NASA has made significant progress in recent years, including identifying hidden planets outside of our solar system and maintaining a consistent presence on the International Space Station. However, the agency still faces a major challenge that has remained unsolved since the last lunar landing in 1972.
For the first time in over 50 years, NASA astronauts are training for a historic feat: landing on the Moon. The Artemis II mission, set to take place next year, will use NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to send an Orion spacecraft towards its destination in a lunar flyby. This is a crucial step towards achieving the ultimate goal of sending humans back to the Moon.
A recent test flight involving the Orion spacecraft took place in November 2022, with the spacecraft flying within 80 miles of its intended destination. The Artemis II mission will build on this success, allowing astronauts to gain hands-on experience and learn how to respond to potential challenges during the flight.
NASA has provided a new update on the training progress of its Artemis II astronauts, who are simulating launch and orbital activities while wearing their suits. The agency is working to overcome the technical hurdles that have stalled previous lunar missions, including financial and regulatory issues.
The success of this mission will depend on the ability of NASA’s astronauts to work together seamlessly and respond quickly in emergency situations. With the Artemis II mission set to take place next year, NASA is finally addressing its failure to return humans to the Moon since 1972.
Source: https://www.uniladtech.com/science/space/nasa/nasa-crew-begins-training-first-mission-50-years-513895-20250813