Community Chat

[Oznell]

C-SPAN did a feature on this NASA project, which is to result eventually in another manned landing on the moon. 

I had heard vague rumblings about this, but wasn't really clued in.  How exciting.  Probably everyone knows more about this than I do, so apologies if this is repetitive.

The first journey, Artemis II, will be a rotation around the moon, no landing, with four astronauts--  Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist I Christina Koch, Mission Specialist II Jeremy Hansen.

It's slated for some time early this year, so pretty soon, I'd imagine.   

The astronauts are clockwise from left:  Koch, Glover, Hansen and Wiseman.

3 Americans, one Canadian ( Hansen)

Astronauts are so unbelievably brave, and luckily, pretty confident, as well as being the cream of the crop and super capable at what they do.

Wishing them all success in this historic venture.

Another fascinating fact from the C-SPAN show was that the International Space Station marked 25 years of CONTINUOUS human occupation in November.  25 years of humans rotating in and out of course, but humans living in space, with no break!   That's remarkable. 

Later edited to add on 3/30/26--  in case you don't read down as far as my post of today ( 3/30/ 26),  it's been announced that NASA is once again going to try for a launch, the day after tomorrow, if the weather allows.  

[Franklinbell]

Wow! Thank you for sharing!

[songbird]

One problem with the program is that of delays.  This mission was to have already been done last year I think.  Before that come to think of it.  A couple of years.  Not that much money is being put in to the program.

[gardenman]

They've had issues with fuel leaks that they seem to be having trouble fixing. Their most recent test filling leaked again delaying the next mission. NASA chose to use liquid Hydrogen as a fuel and it's very cold stuff that's hard to contain, but hydrogen has a nasty habit of going boom (in a bad way) when not contained.

Their budget was, I believe, $93 billion (that's billion with a B) through 2025, and they've just had another $7 billion to $10 billion added for 2026, depending on which source one believes.

I'm not a big fan of sending four people on what's essentially a test flight. Modern rockets can pretty much fly themselves. This is still the testing phase of the program. And the system has had issues. I'd prefer an unmanned flight or two, or three, before risking the lives of four people. "But they want to go!" Yeah, I'm sure they do, but I'm not comfortable risking the lives of people unnecessarily. And in this case, it's unnecessary. 

[Oznell]

Just heard that the latest date for an Artemis projected launch will be on Wednesday, day after tomorrow.  Weather permitting, of course.

Hope they finally get to go!  

[ROMARY]

I'm wishing them the best of good luck !

'All in all', I would prefer several unmanned flights.  Maybe there have been a few, as I haven't kept track of that program.

Very brave people, for sure.

[just bee]

---

@Oznell wrote:

C-SPAN did a feature on this NASA project, which is to result eventually in another manned landing on the moon. 

I had heard vague rumblings about this, but wasn't really clued in.  How exciting.  Probably everyone knows more about this than I do, so apologies if this is repetitive.

---

@Oznell 

Not to worry.  I'd wager that most people aren't aware of this at all.

There hasn't been much coverage in the news.  Apparently, we are more concerned with other matters.

And that's unfortunate.

But then I grew up with Tang and Space Food Sticks.

[Puzzle Piece]

Hoping for the best but I kind of think that things are being rushed.  

[Seminole2]

@just bee I think it deoends where you live.  Here in the Orlando area it's been a,significant part of the news here for the last few months.  The local channels tomorrow are doing expanded news coverage.

[just bee]

@Seminole2 

Good point.  And it might have something to do with the news outlet one watches, as well.