NASA gears up for Artemis landing; practices mission moonwalk in Arizona desert

One of NASA’s most ambitious moon explorations, the Artemis III mission is set to launch no earlier than September 2026. The date might be tentative, but the American space agency is certainly aiming to land humans on the moon by next year for whichpreparations arein full swing.

On Tuesday, as part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency is started aweek-long field tests at the San Francisco Field near Flagstaff, Arizona. The field is said to have a lunar-like landscape, where NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas are carrying out various tests.

NASA released pictures on Tuesday from the testing field in San Francisco, where astronauts can be seen donning mockup spacesuit systems as they traverse through the desert.

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During these field tests, two integrated teams from NASA will work together as they practice end-to-end lunar operations. One team will consist of astronauts, NASA engineers, and field experts in the Arizona desert conducting the simulated moonwalks, while another team of flight controllers and scientists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will monitor and guide their activities.

The teams will complete a variety of technology demonstrations, hardware checkouts and Artemis science-related operations.

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“Field tests play a critical role in helping us test all of the systems, hardware, and technology we’ll need to conduct successful lunar operations during Artemis missions,” said Barbara Janoiko, director for the field test at Johnson.

“Our engineering and science teams have worked together seamlessly to ensure we are prepared every step of the way for when astronauts step foot on the Moon again.”

The test consists of four simulated moonwalks that follow operations planned for Artemis III and beyond, as well as six advanced technology runs. During the advanced runs, teams will demonstrate technology that may be used for future Artemis missions.

Also Read |Blood proteins could forewarn cancer diagnosis by over 7 years, suggests studyOn the other hand, the science team at Johnson will develop various science objectives for the field test. Their preparation included generating geologic maps, a list of science questions, and prioritized moonwalk locations for both the primary and backup “landing sites” for the test.

The tests will evaluate gaps and challenges associated with lunar South Pole operations, including data collection and communications between the flight control and science teams in Houston for rapid decision-making protocols.

(With inputs from agencies)