Canadian Jeremy Hansen would be the first non-American to depart Earth’s orbit when he joins the Artemis II moon mission subsequent yr, officers revealed Monday.
Hansen, 47, can be one among 4 astronauts assigned to the 10-day mission that’s scheduled for launch in November 2024, NASA and Canadian Area Company officers stated. If profitable, this would be the first time people get that near the moon for the reason that Apollo program greater than 50 years in the past.
Astronauts final visited the moon in December 1972, closing out the Apollo program. To this point, 24 males — all People — have visited the moon and half of these have walked on it.
Learn extra:
Artemis II: Why NASA is sending a crew across the moon after 50 years
The mission across the moon and again will take roughly 10 days. The return journey alone will take about 4 days.
It builds on the success of Artemis I, an unmanned flight, that travelled on a 1.4 million mile journey past the moon, returning to Earth after 25 days final December.
That mission came about to make sure secure re-entry, descent, splashdown, and restoration utilizing the brand new Orion spacecraft so NASA is prepared for Artemis II when a crew is onboard.
Whereas the house company plans to ship 4 astronauts across the moon in 2024, it desires to try a lunar touchdown as early as 2025, with the launch of Artemis III.
With the Artemis missions, NASA goals to analyze extra of the lunar floor with the plan to construct a sustainable presence on the moon. The top aim is to go to Mars by the late 2030s.
Extra to return.
— with information from International Information’ Saba Aziz and The Canadian Press
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