The group of four astronauts, who will be the first to orbit the moon in half a century, met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday. During the meeting, the President proudly displayed a moon rock from the Apollo era that is currently on exhibit in the Oval Office.

The team for Artemis II, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, stated that the president followed through on his commitment to invite them to the White House once they were selected for the mission earlier this year. They also had a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Pilot Victor Glover expressed his gratitude for the leadership of those he shook hands with, making it possible for their journey to be truly amazing.

In late 2024, four astronauts will make history by flying in NASA’s Orion capsule on a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center. However, their mission will not involve landing on the moon or orbiting it. Instead, they will simply fly around the moon and return to Earth. This will serve as a precursor to another mission the following year, where two astronauts will attempt a lunar landing.

The commander, Reid Wiseman, stated that the crew does not consider the date and will only embark on the mission once NASA and the vehicle are prepared for flight.

Meanwhile, the team is getting ready. They utilize simulators and collaborate with Mission Control to ensure a safe ascent and return, as well as how to exit when they reach Earth again. In February, they will have a mock run where they will rehearse “bobbing around” in a capsule in the Pacific Ocean.

Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian team member, stated that a large group of individuals is required to successfully transport four people to orbit the moon and return them safely to Earth. This team works together daily to ensure the astronauts’ well-being.

The current lunar expedition team is the first to have a member from a country other than the U.S. It is also the inaugural crew for NASA’s latest moon initiative, called Artemis, honoring the twin of Apollo from ancient mythology. In late 2019, a vacant Orion spacecraft successfully orbited the moon and returned, serving as a much-anticipated test run.

In August, the astronauts were able to see their spaceship for the first time. However, further examination of the heat shield could potentially postpone their journey. During the unmanned test flight around the moon last year, there was unexpected damage and loss of material from the bottom of the capsule’s heat shield. The purpose of the heat shield is to safeguard the capsule from the intense heat during reentry.

Christina Koch, a mission specialist, shared that Biden mentioned a speech made by John F. Kennedy in 1962 regarding the mission to the moon. Specifically, Biden referenced the portion where Kennedy stated that the United States would embark on this journey because it was a challenge that they were determined not to delay.

She stated, “This demonstrates his dedication to our mission and his belief that under his leadership, we are capable of achieving great accomplishments.”

In the Apollo program, NASA dispatched 24 individuals to the moon between 1968 and 1972. Half of them successfully made a landing. The group primarily consisted of male test pilots with military backgrounds, with the exception of Harrison Schmitt from Apollo 17 who was a geologist. He, along with the late Gene Cernan, marked the end of the moon-landing era.

The moon rock, known as Lunar Sample 76015,143, currently on exhibit in the Oval Office, has been borrowed from NASA. Originally gathered by Schmitt and Cernan in 1972, the rock is estimated to be approximately 3.9 billion years old and has a weight just under one pound.

Source: wral.com