The team that will take part in the Artemis II mission to be carried out within the framework of NASA’s Artemis Lunar Program, which aims to transport humans to the Moon, was introduced. In a statement made by NASA and CSA at an event held at Ellington Field, close to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, the first woman and the first black astronaut will also take part in the team, and the pilot Victor Glover (NASA) will take part in the mission under the direction of Reid Wiseman (NASA). It was shared that the experts will be Christina Hammock Koch (NASA) and Jeremy Hansen (CSA).
“An OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MARS”
It was noted that the Orion spacecraft, which will be used on the approximately 10-day Artemis II flight, will test life support systems and the skills and techniques required for humans to live and work in deep space.
“This flight will pave the way for the first woman and first black man to set foot on the Moon as part of the Artemis program, and will pave the way for future long-term manned exploration missions, eventually to Mars,” the statement said. “This is the agency’s approach to exploration from the Moon to Mars.” it was said.
The statement reminded that the commander of the flight, Wiseman, will be on his second space voyage, while the experienced astronaut previously served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station from May 2014 to November 2014, and went out of the orbital complex twice as a lead astronaut for approximately 13 hours. said to have undertaken the task.
In the statement, which was informed that this flight will be the second space flight of the vehicle’s pilot, Glover, it was noted that Glover was previously the pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1, which was launched on May 2, 2021, after staying in space for 168 days.
In the statement, it was stated that Glover contributed to scientific research and technology studies on the space station and participated in spacewalks 4 times.
BREAK A RECORD WITH 328 DAYS
It was reported that Koch, the first female astronaut to take part in a mission to the Moon, had made a space flight once before, broke the record for the longest single flight of a female astronaut by staying in space for 328 days, and participated in the first spacewalk consisting of all female astronauts.
Hansen will represent Canada on the Artemis II mission flight.
In the statement, which was informed that Hansen is a colonel and a former fighter pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces, it was stated that the Canadian pilot will make his first space flight.
“The crew of Artemis II represents the thousands of people who have worked tirelessly to get us to the stars. This is their crew, our crew, humanity’s crew,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement on the astronauts.
“WE ARE BACK TO THE MOON”
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, made the following statement:
“We are returning to the Moon and Canada is at the center of this exciting journey. Thanks to our long-standing collaboration with NASA, a Canadian astronaut will fly on this historic mission. On behalf of all Canadians, celebrate Jeremy (Hansen) for being at the forefront of one of the greatest human initiatives. Canada’s participation in the Artemis program is a testament to the friendship and close partnership between the two countries, as well as being a defining slice of our space history.”
BIDEN CALLS FOR CONGRATULATIONS
In the information made by the White House, it was noted that US President Joe Biden called the astronauts who will travel around the Moon with the Artemis II mission in 2024 to congratulate him.
Biden also spoke to the children of the astronauts. The US leader shared footage of his phone conversation with the astronauts on his Twitter account. Biden, who wrote that the Artemis II mission will inspire future generations in his sharing, “They will show every child in the USA and Canada that they can achieve if they can dream.” used the phrase. (AA-UAV)