NASA advances Orion modules for upcoming artemis missions

NASA advances Orion modules for upcoming artemis missions
by Brad Bartz
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 14, 2023

It was an impressive sight inside the high bay of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On June 22, 2023, a trio of Orion spacecraft destined for NASA's Artemis II, Artemis III, and Artemis IV missions stood adjacent to each other, each at a distinct stage of production. Engineers and technicians are diligently preparing these spacecraft to transport astronauts to and around the Moon in the forthcoming missions.

The Orion spacecraft designed for Artemis II is the farthest along in the production process, with the heat shield having been recently installed. Upcoming tasks for this module include acoustic testing, which is slated for later in the summer. Completion of these tests will mark another major milestone in the preparation of the spacecraft, paving the way for its coupling with the service module. This assembly will ultimately propel four astronauts on a course to orbit the Moon.

In comparison, the Artemis III module, tasked with transporting the next lunar surface explorers from our home planet to their human landing system, recently exited the clean room located inside the high bay. Its next stages involve undergoing a sequence of rigorous pressure and leak tests. Artemis III's mission is significant; it will ferry astronauts to the Moon and bring them back home, marking a new chapter in lunar exploration.

Arriving at the spaceport in February, the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis IV mission is still in the early stages of its assembly process. Despite being the newest arrival, its significance should not be understated, as it symbolizes the continuity and future-oriented vision of NASA's Artemis missions.

The simultaneous assembly of these three Orion spacecraft paints a vivid picture of NASA's dedication to returning humans to the lunar surface and even beyond. Each mission, while interconnected, serves unique goals and embodies incremental steps towards the broader objective of advancing human space exploration.

Artemis II is set to demonstrate the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on a crewed mission around the Moon. In contrast, Artemis III intends to land "the next man and the first woman" on the lunar surface, as stated by NASA, and Artemis IV will further expand this initiative, setting the stage for sustainable lunar surface exploration.

While the sight of three spacecraft in various stages of production is indeed an unusual spectacle, it represents NASA's persistent forward momentum in achieving its lunar ambitions. The Orion spacecraft's assembly process's transparent visibility provides an essential reminder of the real-time progress in human space exploration.

As we anticipate the upcoming tests and eventual launch of these Artemis missions, the scene from inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building encapsulates the strides NASA is making in reigniting lunar exploration. A new era in space exploration is indeed on the horizon, marked by the construction and preparation of these Orion crew modules.