Last edited:
I wondered what the big deal is about this flight. After all, weā€™ve already had six landings, some with a moon golf cart to extend our range of exploration. Then I remembered itā€™s been over 50 years since the last landing, and most of us werenā€™t alive to remember it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top