In happier times, my mind would probably be focused on the fact that, all being well, there will be a crewed mission to the Moon within a month, the first such in more than 50 years.

Artemis II is a lunar flyby mission with a crew of four, using the Space Launch Systems architecture that has been under development since 2011, ultimately derived from Space Shuttle engine hardware. It will involve an initial insertion into a Medium Earth Orbit, followed by several intermediate burns and a period of systems checking etc, and then a final burn into translunar orbit.

The mission involves a free-return trajectory, with the craft passing around 7000 km from the lunar farside.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will be the first people to see the lunar farside since 1972. The first three all have had several months in space. Hansen, of the Royal Canadian Air Force, has no spaceflight time. He has trained as an astronaut since 2013 and was selected to join this mission in 2023, during a more peaceful time in Canadio-Unitedstatesian relations.

dv said:

In happier times, my mind would probably be focused on the fact that, all being well, there will be a crewed mission to the Moon within a month, the first such in more than 50 years.

Artemis II is a lunar flyby mission with a crew of four, using the Space Launch Systems architecture that has been under development since 2011, ultimately derived from Space Shuttle engine hardware. It will involve an initial insertion into a Medium Earth Orbit, followed by several intermediate burns and a period of systems checking etc, and then a final burn into translunar orbit.

The mission involves a free-return trajectory, with the craft passing around 7000 km from the lunar farside.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will be the first people to see the lunar farside since 1972. The first three all have had several months in space. Hansen, of the Royal Canadian Air Force, has no spaceflight time. He has trained as an astronaut since 2013 and was selected to join this mission in 2023, during a more peaceful time in Canadio-Unitedstatesian relations.

Paces up and down.

I hear they’re now in quarantine.

The space voyage is a welcome distraction from the shitstorm around the world.

https://youtu.be/PqERiN848DY

More on the whole project.

It’s no Jupiter 2, but not quite as cramped as the Apollo command capsules, and has an actual toilet.

Bubblecar said:

It’s no Jupiter 2, but not quite as cramped as the Apollo command capsules, and has an actual toilet.

An actual toilet?! What luxury!

Divine Angel said:

Oh oh… Hope there’s no bilateral tension up there but if there is I hope she scratches his eyes out.

FWIW.

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/sls-5558-artemis-ii-sls-reference-guide.pdf

Lots of good info in that document.

I’m reading launch is scheduled for Feb 6.

Divine Angel said:

I’m reading launch is scheduled for Feb 6.

How come Trump hasn’t cancelled this waste of taxpayers’ money?

The Rev Dodgson said:

Divine Angel said:

I’m reading launch is scheduled for Feb 6.

How come Trump hasn’t cancelled this waste of taxpayers’ money?

He cancelled NASA’s libraries and got their books burnt. Isn’t that enough?

Anyway, it’s not a waste of taxpayers’ money if he can claim it as Trump’s biggest and bestest and mostest.

NASA recently announced they got their budget for 2026. They seem surprised lol

Michael V said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

Divine Angel said:

I’m reading launch is scheduled for Feb 6.

How come Trump hasn’t cancelled this waste of taxpayers’ money?

He cancelled NASA’s libraries and got their books burnt. Isn’t that enough?

Anyway, it’s not a waste of taxpayers’ money if he can claim it as Trump’s biggest and bestest and mostest.

exactly every country needs their Спутник moment

https://www.youtube.com/live/CShz8rvng20?si=v9KWD0hZP3WcWCPN

Divine Angel said:

https://www.youtube.com/live/CShz8rvng20?si=v9KWD0hZP3WcWCPN

how is this not a bigger and better distraction from paedophiles than aliens aliens aliens

Artemis II will now be fuelled on Feb 2, with the earliest possible launch date of Feb 8.

“Shortly after 2 a.m. ET on Tuesday, NASA announced it would forgo February’s launch window for the Artemis II mission around the moon, which extended from Friday through Feb. 11, to allow teams to review data and conduct another wet dress rehearsal. It said it will now aim for March “as the earliest possible launch opportunity.”

Bugger.

taco

Gone fowl again

Caution is always best with these things. It’s not a race.

dv said:

Caution is always best with these things. It’s not a race.

No especially in cold weather

Cymek said:

Gone fowl again

good luck with it

Artemis was a kourotrophic (child-nurturing) deity, being the patron and protector of young children, especially young girls. Artemis was worshipped as one of the primary goddesses of childbirth and midwifery along with Eileithyia and Hera. She was also a patron of healing and disease, particularly among women and children, and was believed to send both good health and illness upon women and children. Artemis was one of the three major virgin goddesses, alongside Athena and Hestia. Artemis preferred to remain an unmarried maiden and was one of the three Greek goddesses over whom Aphrodite had no power.

seems a bit woke

dv said:

Caution is always best with these things. It’s not a race.

nah it’s team sports of course it is

Cymek said:

dv said:

Caution is always best with these things. It’s not a race.

No especially in cold weather

c’m‘on it’s America it’s all about race

SCIENCE said:

Cymek said:

dv said:

Caution is always best with these things. It’s not a race.

No especially in cold weather

c’m‘on it’s America it’s all about race

Snigger.

Cymek said:

dv said:

Caution is always best with these things. It’s not a race.

No especially in cold weather

Yeah, the word ‘Challenger’ would been getting quite an airing around NASA in view of the cold weather there.