The US is preparing to launch a vessel to the moon today. The “Artemis II”, set to leave Florida’s Kennedy Space Center in a few hours, will have four astronauts on board.
It is the first time since 1972 that the US is sending a crew to the moon. However, the vessel is expected to explore the vicinity of the moon without the individuals venturing outside.
The Four People Flying to the Moon Today
The four people to occupy Artemis II are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, all of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Glover, a pilot, is setting a record as the first Black astronaut to fly to the moon, while Koch will be the first woman to do so. Meanwhile, Hansen is setting a record as the first Canadian to join a mission to the moon.
The mission commander is Weisman.
The Artemis II Task
This mission to the moon is set to cover a longer distance than previous missions and should take 10 days.
The crew will be testing the Orion spacecraft’s systems, especially the life-support systems, without the vessel landing. This should be helpful in future missions where spacecrafts will actually be landing on the moon.