An artist’s concept of the Artemis 1 mission shortly after launch with a fully extended solar wing array.
An artist’s concept of the Artemis 1 mission shortly after launch with a fully extended solar wing array.

Following the successful launch of NASA's Space Launch System, the Artemis era began. The first uncrewed trip to the moon will be documented by NASA on-board cameras.

NASA has access to a number of cameras that are being used to document Artemis 1. NASA's cameras will help the agency keep an eye on how the craft handles the trip before astronauts climb aboard.

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The crew module will have a camera mounted to it. This camera can take pictures of the Earth and Moon, but the size and position of these heavenly objects is what determines the capsule's position in space. The camera is collecting data on distant stars to compare to pre-existing star maps in order to aid in navigating through space.

A head on view of the Orion spacecraft with its solar array deployed (top) and side views (bottom), complete with the positions the cameras aboard.
A head on view of the Orion spacecraft with its solar array deployed (top) and side views (bottom), complete with the positions the cameras aboard.

A camera mounted to the capsule's exterior points to the European Service Module, which is propelling the capsule to the moon. The additional cameras are being used to look into the blackness of space. The X-shaped solar array wings that are fixed to the capsule will give NASA a panoramic view of the outside. There are cameras on the European Service Module.

Each of the four solar array wings has a commercial off-the-shelf camera mounted at the tip that has been modified for use in space. Melendrez is the imagery integration lead for the program.

The first step in NASA's plan to return to the Moon and future deep space missions is this week's launch of the new generation of spaceship. While the portfolio of 16 cameras documenting nearly every move is excessive, they will be capturing crucial evidence of how the spaceship fares before it is used to shuttle astronauts to the moon and beyond.

What is the next step for the spacecraft as it cruises toward the moon?

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