Artemis Moon Program

[NMaude]

Phillip Sloss has just uploaded a video to YT concerning Artemis II's history:

As it stands, the Artemis II mission is still targeting launch a year from now, in September 2025. This video covers the evolution of the mission profile, that goes back to the early days of SLS and the post-Constellation era Orion in 2012.

Artemis II has always been the first crewed mission to fly to the Moon since Apollo 17 in December 1972, years before the mission was given that name. In addition to covering the history of the mission, from a lunar orbit test flight, to a co-manifested Gateway launch with the Exploration Upper Stage and SLS Block 1B, and then back to Block 1 with the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage on today's "hybrid triple" profile that culminates in an Orion lunar flyby.

The profile may be many years old, but NASA is still privately working on the fine timelines and flight day planning from minute to minute. In the meantime, we'll provide an early preview of mission events and key test objectives, from liftoff to splashdown, based on what we know today.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted

00:00 Intro
01:11 Early history and evolution of the mission profile, when it was called "Exploration Mission-2"
07:12 Preview of the "hybrid triple" mission profile and the added proximity operations demonstration
14:54 The day-long high Earth orbit and the lunar flyby
17:50 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

The wait for NASA's decision on the Orion heatshield continues and that will have a big impact on what comes next for Artemis II and III, but now there's another question for Artemis III, which is how big an effect will SpaceX's stance on the environment around their Texas launch site for Starship be for NASA's Exploration plans.

This video covers that, the post-delivery activity on the Orion and SLS hardware at Kennedy Space Center, and more on Exploration Ground Systems readiness and plans to stack SLS for Artemis II.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
01:44 Next milestones for the recently delivered Artemis II, III, and IV hardware at KSC
06:45 EGS senior manager Cliff Lanham talks to the podcast about Artemis II launch plans
20:24 Another look at the Artemis II SLS Core Stage provided by NASA Admin Bill Nelson
21:27 Starship IFT-5 delayed by environmental impact reviews
24:52 Artemis II alternatives to consider if no NASA decision is forthcoming
26:03 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

Phillip Sloss has just put out a video concerning possible heat-shield alternatives for Artemis II:

NASA has a big decision ahead about what to do with the Orion heatshield on its Artemis II spacecraft. While we're waiting for that decision to be made and then to be announced, there are a couple of alternatives to the longstanding week and a half crewed test flight to circumnavigate the Moon a year from now in September 2025.

If NASA decides not to fly Artemis II as currently planned, this video goes over those two alternatives, which would keep the four astronaut crew from launching with the current heatshield.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
01:59 Background on the history of the heatshield issue from Artemis I
03:31 One alternative: delay Artemis II, wait for a new, modified heatshield replacement
05:28 Another alternative: fly the current hardware on an uncrewed mission
07:14 What mission profile would NASA fly on another uncrewed mission?
08:08 Implications of another uncrewed mission and risks of the different alternatives/options
10:14 A look at the big picture for Artemis II ahead of a decision
12:58 Thanks for watching!

 

[publiusr]

Arty seems safe enough--radiation wise

Artemis I mission data show astronauts sent to the moon aboard Orion will be protected from radiation

According to a large team of technical and health specialists, astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft will be well protected from radiation when the Artemis II mission travels to the moon and back next year.

phys.org

More
file:///C:/Users/piw10/Downloads/s41586-024-07927-7.pdf

 

[TomcatViP]

More
file:///C:/Users/piw10/Downloads/s41586-024-07927-7.pdf

This file stands on your hard drive

 

[NMaude]

Phillip Sloss has some more updates concerning Artemis II and III:

As more of the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis II stands around or lies around the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the wait for a decision by NASA leadership on Orion base heatshield options continues. While we're waiting and that continues, we're getting some reminders that the NASA and private industry workforce continues to develop and build hardware for subsequent flights

.In this video, I'll go over some test hardware that is helping to certify the rest of the Orion spacecraft to fly its first crew on Artemis II and the status of ground hardware validation testing, which is wrapping up to be ready to stack SLS when there's a decision.

There's also some overt politics and a power play between SpaceX and U.S. federal regulators that is escalating; in the video, I continue to wonder if regulatory compliance will another obstacle for Starship lunar lander development for Artemis III.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
01:14 Orion environment test article to finish crew-rating abort certifications
04:26 Exploration Ground Systems validation testing expected to wrap up soon
07:42 Artemis III Orion crew module adapter ahead of Service Module mate
09:42 A look at the big picture, starting with Artemis II
13:56 Artemis III big picture
15:38 Thanks for watching!

