Na big gist for space world today as NASA Artemis II mission finally launch from Kennedy Space Center for Florida. The mighty SLS rocket thunder away from Earth around 3:35pm Pacific time, carrying four astronauts wey go circle the moon for first time since 1972. The whole thing na emotional moment for many people wey dey watch live.
As the rocket dey rise, the sound dey shake body for three miles away. White flame just engulf the launch pad as the SLS begin move slow-slow, then gather speed with two pillars of fire wey dey roar like thunder. One minute ten seconds into launch, na critical moment wey engineers dey fear pass. But everything work fine as the rocket arc over Atlantic Ocean like angel with fire.
For Kennedy Space Center, staff just dey laugh and clap after years of work. One person talk say dem feel emotional, another say dem wan cry – all na release of tension from months wey the launch almost happen but dem postpone am. Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the first woman launch director for NASA, give final go-ahead to crew. Commander Reid Wiseman respond say “We go for all humanity” – words wey make many people spine dey tingle.
The launch almost no happen because of problem with launch abort system. Countdown clock hold for 10 minutes while engineers fix am. But dem manage resolve everything quick-quick. Four RS 25 engines and twin solid rocket boosters produce over 8.8 million pounds of thrust to push the spacecraft go sky.
This launch mean plenty for space program. Kennedy Space Center no send astronauts to moon since Apollo 17 for 1972. Today na like the center return to original work wey dem build am for. Even Neil Armstrong talk before say the dream of space travel go return one day – today na that day.
Inside the Orion capsule, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen dey begin 10-day journey wey go test everything about the spacecraft. Dem go reach about 5,000 miles above moon surface – farther than Apollo missions wey dey orbit under 100 miles. Mission scientist Barbara Cohen say when dem pass far side of moon, e go look like basketball wey person hold for arm length.
The astronauts go do plenty tests. Hours after enter high-Earth orbit, dem go take manual control of Orion to see how e dey handle for space. Victor Glover talk say dem wan make sure the vehicle fly the way dem design am. This test important because future missions need dock with lunar lander for orbit.
Science experiments dey plenty for this trip. Researchers wan study how deep space affect human body, especially radiation exposure. Dem even put astronauts’ cells for small chips wey dem distribute throughout capsule. The crew go also use their eyes do geological research for far side of moon wey no human ever see before. Geologists train dem to spot unique features and snap photos.
Small satellites from Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina dey inside rocket too. These CubeSats go study space radiation effects on hardware, monitor space weather, and see how environment affect electrical equipment wey dey go moon.
For return journey, the capsule go hit atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour with temperature reach almost 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat shield go protect astronauts, but NASA discover unexpected damage during 2022 test flight. This time, capsule go enter atmosphere at steeper angle to reduce time for harsh conditions. Eight parachutes go slow am down before e splash for Pacific Ocean near California.
Meanwhile, SpaceX dey watch everything with keen eye. Elon Musk company dey prepare what fit become largest IPO ever, maybe raise $75 billion. NASA new administrator Jared Isaacman announce changes for February wey go make Artemis program depend more on SpaceX for future launches. This include using Starship rocket carry crews and building materials go moon where NASA plan build research station.
Musk talk say dem wan build “self-growing city on the Moon” within 10 years. E even sketch plan for AI data centers on moon with Optimus robots, then catapult dem into space using magnetic accelerator wey e call “mass driver.” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives call Artemis launch “watershed” event for SpaceX wey e expect go lead new space economy.
But plenty challenges remain. Starship rocket still dey testing phase with some bad test flights. SpaceX need master refueling rocket for Earth orbit before e fit carry out moon missions. Skeptics like Igor Pejic, author of “Tech Money,” warn say Musk plans might never happen or take many years.
One cute part of mission na “Rise” – stuffed toy created by 8-year-old Lucas Ye from Mountain View, California. The boy win international competition design zero gravity indicator wey go float when crew reach weightlessness. Lucas travel to launch with family, talk say e feel “really, really, really surprised and very happy.” The tradition of plush-toy indicators date back to Yuri Gagarin 1961 mission.
Artemis II crew go perform flyby of moon, temporarily lose signal with NASA for far side. If everything go according to plan, capsule go splash down near San Diego around 5pm Pacific time on April 10. What dem learn from this flight go determine future Artemis missions, including NASA plan establish permanent base on lunar surface.
Christina Koch talk say dem hope this mission na beginning of era where every person for Earth fit look at moon and think of am as destination. After 50 years of waiting, human eyes go see moon again – and this time, with plans wey go take us even farther.
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