NASA would launch its new lunar program Artemisespacio in February

NASA announced this Friday that it will seek to launch its unmanned Artemis 1 mission in February, the first stage of the United States’ plan to return humans to the Moon.

This crucial mission, which will mark the start of the Artemis program, was originally scheduled for the end of the year, and the space agency hoped to be able to carry it out with astronauts on board in 2024, at Artemis 3. However, the schedule was delayed.

NASA achieved a major milestone Wednesday by docking the Orion crew capsule atop its Space Launch System mega-rocket, which now stands 98 meters tall inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

After running several tests, it will be transferred to the launch pad for a final test in January, with the first window for launch in February, authorities assured reporters during a call.

“The February launch period begins on the 12th and our last chance in February is on the 27th,” said Mike Sarafin, head of the Artemis 1 mission.

The next windows are in March and then in April.

These possible launch periods depend on the orbital mechanics and the relative position of the Earth with respect to its natural satellite.

The mission is expected to last between four and six weeks.

It will also deploy a series of small satellites, known as CubeSats, to conduct experiments and technology demonstrations.

Although it is likely to be delayed, Artemis 2 is technically scheduled for 2023 and Artemis 3 for 2024, which would mark humanity’s return to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

NASA says that among the astronauts who will go to the moon they will be the first woman and the first person of color to make that trip.

The US space agency seeks to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon and use the lessons learned to plan a crewed trip to Mars in the 2030s.