Alexander Lewis
Dec 29, 2023
NASA's much-anticipated Artemis III mission is poised to make history as it marks the momentous occasion of the first woman and the first person of colour setting foot on the lunar surface, signifying humanity's return to the Moon after an absence since 1972.
Scheduled for 2025, the mission's success hinges on significant groundwork yet to be accomplished by the space agency.
The Artemis III astronauts will journey towards the Moon aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft before transitioning to SpaceX's Starship HLS lander, an adapted version of the in-development Starship spacecraft.
This modified Starship HLS will facilitate the crew's transfer from lunar orbit to the Moon's surface. Upon landing, an elevator from the vehicle will emerge, allowing the crew to descend from the habitable area located near the lander's top to the lunar terrain.
Recently, NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Doug Wheelock conducted trials on a mockup of an elevator concept, complete with a fully functional basket section and crew interfaces. This exercise enabled the astronauts, donning spacesuits, to assess various factors like mobility limitations that the Artemis III mission astronauts might encounter.
"The suited crew provided feedback on elevator controls, gate latches, ramp deployment interfaces, cargo space, and operational dynamics while the basket moved along a vertical rail system," detailed NASA on its website.
In preparation for Artemis III, four astronauts will undertake a lunar flyby using the Orion spacecraft, marking the initial crewed test expected to occur in November 2024. Training for this mission is currently well underway.
