The four astronauts assigned to the Artemis II mission have officially named their Orion spacecraft "Integrity." During a news conference, the crew explained the name reflects the core values driving their upcoming flight around the Moon, a critical test mission scheduled for early next year.
The crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Their 10-day journey will be the first crewed flight of the Artemis program and will send humans farther into space than ever before.
Key Takeaways
- The Artemis II crew has named their Orion capsule "Integrity," symbolizing the mission's core values of teamwork and dedication.
- The mission is a crucial test flight designed to validate the Orion spacecraft's life-support systems and capabilities before future lunar landings.
- Artemis II is scheduled to launch between February and April of next year, contingent on successful pre-flight checks.
- The crew's primary measure of success is ensuring the spacecraft is ready for the Artemis III mission, which will land astronauts on the Moon.
A Mission Defined by Core Values
During a press event at Johnson Space Center, the Artemis II crew shared the reasoning behind their chosen spacecraft name. Mission Commander Reid Wiseman explained that the name "Integrity" emerged from a deep discussion about the guiding principles of the mission.
The astronauts, including their backup crew members, considered the core values of both NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. They also reflected on their personal values and the broader goals of the Artemis program.
"We started with the NASA core values. And then we looked at the Canadian Space Agency core values," Wiseman stated. "And then we talked about what matters to us most... peace and hope for all humankind. That is what we really want... So we’re going to fly around the Moon in the spacecraft Integrity."
The name is intended to honor the immense workforce that developed the vehicle and to represent the international collaboration that defines the Artemis missions.
The Critical Role of a Test Flight
The crew repeatedly emphasized that Artemis II is, first and foremost, a test mission. While the objective is to complete a flyby of the Moon, the flight plan is flexible and prioritizes safety and data collection above all else.
The initial phase of the mission will take place in Earth's orbit. During this period, the astronauts will conduct a series of rigorous checks on the Orion capsule's life-support systems, navigation, and maneuvering capabilities.
What is a Trans-Lunar Injection?
A Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) is a critical engine burn that propels a spacecraft out of Earth's orbit and onto a trajectory toward the Moon. For Artemis II, the decision to proceed with the TLI will only be made after all systems have been thoroughly tested in orbit, ensuring the spacecraft is fully prepared for the deep-space portion of its journey.
"When we get off the planet we might come right back home," Wiseman explained. "We might spend three or four days around Earth. We might go to the Moon. That’s where we want to go, but it’s a test mission as we are ready for every scenario."
If all systems perform as expected, NASA will authorize the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn. This will commit the crew to a nine-day trip that will take them around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth on a free-return trajectory, a safety feature that ensures their return even in the event of a propulsion issue.
Paving the Way for Artemis III
While the Artemis II mission will set new records for human spaceflight distance, the crew is focused on a different measure of success: enabling the next mission, Artemis III.
According to the astronauts, their primary goal is to validate every system and procedure to reduce risk for the crew that will eventually land on the lunar surface. This perspective shapes their training and preparation.
"We look through the lens of mission success, which is Artemis III getting back to the surface of the Moon," said Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. "We do all this training, all this preparation. We’re buying down all this risk, always thinking about what are we handing off to the next crew?"
This focus on teamwork and future missions was echoed by astronaut Christina Koch, who noted that the mission is not about individual records. "It’s not about farthest, first, fastest, longest, it’s about the teamwork, and the work that went into the mission," she said.
International Partnership
The Artemis program is a global effort. For Artemis II, the Orion spacecraft's Service Module, which provides power and propulsion, is a contribution from the European Space Agency (ESA). Other international partners like Japan and the United Arab Emirates are also involved in building components for the future Gateway lunar space station.
Launch Preparations and Challenges
NASA officials have provided an updated timeline for the Artemis II launch. While the earliest possible launch date is February 5, the official target remains within the April timeframe. The final date depends on several factors.
These factors include the readiness of the rocket and spacecraft, the crew's final preparations, and favorable weather conditions both on Earth and in space. A significant consideration is space weather, particularly solar events like Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
Key Launch Considerations:
- Vehicle Readiness: The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule must pass all final integration tests.
- Crew Readiness: The four astronauts must complete their final training simulations.
- Earth Weather: Conditions at the launch site in Florida must be within acceptable limits.
- Space Weather: NASA must monitor for solar flares or CMEs that could pose a radiation risk to the crew beyond Earth's protective magnetic field.
To mitigate radiation risks, the Orion capsule is equipped with a makeshift shelter in its storage area where the crew can take cover during a solar event. Additionally, NASA recently launched new satellites, including the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), to improve the forecasting of space weather events.