Much of the criticism of NASA's new rocket, called the Space Launch System, or SLS, came from the mounting costs. The rocket was supposed to be launched a long time ago. Engine problems and leaking fuel delayed the maiden voyage several times. The launch was pushed back due to the hurricanes.
At 1:48 a.m., there was a delay. The SLS megarocket was blasted into space by the space agency. The Artemis I mission hauled the agency's latest lunar-bound craft, which carried three mannequins on a journey around the moon. Sometime in the future, astronauts may once again land on our natural satellite's surface, thanks to an Artemis mission.
The United States will be able to establish a permanent presence on and around the moon over the next decade or so with the help of SLS. Commercial rockets will play a major role. As NASA sends supplies, lunar base materials, and astronauts to the moon, SLS can be set up in a variety of ways.
It's a great truck. We built it. The chief engineer for NASA's SLS rocket said he was ready to fly.
The Artemis I mission was completed by NASA on December 11th. The rocket is supported and opposed by both its supporters and detractors. Even if the early flights cost billions of dollars, the rocket will continue to fly because of the strong support of Congress.
The views from the maiden voyage are amazing.
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There was a blast off in the early hours of November 16. The rocket's huge thrust pushes down on Earth and begins to lift the vehicle. The SLS is flying at 128 mph. The rocket will go over 20,000 mph eventually.
The footage from the camera on the megarocket was released by NASA. You can see the events at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the video above. Two powerful white side boosters are stuck to the side of the rocket. 75 percent of SLS's thrust, or force pushing down against Earth, is provided by these parts.
The boosters blast away from the rest of the rocket after they have spent their fuel.
The two boosters are powerful. The largest solid boosters have been built.
After the boosters fell away to the Atlantic Ocean, the rocket's orange booster continued to propel the SLS rocket beyond Earth. The spaceship broke away from the last booster and flew towards the moon.
The Orion spacecraft and solar array with the moon in the distance Credit: NASA
On the first day of the Artemis mission, a camera on the solar array snapped a picture of Earth as the spaceship flew by. It was 67,000 miles away.
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The cratered moon as captured by Orion's optical navigation camera. Credit: NASA
The images were taken from just 80 miles above the moon.
There are craters and hills on the moon, shown in the views. Water ice is a necessary resource for future deep space missions and NASA suspects some of the satellite's craters have it.
The impact crater on the moon can stay for billions of years. Unlike Earth, our lunar satellite has no weather to wash away the collision, or to cover the surface in new rock.
The Orion spacecraft with the moon and Earth in the distance. Credit: NASA
On the 13th day of the mission, the moon's elliptical path brought it closer to Earth than any other place in the world.
"Orion has traveled farther than any other human-designed vehicle," NASA said.
It is possible for the spacecraft to "look back" at our natural satellite and beyond when it flies over the moon.
A close moon flyby shows a detailed view of the moon. Credit: NASA
Engineers call it a "burn" because the spaceship's engines were fired to swing close to the moon. The closest approach allowed for a detailed view of the moon's craters and terrain.
The craters of Herodotus and Aristarchus can be seen below. The meandering lines are likely collapsed lava tubes. There are lava tubes in Hawaii. The moon has a strong volcanic past, with eruptions occurring within 100 million years ago.
Craters and meandering, collapsed lava tubes on the moon Credit: NASA
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The capsule plunged into the ocean after falling through the atmosphere. The Navy ship with NASA and Navy crew on board recovered the charred spaceship.
Artemis is in the bag NASA's plans to return to the moon are complete. Artemis II is expected to launch as early as 24 years from now. The two astronauts won't land on the moon.
Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said in a statement that the next mission would fly crew to the Moon for the first time. The path to a regular cadence of missions and a sustained human presence at the Moon for scientific discovery and to prepare for human missions to Mars begins with this.
The Orion spacecraft after splashdown. The USS Portland is in the distance. Credit: NASA
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