For the first time in fifty years, NASA has despatched astronauts in the direction of the moon on a mission often called Artemis II. In the Sixties and 70s, the Apollo missions established crewed house and lunar exploration. Now, in 2026, the Artemis missions are constructing on that legacy of scientific discovery to be taught extra about the impact of spaceflight on human beings. The mission will final 10 days and 4 crew members have been aboard the Orion capsule as they launched from the Earth’s floor and thru its environment to journey in the direction of the moon.
While the crew received’t land on the moon, this historic mission serves as an vital check flight to put the basis to deliver people to the floor of the moon inside the decade. Temple Now sat down with Matthew Newby, affiliate professor of instruction in physics in the College of Arts and Science, to be taught extra about this mission and discover the significance of crewed lunar expeditions in 2026.
Temple Now: What is the Artemis II mission?
Matthew Newby: Artemis II is the second mission of the total Artemis missions, which started in 2022 with Artemis I, an uncrewed lunar mission that efficiently flew the Orion capsule round the moon. Artemis II will deliver 4 crew members alongside for the trip. This crew can be the first astronauts aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft. It is additionally the first time in 50 years that NASA has launched a crewed lunar mission, and it will possible be the farthest that people have traveled into house, roughly 254,000 miles from Earth.
TN: What do researchers be taught from crewed lunar missions?
MN: It will all the time be cheaper to discover house with robots, particularly with the know-how out there to us at this time. But Artemis II is about the human affect of house exploration. (*50*) the Apollo missions, we proved that we might ship people to house and that we might land on the moon. (*50*) Artemis, NASA is asking, how snug can we make spaceflight? Do we now have the know-how to make expeditions like this routine? Can we grasp the know-how and processes wanted to ship folks to house, in order that we might sooner or later arrange a base on the moon or ship people to Mars? These are large questions, some which will really feel like science fiction, however they’re the questions central to the Artemis mission.
We have made large technological advances since the Apollo missions. (*50*) our advances, we are actually in a position to monitor and get information on many issues that weren’t doable with Apollo. For the Artemis missions, the astronauts may have 24/7 well being screens that acquire information on the affect of spaceflight on the human physique. We have a larger understanding of radiation now and we can be monitoring the impact of deep-space radiation on the crew. We are testing navigation and communication applied sciences. There’s a lot to be taught when sending folks to house and this mission is gathering information on all of it.
TN: Who are the crew members of Artemis II?
MN: There are 4 astronauts aboard the spacecraft on this mission: Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot); Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist). This is a historic crew. Hansen is the first Canadian to journey to deep house. Glover is the first Black astronaut to journey to the moon. Koch is the first girl to journey to the moon.
Everyone on board is an expert in their subject and brings a lot to this mission. Artemis II is actually about human expertise.
TN: Can you clarify the “rocket science” behind how we get these astronauts from Earth to the moon?
MN: The hardest a part of spaceflight is truly Earth. We’ve obtained this very, very sturdy gravitational pull, and we’ve obtained this environment. Both of these issues are nice for you and me, as people on the floor, however if you wish to get into house, it’s important to struggle that gravitational pull to stand up above the environment, and the environment is slowing you down the complete manner.
All spaceflight begins with a strong, multistage rocket. These spacecrafts need to generate sufficient thrust to beat Earth’s gravity, which they do by burning an infinite quantity of gas to launch themselves up and out. As that preliminary launch gas depletes, the capsule splits off, leaving the crew with a fraction of the gas they began with, as far much less is wanted throughout the remainder of their journey. Once you’re in orbit, issues get rather a lot simpler, since you don’t need to struggle the environment anymore.
For Artemis II, the mission will take roughly 10 days. It is a lunar flyby mission, so the crew received’t land on the moon however they are going to exit into house, loop round the Earth a number of instances, then exit in the direction of the moon, primarily leaping over the moon, after which they are going to be pulled again to Earth on account of the pull of Earth’s gravity. When the crew returns, they are going to descend into Earth’s environment at a screaming 25,000 miles per hour. They can be the first folks in historical past to expertise that velocity on their return.
TN: The Artemis II crew can be flying farther from Earth than any human earlier than, and they’re going to catch a uncommon view of the moon. What will the crew see throughout their lunar flyby?
MN: The moon is what we name “tidally locked,” that means that the power of gravity from the Earth on the moon has truly pulled the heavier facet of the moon in the direction of us completely. The moon rotates as soon as on its axis each time it orbits the Earth, so one facet faces us always. This signifies that till the Sixties, the human race has by no means seen “the far side of the moon.” Nowadays, we now have footage from completely different missions and orbiters which might be up in house so give humanity entry to this view however seeing it in particular person, with your personal two eyes, is a particular factor and a giant deal.
When this crew does their lunar flyby, they are going to be the first people in 50 years to see the far facet of the moon. Beyond simply the pleasure and uniqueness of that second, there is rather a lot for researchers to achieve from human remark.
TN: What are a few of the variations between the Apollo missions and the Artemis missions?
MN: There are a number of variations, particularly as a result of the whole lot we’re doing for the Artemis mission builds on data gained from Apollo, in addition to the many advances in know-how that we’ve skilled since the Sixties.
Take the capsule, for instance. On the authentic Apollo mission, inside the capsule, it was shoulder to shoulder, no free house, no bathroom. They had plastic baggies. It was tough. My first impression once I noticed the Orion capsule for Artemis II was, “Oh, that’s roomy.” They’ve obtained 4 folks in there, and so they can truly transfer round. There’s an train machine. There’s a bathroom!
Likewise, the computing energy that is out there to us now in 2026 is far past what was out there for the Apollo missions in the Sixties. The quantity of computing energy in the common smartphone at this time is way over we had out there for these first crewed lunar spaceflights. So, with all these developments, there’s much more we are able to be taught throughout these missions, particularly about the affect of spaceflights on the astronauts themselves.
Thanks to the Apollo missions, we all know the way to get folks to house and the moon. (*50*) this mission, it is clear that NASA is excited about not solely how can we conduct crewed lunar missions however how snug can they be? Can we give astronauts house to maneuver round, to train, to look out the window?
TN: Considering that it’s been 50 years since the final manned lunar mission, why now? Why is NASA exploring manned spaceflight in 2026?
MN: If you wish to take a look at the actually large image, considered one of the questions being requested throughout Artemis is, can we make this routine? And that is a really long-term query. When we take into consideration the Earth, that is our house, the place all people reside. If we mess up our planet an excessive amount of, we might begin to search for options. In addition to questions of feasibility, i.e., can we do it, there is additionally the query of, is it price it?
Again, which will sound like science fiction, however it has lengthy been a analysis query for astrophysicists, for NASA. What assets may be out there for people on the moon, on Mars? Can we get there safely, routinely? Can we construct a base or self-sustaining colony? We can’t do any of that with out the work we’re doing proper now with these missions.
Lots of people I do know assume this mission is overdue, however with latest mechanical, computational and medical developments, it would possibly truly be the excellent second.