Artemis II
Left to right: NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Unexpectedly, we watched the launch of Artemis II on Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, we had turned on the television, having misread the expected launch time in minutes rather than hours. We decided we would not stay up to watch it, but somehow we did.
I remember previous manned launches being extremely exciting. Maybe it was the uncertainty of the process, particularly after the tragedy of the space shuttle failures, ‘Challenger’ in 1986 and ‘Columbia’ in 2003, each resulting in the deaths of their seven crew members.
Artemis II is the first mission to take humans out of low Earth orbit since 1972 and will take them further from Earth than ever before. It is planned to travel beyond the far ‘dark’ side of the moon, then slip back into the gravitational pull that will bring it back to earth, the pleasingly called ‘free-return trajectory.’
Nonetheless, there are many things that could go wrong during the ten-day mission, and no-one associated with it will breathe easily until the four crew members have returned safely.
The launch was impressive, but not nail-biting – perhaps it was the presenters, who seemed to lack enthusiasm. However many rocket launches there are, each one is significant and inspiring. Those who complain that such ventures are vanity projects and the money could be more usefully used on Earth miss the point that we have benefitted from the discoveries developed through space exploration.
We speedily take some such benefits for granted, without realising how they came about. For example, we have GPS navigation, satellite broadcasting, improvements in MRI and CT scanning, lightweight prosthetic limbs, water purification, fire-resistant materials, shock absorption materials used in helmets and car seats, monitoring storms and wildfires.The most obvious one is the space blanket, seen wrapped around the shoulders of every marathon runner at the end of the race, or used in emergencies for accident victims.
It was developed by NASA in 1964!
I wish they would focus the time, effort and incredible expenditures fixing the problems here on Earth.
ReplyDeleteWould the money be used in the alternative ways so many people wish for? I doubt it.
DeleteI must admit - though I know there are advances made by these types of missions; I am one of those people who think the money (taxes) could be better spent. I'm not feeling very spendy with tax dollars right now sigh.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone can see the cost of living rising now - it's a daily event.
DeleteI am fascinated with this endeavor
ReplyDeleteIt is extraordinary and we will learn so much from it.
DeleteI saw that on our news, the free-return trajectory was called the slingshot move, possibly someone remembered that from the movie The Martian where the crew had to go back to Mars and rescue on left behind and presumed dead.
ReplyDeleteScience fiction becomes fact, and not for the first time in history!
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ReplyDeleteThank you for this great post, Janice! I have been a space enthusiast since my early twenties, and whenever I hear or read the argument "the money should be spent on Earth" I can't help but shout "but the money IS spent on Earth!!" Space flight, be it manned or unmanned, keeps creating tens of thousands of jobs, from highest to lowest qualification, from top management and engineers to the very important people who do the cleaning and maintenance of the facilities where it all happens. If those people would suddenly lose their jobs, I bet there would be a huge outcry. The space industry spurs on education and work in so many other industries, from medicine to biology to waste disposal to communication technology to material science.
ReplyDeleteIf any space program would be cancelled, I have no doubt that NONE of the money freed up by it would go to a good cause - instead, I rather imagine it would go to more weapons and funding armies.
Thank you, Meike. Sometimes, we feel we are voices in the wilderness. If we do not celebrate scientific advances, we will not develop as human beings. We could, after all, still be stuck in the pre-Industrial age, but for the imagination and foresight of some thoughtful engineers and scientists.
DeleteCodex: Thank you for posting this. I did a small post on mine. And thank you for advocating I've given up trying. One of the next missions may include a disabled Astronaut. The knowledge gained will be invaluable.
DeleteMy grandmother, who was born in the 1890s, was fascinated by space travel 'because I have watched the development of flight since the very beginning '.
ReplyDeleteYour grandmother was both fortunate and acutely aware.
DeleteThis almost passed me by with everything else that's happening around here. Thanks for the round up
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. I can understand that you have other, more pressing concerns on your mind.