 

[Hicks]

The article/file that Publiusr wanted to share
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07927-7

 

[TomcatViP]

LM out of Lunar Rover team led by Lunar Outpost. Leidos stepping in instead:
(a very bizarre outcome)

Leidos replaces Lockheed Martin on Artemis rover team

Lunar Outpost, one of three companies that won NASA contracts earlier this year to begin design work on Artemis lunar rovers, has added Leidos to its team after parting ways with Lockheed Martin.

spacenews.com

 

[FighterJock]

Strange that LM has withdrawn from the Lunar Rover team? Wonder what was behind the move?

 

[_Del_]

Strange that LM has withdrawn from the Lunar Rover team? Wonder what was behind the move?

Sounds like LM thought the IP they were bringing to the party was worth more than Lunar Outpost did.

 

[NMaude]

More updates concerning Artemis II, III and IV from Phillip Sloss:

This video covers completed milestones and current status of planning, development, assembly, and preparations for NASA's upcoming Artemis II, III, IV missions as the 3rd quarter of 2024 ends. A lot of the Artemis II hardware is ready for stacking at Kennedy Space Center, but NASA still needs to announce what it is going to do about Orion's heatshield.

Arrival of more flight hardware for the Artemis III lunar landing mission at KSC signals incremental progress in preparations, but little is known about the forward outlook. In the video, we go over why the new hardware deliveries aren't helping to clarify when the spacecraft, spacesuits, SLS, and Starship will all be ready for Artemis III.

We also recap the available status and outlook for the Artemis IV Gateway assembly and lunar landing mission projected at the end of the decade.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
01:21 The missing future outlook for upcoming Artemis missions
02:50 Quick recap of the quarter (July, August, September)
06:13 Artemis II status
12:45 Artemis II forward outlook
14:06 Artemis III status
28:15 Artemis III forward outlook
31:28 Artemis IV status
40:50 Artemis IV forward outlook
41:37 Note that the SLS forward outlook beyond Artemis IV remains cloudy
42:22 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

The mobile launcher is back at the VAB for Artemis II so the stacking of its' SRBs should be happening in the next few months:

NASA Exploration Ground Systems work crews rolled Mobile Launcher-1 from Launch Pad 39B back into the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center on October 3rd and 4th, but we're still no closer after the milestone to knowing when Artemis II stacking will start.

This video begins with coverage of the details of the rollback of the Mobile Launcher and a recap of the upgrades and repairs completed since the Artemis I launch two years ago. Before the ML entered the building, the SLS Core Stage was temporarily lifted out of its transportation carriers to get weight and balance measurements, and NASA provided some footage of that.

There's more Starship schedule drama between SpaceX and the FAA to recap, now that maritime and flight restriction notices for mid-October are trickling out. SpaceX is itching for the next flight test, but the FAA is still sticking with its late November forecast for a new launch license...at least for now.

While we wait for an Orion heatshield decision, there's plenty of time for another quick look at the cloudy big picture for Artemis II and III.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
00:49 Mobile Launcher-1 is back in the VAB for Artemis II stacking
09:51 "Weight and cg" measurements of the Artemis II SLS Core Stage in the VAB
10:58 A quick look at the Artemis II big picture after the ML rollback
12:09 Starship IFT-5 schedule drama
14:03 Other news and notes
16:32 A similar quick look at the Artemis III big picture
18:00 Thanks for watching!

 

[publiusr]

I ain't afraid o' no 'caine

 

[FighterJock]

Any word on hurricane damage at the Cape so far? It did not look good for Florida on the BBC news this morning.

 

[Moose]

Any word on hurricane damage at the Cape so far? It did not look good for Florida on the BBC news this morning.

It was Cat 2->1 as it passed the Cape, and the wind was blowing out to sea so storm surge and wind damage wise that's a best case scenario. It was pushing tornados ahead of it but I haven't seen any reporting of one hitting the Cape.

 

[FighterJock]

Thanks Moose, That puts my head at rest now I was worried about the Cape when I saw the size of the Hurricane last night.

 

[Moose]

Thanks Moose, That puts my head at rest now I was worried about the Cape when I saw the size of the Hurricane last night.

Checked over at NSF and it looks like other than some rainfall flooding and minor wind damage the infrastructure and the homes of Space Coast workers both came through well enough. Very fortunate.

