Artemis II day 2: Plans, tasks and space meals revealed
Artemis II mission astronauts (Photo: NASA)
For the first time in more than half a century, a crew of four has left Earth's orbit and is heading toward the Moon to document its features and the Solar System. The team also aims to become the record holder for flight distance.
This is about the mission's progress, tasks, and flight features, according to NASA's official website.
To break away from orbit, the crew activated the so-called trans-lunar injection (TLI) just 25 hours after launch. The Orion capsule performed flawlessly and accelerated to over 38,000 km/h to break into deep space.
The spacecraft’s pilot, Victor Glover, announced from orbit that he was very pleased to report that humans had left Earth’s orbit once again.
This mission has already made history, as for the first time a woman, a Black astronaut, and a non-US citizen — a Canadian — are flying to the Moon. Previously, all 24 conquerors of the Moon were exclusively white men.
Who is on board:
- Reid Wiseman — mission commander.
- Victor Glover — pilot.
- Christina Koch — NASA astronaut.
- Jeremy Hansen — the first Canadian astronaut to fly to the Moon.
What amazed the astronauts in orbit
The crew members spent all 25 hours enjoying the cosmic views. Jeremy Hansen said they were literally pressing their faces against the windows. Earth in the rearview mirror looks phenomenal. The crew even saw the South Pole — the former workplace of Christina Koch.
Everyday difficulties: toilet repair and water supplies
Of course, there were problems, as often happens in space, and due to the impossibility of receiving physical assistance, they could be very dangerous for the astronauts.
After reaching orbit, the spacecraft's toilet broke down. This mundane problem on Earth could have been fatal during the flight. Christina Koch had to become a space plumber, and under Mission Control's guidance, she managed to fix the system.
There were also issues with the water dispenser. Due to a faulty valve, NASA ordered the crew to immediately fill all empty bags with drinking water. Using syringes and straws, the astronauts stockpiled over 7 liters of liquid — an insurance policy in case of a complete system failure.
What the Artemis II astronauts eat
The astronauts have a huge list of dishes to choose from during the 10-day mission. NASA's menu contains 189 unique dishes, including more than 10 different beverages, five hot sauces, and 58 tortillas.
Mission participants can prepare dishes such as barbecued beef brisket, broccoli casserole, and tropical fruit salads. The crew is allowed to consume two flavored drinks per day, including coffee, green tea, mango-peach smoothies, and apple cider.
What's next: Artemis II flight schedule
The Artemis II test flight, now dedicated to the Moon, marks the beginning of NASA's grand plans to establish a lunar base and sustainable life on the Moon. The crew plans to use modern technology to document features that could help scientists understand how the Moon and the Solar System formed.
In addition, the Orion spacecraft is set to fly 6,400 km beyond the far side of the Moon. This will make the Artemis II crew the team that has traveled the farthest distance from Earth. Thus, the record set by the legendary Apollo 13 in 1970 will be broken.
On April 10, the astronauts plan to return to Earth's atmosphere. Orion is expected to become the fastest spacecraft during re-entry into the dense atmospheric layers.
You can follow the progress of the Artemis II mission in real time on NASA's official website, where a continuous live broadcast from space is maintained.
What other interesting space news is there
China, following Russia's failure in space, is determined to become the US's main space competitor. Over the next five years, Beijing will prioritize the development of space, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robotics.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center showed the trace of a cold front from space. They also explained how polar air flows into our latitudes and affects the weather.
Additionally, it became known that meteorite debris fell on a house in Germany. A fragment the size of a soccer ball hit the roof and then landed in a bedroom.