DeleteAs Linda said, I am afraid that the launch passed me by ... drowned in the avalanche of unbelievable lunacy going on elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I make a concerted effort to escape from the lunacy. It's difficult, but it can be done . . . 😳😟
DeleteIt is great to see some better news after the weeks of sh*t coming from the orange man and his team mouths, I watched with fascination as a child to see rockets launched, space is still so unknown to us.
ReplyDeleteSpace and the deep oceans are still full of mystery.
DeleteI'll take a different view. Maybe NASA brought the inventions to the general public a bit quicker, but needs must. They would have been invented anyway in a not too long timeline. If only the money spent by putting men on the moon, and now humans doing a figure eight around the moon, into scientific research and development for the betterment of mankind.
ReplyDeleteIt's not always possible to see immediately the benefits accruing from research of any sort.
DeleteAfter what happened with the Challenger I would be a bit leery about even attempting to go into space. These people are very brave
ReplyDeleteThey are brave, but they're practical, too.
DeleteAmazing progress in space travel, like many I wonder WHY? ... But I guess who controls 'Space,' controls Earth?
ReplyDeleteThe question of space control has not yet been answered. If scientists of all nations can continue to work together, politicians may be persuaded to cooperate with each other, too.
DeleteI am not the only one who is quietly disinterested in space travel. In my mind, the focus is all wrong and the idea of setting up bases on our moon or Mars is quite absurd. Hell, there are millions of people on this planet who do not have access to clean water and thousands of babies die every year because of diarrhoea and malnutrition. I hope those brave astronauts return safely to Earth and thoroughly expect that the endless hype will continue.
ReplyDeleteInformation garnered from US Government:
DeleteHelium-3, believed to be in abundance on the moon but extremely rare on earth, could potentially enable clean nuclear fusion energy on earth. Estimates indicate that roughly just 25 tonnes of Helium-3 could provide power for the entire USA for a whole year. Currently, US power costs are more than 1.7 trillion annually, and rising..
"potentially" being the operative word here. In reality it will never happen. It's all part of the hype and spurious justification.
DeleteWe shall see. 'Man will never fly,' but he did and does.
DeleteI too stayed up to watch the launch ... so pleased I did.
ReplyDeleteI hope their mission goes well and they have a safe flight and return next Friday 10th April ... I believe that is when splashdown is scheduled.
All the best Jan
This morning, Artemis II left Earth's orbit for the next stage of the mission.
DeleteI was in the 4th grade when the men walked the moon. We were privileged to watch it on TV sent over by the priest. All 8 grades took turns. I've seen other launches take off, but I guess I've lost interest after the Hubble satelitte.
ReplyDeleteWe only see the dramatic launches, and don't realise the enormous body of work that continues behind the scenes for decades.
ReplyDeleteI may try to catch the lunar landing and compare it to what I saw in ‘69 which was hardly a crisp image.
ReplyDeleteThe moon landing was truly exciting,. even if somewhat grainy!
DeleteI too missed the launch...Too many doctors appointments this week. I've learned to appreciate Space in different ways since since my gandson is in Space Force. The intelligence of these men and women is far above my wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThey are not showy people, but far more worthy of celebrity status than most popular entertainers.
ReplyDeleteI still have the Challenger explosion in my mind so I held my breath as Artemis launched until it passed "that" point.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels.
Safe travels, indeed.
DeleteThe whole thing has been covered well by the news sources here.
ReplyDeleteNot so much here, as you might expect.
DeleteHi Janice - you're right to highlight the new ideas that come out of the experience of setting out into space ... but I'd far rather man treated man and woman with respect and kindness (at least) ... I"m not sure it'll be advantageous for anyone soon to be living in space ... on the moon, or on Mars ... I'll be with the daisies, so will be happy! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI find it frustrating sometimes to realise that there will be so much I am curious about but will never know.
DeleteVery exciting!
ReplyDeleteI think so.
