On Wednesday, the NASA will begin the Artemis II missionwhich will mean the return of humans to the Moon in more than 50 years. But The countdown started this Mondayand with data that generates expectations.
The count began today at 16:44 EST (21:44 GMT), marking the formal start of the final phase prior to launch, the US space agency detailed in a press conference.
The countdown started with 80% chance of favorable weather conditionsalthough NASA warned of possible strong winds and cloudiness as the main risks.
Shawn QuinnNASA’s exploration ground systems manager, said teams will monitor for cumulus clouds, dense clouds and winds on launch day. «At the moment, 80% of flights are expected to be ready by Wednesday afternoon. So that’s good.»
«Certainly, all signs indicate at this time that we are in excellent shape«excellent as we count down,» Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, told reporters.
To all this, the meteorologist The Weather Channel confirmed that «the weather will be very good for April 1, which is when we have our first launch window.»
The Artemis II mission
Two days before takeoff, the agency has everything ready for its most ambitious mission in decades, which plans to take four astronauts to lunar orbit for the first time since Apollo 17.
The SLS rocket (Space Launch System) and the Orion spacecraft are already on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, from where takeoff is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:24 p.m. local time (10:24 p.m. GMT).
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch y Victor Gloveralong with the Canadian Jeremy Hansenmake up the crew of the mission, which seeks to become the first to travel to lunar orbit since 1972.
The four, who today were accompanied by their family at a place on the beach in Florida, left their quarantine last Friday and held their last press conference before the trip over the weekend.
What will happen on April 3?
The countdown will reach zero next Wednesday, April 3, when the rocket takes off from the base.
Space day will begin with fuel loading coverage at 8:45 a.m. (Argentine time), while the official broadcast of the launch will begin at 1:40 p.m. on NASA+ (coverage in Spanish on YouTube and NASA+ starts at 5:45 p.m.).
Approximately 2 and a half hours after takeoff there will be a press conference.
It will only be announced on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. a report for the press after the translunar injection maneuver, which sends the ship towards the Moon. And at exactly 23:24 a live streaming event will begin from the mission.
With information from EFE
