Artemis II crew tests suits ahead of flyby

In Short:
– NASA’s Artemis II crew tested survival suits while nearing the Moon for a historic flyby.
– The mission supports future plans for a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

The four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission tested their Orion Crew Survival System suits as they approach the Moon for a historic flyby.Mission Control woke the crew on Sunday with a message from Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke encouraging them to build on the Apollo legacy.

Suit tests completed

The astronauts, including Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, assessed their survival suits, focusing on operations like pressurization and mobility.

A cabin leak false alarm earlier in the mission emphasized the importance of the tests.

As of Sunday, the Orion spacecraft was approximately 218,000 miles from Earth, travelling toward the Moon at around 1,592 mph.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that validating life support systems with a crew on board is the mission’s primary objective.

The spacecraft is set to cross into the Moon’s gravitational influence on Monday morning.

The lunar flyby will commence at 2:45 p.m. EDT, allowing the crew to photograph features on the far side of the Moon.

Orion will reach a maximum distance of 252,757 miles from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles.

The crew will temporarily lose contact with Earth as Orion passes behind the Moon, with splashdown planned for April 10 off San Diego.

Future goals outlined

The Artemis II mission serves as a precursor for NASA’s plan to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

Data from this mission will inform future Artemis flights aimed at establishing a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon.