Artemis I is the first mission in a larger program to sustainably send astronauts around and on the Moon. On this first uncrewed launch, the Orion spacecraft will travel to the Moon, enter an elongated orbit, and return to Earth. The Orion spacecraft is powered by European-built modules that provide electricity, propulsion, fuel, water and air in addition to keeping the spacecraft operating at the right temperature.

The European service module is made from components supplied by 10 European Space Agency (ESA) member states and more than 20 companies in the United States. When the first European service module is installed atop the SLS rocket on the launch pad, the second European service module is only 8 kilometers (5 miles) away, as it is currently being integrated with the Orion crew module to perform the first manned Mission — Artemis II. The third and fourth European service modules, which will power astronauts to the moon, are being produced in Bremen, Germany.

The Artemis program is an international effort to create a permanent outpost around and on the Moon. Modules for the Lunar Gateway are being built in the United States and Europe, with the first European module “International Habitat” now being produced in Turin, Italy, and will be launched with the Orion spacecraft on the fourth Artemis mission.

The first Artemis launch this week didn’t carry humans, but three mannequins were placed on the spacecraft’s seats for scientific research. Equipped with more than 5,600 sensors, the two mannequins will measure the amount of radiation astronauts may be exposed to on future missions with unprecedented precision. ESA is also adding active radiation dosimeters to the crew module to obtain more data on changes in radiation levels on lunar missions — building on a lead developed in decades of radiation research on the International Space Station.

With the launch on November 16, the three-week Artemis I mission will conclude on December 11 with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The European Service Module separated from the Orion Crew Module before going overboard and burned harmlessly in the atmosphere, completing its work after taking Orion to the Moon and back safely.

The post Artemis I giant moon rocket is ready for launch on the 16th of this month appeared first on TechGoing.

“Nicole was downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall south of Vero Beach. Artemis I is sitting on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Vero Beach.

High winds are the biggest threat to the mission. The rocket is designed to withstand winds of up to 74 knots (85 mph) on the launch pad. NASA Deputy Administrator Jim Fried posted an update on Twitter on Thursday, saying the rocket pad’s wind sensor registered peak wind speeds of up to 71 knots (82 mph/131 km/h).

According to Freed, initial camera inspections revealed minor damage to Artemis I, including loose caulk and tears in the covering. In another update Friday, Fried said NASA will be making minor repairs and continuing to prepare the rocket for launch.

NASA made the decision Sunday night to keep Artemis 1 on the pad, saying it was the safest option for the launch hardware.

Adjusting the target launch date will allow the crew to take care of the needs of their families and families and provide sufficient logistical time to re-enter launch status after the storm. During the storm, an “out” team of employees remained at Kennedy Space Center to monitor the situation.

NASA last week slid Artemis 1, which consists of the giant Space Launch System rocket and upper stage, the Orion capsule, back to its launch pad by orbital flight after it was destroyed during Hurricane Ian in late September. Tuck away in the huge garage for safekeeping.

The post NASA inspects $4.1 billion Artemis I moon orbiting rocket for hurricane damage appeared first on TechGoing.