Artemis-II Crew Begins Training for Historic Lunar Voyagec

NASA's historic announcement reveals the crew for the first lunar return mission: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

Following their ground-breaking selection as the first astronauts set to orbit the Moon in 50 years, the Artemis-II crew is set to embark on their intensive training for this monumental mission.

In an endeavour to pave the path for humanity's triumphant return to the Moon, a team of four astronauts will undertake a pioneering mission to orbit the Moon in a state-of-the-art spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The rigorous training program for this 10-day mission is scheduled to commence in June and extend over a period of 18 months.

NASA made an exciting revelation as they introduced the pioneering crew for the upcoming mission to the Moon. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency have been selected to embark on this historic journey, marking the first crew to return to the Moon since the conclusion of the Apollo missions in the 1970s.

"The crew of our Artemis II test flight will pave the way for the incredible science at the forefront of all of our future crewed missions. Their flight test expertise and personal bravery as they journey to the Moon will enable the next big step in our Moon to Mars strategy," Nasa's Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said in a statement.

An 18-month voyage

Throughout their training, the four astronauts undergo comprehensive instruction on the intricacies of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System. They become adept at operating and overseeing various systems during the ascent, orbit, coast, and entry phases of the mission and are trained to effectively handle emergency scenarios.

System operations on fingertips

Nasa has stated that the crew will familiarize themselves with crucial systems, establishing a solid groundwork for their subsequent training. They will practice operating Orion's crew displays, vehicle controls, and audio and imagery systems to develop proficiency and expertise in their usage.

Lead training officer for the Artemis-II crew, Jacki Mahaffey, said, "We’re building a robust training plan for the crew to ensure they’re ready for every aspect of this first mission to the Moon under Artemis on our newest spacecraft and rocket."

All set for dynamic mission phases

The crew's training will prioritize vehicle systems and operations to ensure preparedness for both standard procedures and potential emergencies during the mission's critical phases of ascent and entry. They will also receive extensive training for orbit and coast operations, equipping them with the necessary skills to execute tasks such as rendezvous and proximity operations after the initial launch.

"The majority of the crew’s training will take place at Johnson Space Center, where we have an Orion simulator and a mockup of the crew module to help the crew understand placement and orientation of what’s inside. The crew will begin their training in our launch and entry simulator in Houston in the fall, and we plan to begin our integrated simulations between the crew and mission control about 12 months before launch," Jacki Mahaffey added.