Human Colonization of the Moon

During November, the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket had an initiatory lift off from NASA’S Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was the first step of Artemis, a series of progressively complex missions to begin human colonization on the Moon.

NASA hopes to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon with the Artemis missions. Using state-of-the-art technologies and collaboration with partners all over the world, NASA’s goal is to create a long-term human presence on the moon.

This first mission—called Artemis I—is needed to display Orion’s systems in space and ensure a secure re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery preceding the first flight with crew on Artemis II.

The splashdown is planned for December 11, but Orion is certainly not idle! During the days since its lift off, it has completed six outward trajectory connections before entering a distant retrograde orbit around the moon, where the spacecraft has spent most of its time in space. Distant retrograde orbit is a highly stable orbit where little fuel is required to stay for an extended period.

On the first of December, Orion completed the distant retrograde departure burn. Throughout the later days, it re-entered the lunar sphere of influence, flying just 80 miles from the surface of the Moon. This significant achievement begins to bring Orion’s mission to a close as the spacecraft sets its course for Earth. With both the distant retrograde departure burn and the return powered flyby burn completed, it is ready to return home. 

Orion will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on December 11, where NASA and the U.S. Navy will be waiting with open arms to retrieve it from the Pacific Ocean. NASA hopes that the new generation of explorers, known as the Artemis Generation, will be inspired by the scientific discoveries of the Moon. NASA hope that through the exploration of deep space, they will be able to build a global alliance and gain economic benefits for all, while maintaining American leadership in exploration.

Sources:

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i/#two 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/