First Crewed Mission to the Moon in 54 Years.. NASA Begins Countdown

SadaNews - The American space agency (NASA) has begun the countdown for the first crewed mission to lunar orbit in over half a century, paving the way for broader space missions.

Details revealed that the launch window for the "Artemis 2" mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida is set for Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 PM (22:24 GMT). NASA officials clarified that the countdown began on Monday at 4:44 PM.

NASA's Deputy Administrator, Amit Kshatriya, stated in a press briefing, "The vehicle is ready, the system is ready, and the crew is ready." He pointed out that "behind this mission is a larger campaign," referencing recently announced projects, including the establishment of a lunar base, according to AFP.

"A Very Good Position"

If the Wednesday launch is postponed or canceled for any reason, another launch window will be available until April 6.

NASA officials expressed hope that engineering operations and final preparations would proceed smoothly. Official Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told reporters, "We will fly when the preparations are ready," adding, "All indicators right now point to a very good position."

The four astronauts participating in this mission have entered quarantine. They are Americans Reid Wiseman, Christina Hammock Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen.

NASA officials noted that they will have the opportunity to have dinner with their families at a house on the Florida coast.

Technical Problems and Weather Conditions

The "Artemis 2" mission, the first since "Apollo" in 1972, is expected to last about 10 days, during which the crew will orbit the moon, paving the way for the next mission that will mark the long-awaited return of humans to the moon's surface with the aim of establishing a permanent presence this time.

This mission is itself unprecedented on several levels. It is the first mission to lunar orbit that includes a woman, a non-white astronaut, and a non-American astronaut. NASA will use its new rocket, "SLS," for this mission.

The "Artemis" program, unveiled during Donald Trump's first term, aims ultimately to establish a permanent human presence on the moon and to pave the way for future missions to Mars. However, it has faced many delays in recent years.

The uncrewed "Artemis 1" mission launched in November 2022 following several delays and two previous unsuccessful attempts. It was also supposed to launch in February, but several issues led to a delay, forcing NASA to return the rocket to the center for inspection and repair.

In addition to technical aspects, weather factors must also be considered. NASA announced on Monday that forecasts indicate an "80% favorable weather condition," clarifying that it is particularly focusing on "cloud cover and the possibility of strong winds." Its teams are also monitoring solar conditions.