From The Conversation: NASA鈥檚听Artemis 1听mission is poised to take a key step toward returning humans to the Moon after a听half-century hiatus. The launch was scheduled for the morning of Aug. 29, 2022 but was听postponed due to an issue with one of the rocket鈥檚 engines. The next opportunity to launch the rocket is Sept. 2, 2022. The mission is a shakedown cruise 鈥� sans crew 鈥� for NASA鈥檚 Space Launch System and Orion Crew Capsule.
The spacecraft is scheduled to travel to the Moon, deploy some small satellites and then settle into orbit. NASA aims to practice operating the spacecraft, test the conditions crews will experience on and around the Moon, and assure everyone that the spacecraft and any occupants can safely return to Earth.
The Conversation asked听Jack Burns, a professor and听space scientist听at the 麻豆视频 and former member of the Presidential Transition Team for NASA, to describe the mission, explain what the Artemis program promises to do for space exploration, and reflect on how the space program has changed in the half-century since humans last set foot on the lunar surface.