DeleteI watched the launch on CNN and thought they were very good at what they were doing, but I only watched because Bob HAD to see it and that was that. I think we need to stay on this earth that we have and still are running rapidly and not go to space and ruin it either. I also think they are truly brave to go out there in to space not knowing if they will ever come back. at my age, I will never see who is right or wrong, and right now can't believe what our place on this planet has come to in my 81.6 years here
ReplyDeleteThere's room and space for all endeavours, and we may eventually learn to appreciate what we have.
DeleteWe flew to the moon but then we looked back and saw our beautiful Earth the first time around. And never learnt the lesson.
ReplyDeleteHow very true - one wonders if mankind will ever truly learn the lesson and appreciate what we have - when it's too late, possibly.
ReplyDeleteI confess I've not paid any attention to it, not sure why.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot going on in your world.
DeleteWe've lived in Houston or just in its suburbs for many, many years now and our children grew up here. NASA is an important part of the community and an important part of the educational system of the area. I think the general public is probably not fully aware (and why would they be?) of all the contributions to greater knowledge of our planet and the universe that the agency has made through its flights, both manned and unmanned, into space. The Artemis II launch was the first one I've watched in many years. It will be interesting to see just what is learned from this trip. Here's wishing the crew a safe journey and safe return to Earth.
ReplyDeleteWell said! I wish the news outlets made more of the many contributions space research has made to a safer world.
DeleteI agree that space travel is worthwhile in terms of the spending. It gives people something to marvel at, which is important.
ReplyDeleteImagination and exploration go hand in hand.
DeleteThis is a splendid report and thank you for sharing all the information. I recently saw a clip that someone had taken from a passenger plane. They were in the right place at the right time and had an amazing view of Artemis II at the beginning of its flight. All those passengers had quite a show and the video someone had taken was excellent. Dangerous work for these astronauts. I wish them Godspeed and a safe return home.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise. The passengers on that plane had an unforgettable experience. I think we tend to underestimate the enormous stresses the human astronaut body undergoes, not to mention the mental strain.
DeleteI was watching it on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteOur news comes to us through so many channels.
DeleteA Canadian in the mission, nice to see. We have had a lot of astronauts, but this is the first Moon run. I am a huge fan, but I still remember the last horrible blowup. I was driving, with the radio on, and I recall pulling over and weeping, just so, so sorrowful. Those hugely brave young people who do this!!!
ReplyDeleteI, too, was pleased to see a Canadian in the crew. We can all work together and learn from each other, if we have the will. They are brave and determined.
DeleteA very good post with information that not everyone knows. Thank you for sharing and have a nice evening.
ReplyDeletePeople see just the end result, the exciting parts. They don't often consider the mathematics and engineering that are involved.
ReplyDeleteCodex: Jumped into the conversation above
ReplyDeleteI grew up with the United States space program and well remember the excitement of reaching the Moon and also the danger. I've seen some of the original manned capsules at the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. . Who would have thought it would be more than 50 years before we returned to the vicinity of the moon. I think people need to know what you pointed out - that many of what we consider everyday items actually originated through the space program. But yes, we also need to be thinking of our fellows back here on Earth and alleviating the suffering of so many millions. I refuse to believe we can only accomplish either one or the other.
ReplyDeleteQuite so - it doesn't have to be one or the other.
ReplyDeleteThe launch was well covered here but that is to be expected being in the States. Yes, there have been many "leap[s] for mankind" as a result of these programs, so many of which are not seen by, also, "so many." In my younger days, the thought that the money would be better spent here on earth...but I grew up and, with each year on this planet, realize that very little of the taxpayers money is "well" spent here. Each day more darkness is dragged into the light - fortunately or unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThere's always a lot of 'whataboutery' over everything, it seems.The reality is that we know about the things we're concerned with and not much else, so we all have nuggets of knowledge but they're not related to each other.
ReplyDeleteIt's very exciting, isn't it? They'll be at the moon soon! 🌕
ReplyDelete“Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.” - Anaïs Nin
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
It is an extraordinary achievement. We await new information . . .
DeleteIt's very exciting to be alive for a Moon mission! I'm too young for previous ones!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to be able to say 'I'm too young' . . . there was a time . . .
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