By: Nathan Chen

NASA is going to launch its new spaceship in a preliminary step toward sending the first woman and the first person of color to the moon, to dispatch missions to Mars. This work on the spaceship, Orion, began several years ago and includes good technology and great safety features.

Artemis II will be launched in 2024, and Orion will circle the Moon to set the stage for the Artemis III mission, which will put astronauts on the moon’s surface. That’s a good mission that the United States should do if they want to establish a human presence on the moon.

Orion will be equipped with a Launch Abort System to safeguard astronauts during ascent and will sport a heat shield for entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. The European Service Module is built by the European Space Agency, offering propulsion, power, thermal control, water, and air for the astronauts. This demonstrates in one small way the human element of this global effort at work.

Only a few years until its completion, space enthusiasts are getting excited at the prospect of Artemis II. The success of Orion is such a huge accomplishment for NASA that it moves all people into the future for inspiration to a new generation of explorers. As Bill Nelson put it, “With Orion, we’re taking the next leap in space exploration, building on the legacy of Apollo, and setting the stage for the future of human spaceflight.”

Orion’s launch restored that sense of adventure and gave NASA a human capability program. With Orion, the journey to the moon, Mars, and beyond begins, making the future of space exploration brighter.

Sources:
NASA Built the Viper Moon Rover for $450 Million. Now It’s Canceling the Mission. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)