The crew recently completed the fundamental phase of their training, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the SLS and Orion systems.
Nasa’s Artemis II mission is set to make history as the first crewed mission aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft on the way to the Moon.
The four astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch from Nasa, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), are currently undergoing rigorous training to prepare for this groundbreaking journey.
The crew recently completed the fundamentals phase of their training, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the SLS and Orion systems. They familiarised themselves with the Orion crew module, which will be their home during the approximately 10-day flight test. The training involved both group sessions and individual one-on-one sessions with trainers.
Jacki Mahaffey, chief training officer for Artemis II at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, praised the crew’s progress. She emphasised that the training prepares them for everything from planned mission tasks and daily operations to recognizing and dealing with unexpected situations.
In September, Koch and Hansen participated in geology training in the remote Mistastin Crater in Canada. This location is considered one of the most Moon-like sites on Earth. Although they will not walk on the Moon during Artemis II, the training equipped them with valuable skills for lunar observations during their mission and will inform future Artemis crews’ training for surface science and discovery.
The crew also conducted a dry run for launch day operations at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This exercise allowed them to experience the steps involved in preparing for launch day, including donning their spacesuits, traveling to the launch pad, and entering the spacecraft.
Mission commander, Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman, expressed satisfaction with the training process and highlighted the strong interpersonal chemistry among the crew members.
This month, the crew will begin orbit operations training, including practicing operations in the Orion mission simulator at Johnson. They will also learn how to use cameras inside Orion to document their activities and views of Earth and the Moon. Medical training will prepare the crew to handle potential medical situations during their mission.
The Artemis missions are part of Nasa’s broader strategy to establish a long-term presence on the Moon and prepare for human exploration of Mars.
Source: indiatoday.in
