NASA’s Artemis II, originally scheduled for launch on 6 March, may be delayed after a problem with helium flow in the rocket was detected. The space agency reported that last night, helium flow in the rocket’s upper stage stopped. A steady helium flow is essential for launch. NASA is reviewing all data and may move the rocket from the launch pad at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center to the hangar if needed. Engineers, however, will attempt to fix the issue on the launch pad itself and are preparing for both scenarios. The issue is expected to affect the launch schedule. Artemis II is a flyby mission, meaning astronauts will orbit the Moon but not land. It will be the first time in 50 years that humans enter lunar orbit. If successful, the Artemis III mission is planned for 2028, which will include a Moon landing. NASA to send astronauts to the Moon after 50 years Under the Artemis II, four astronauts will orbit the Moon and return to Earth. The crew will include a woman and an African-American astronaut for the first time. Christina Hammock Koch has been selected for the 10-day mission. She previously set the record for the longest time spent in space. Victor Glover of the US Navy will serve as the pilot, becoming the first Black astronaut to participate in a Moon mission. Target of 2.2 million kilometer journey The Artemis II mission will travel approximately 2.2 million kilometers. Its purpose is to verify that all life-support systems of the Orion spaceship are properly designed. This is to ensure that astronauts do not face problems when going into deep space and during the moon landing in 2028. Artemis II will go as far as 10,300 kilometers from the far side of the Moon before returning. NASA launched the Artemis-1 mission on 15 November 2022, on its third attempt. It returned to Earth on 10 December after completing a 1.4 million-mile journey in 25 days. Before this, only the Apollo-17 mission in December 1972 had reached so close to the Moon. Artemis different from the 50-year-old Apollo mission The last and 17th flight of the Apollo mission took off in 1972. This mission was conceived by former US President J.F. Kennedy to defeat the Soviet Union. His goal was to establish the US as the world leader in the field of Science and Technology. However, nearly 50 years later, the situation is different. Now, the US does not want to defeat Russia or China through the Artemis mission. NASA’s objective is to thoroughly explore things located outside Earth. By going to the Moon, scientists want to try to make fuel, food, and buildings from its ice and soil.
