NASA begins fuelling rocket for first lunar trip in 50 years, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• NASA began fuelling its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on Wednesday for the Artemis II mission, humanity’s first lunar trip in over 50 years.
• The Artemis II mission aims for an evening lift-off with a crew of four astronauts: three Americans and one Canadian.
• The mission will send the crew around the moon without orbiting, setting a new distance record of 6,400 km beyond the moon.
• The last human lunar mission was Apollo 17 in 1972.

Detailed Insights:

• The SLS rocket requires over 2.6 million litres of hydrogen fuel.
• Earlier hydrogen leaks during a countdown test caused a flight delay.
• The Artemis II mission involves a direct return to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
• Commander Reid Wiseman expressed readiness for the launch.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Artemis Program: A NASA-led international human spaceflight program with the goal of returning humans to the Moon.
• Space Launch System (SLS): A super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle used for the Artemis program.