 

[Flyaway]

We have had reason to doubt the official September 2025 launch date for the mission, the first crewed flight into deep space in more than five decades, for a while now. This is principally because NASA is continuing to mull the implications of damage to the Orion spacecraft's heat shield from the Artemis I mission nearly two years ago.

However, it turns out that there are now other problems with holding to this date as well.

A new report from the US Government Accountability Office found that NASA's Exploration Ground Systems program—this is, essentially, the office at Kennedy Space Center in Florida responsible for building ground infrastructure to support the Space Launch System rocket and Orion—is in danger of missing its schedule for Artemis II.

It’s increasingly unlikely that humans will fly around the Moon next year

We’ve had reason to doubt the September 2025 launch date for this mission, the first crewed flight into deep space in more than five decades, for awhile now.

arstechnica.com

Here’s the report in question:

GAO-25-106943, NASA ARTEMIS MISSIONS: Exploration Ground Systems Program Could Strengthen Schedule Decisions

 

[Flyaway]

I suspect it may not be unrelated to this.

JPL Workforce Update

Workforce statement and memo to employees.

www.jpl.nasa.gov

 

[FighterJock]

Better get things sorted before launching Artemis 2 around the Moon because of the damage done to the Orion heatsheild after Artemis 1 re-entry.

 

[NMaude]

A new update from Phillip Sloss:

After last weekend's Starship flight test and after another government audit, this video checks in on the mysteries about the Artemis II and III schedules. Elsewhere, changes that almost double the size and weight of the Gateway Lunar View module, which will help refuel the Power and Propulsion Element, were formalized in Italy during the week. We'll dig into the details in the video of how the SLS upgrade allows for that increased capacity.

And in news and notes, we'll talk the resumption of SLS production at Kennedy Space Center and preparations for the EUS Green Run that is somewhere in the future.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, the European Space Agency, Thales Alenia Space, and elsewhere as noted.

00:00 Intro
00:46 Early takeaways from Starship IFT-5 about possible Artemis implications
02:04 ESA and Thales Alenia Space formalize Lunar View Gateway refueler upsize
07:04 GAO reports on their recent audit of Exploration Ground Systems
12:09 News and notes, Artemis II big picture
15:49 SLS Core Stage-4 engine section moved to SSPF production site
16:44 EUS Green Run test stand preparations continue at Stennis Space Center
17:38 Thanks for watching!

 

[martinbayer]

More and more, Artemis is reminding me of Zeno's halfway pseudo paradox...

 

[southwestforests]

Zeno's halfway pseudo paradox

Didn't remember that name, so had to go look it up.
Turns out I do remember what the paradox is, just didn't remember its name.

Here's a reference for anyone not familiar with what it is,

Zeno’s Paradoxes (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

 

[martinbayer]

Didn't remember that name, so had to go look it up.
Turns out I do remember what the paradox is, just didn't remember its name.

Here's a reference for anyone not familiar with what it is,

Zeno’s Paradoxes (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

I added the "pseudo" because it really isn't a paradox.

 

[publiusr]

I added the "pseudo" because it really isn't a paradox.

I'll meet you half way on that...

Borges called that the labyrinth of a straight line in one of his works (Death and the Compass).

Star Trek: Discovery had an episode recently that combined some of JLB's tales.

 

[TomcatViP]

View: https://youtu.be/BmFjK07qfZg?si=Tk8yPQjHQ6mSQApM

 

[BlackBat242]

View: https://youtu.be/BmFjK07qfZg?si=Tk8yPQjHQ6mSQApM

Micro-meteors anyone?

Or will it be "self-sealing"?

 

[southwestforests]

Micro-meteors anyone?

Or will it be "self-sealing"?

These from 2016 and 2019 might shed some light on that factor,

https://www.planetary.org/articles/20160405-beam-preview

and

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009457651930116X

 

[NMaude]

New SLS/Artemis update from Phillip Sloss:

In this video recap of Artemis news from the past week, I'll cover Bechtel's assembly of the Mobile Launcher-2 umbilical tower "chair" structure. The chair is the base of the tower and it connects to the ML-2 launch platform or "base."

The NASA SLS Stages Element office manages the Core Stage of the vehicle and they provided updates in both visual and interview form. I'll go over the new footage from New Orleans and Michoud Assembly Facility of the Artemis III build and provide initial takeaways from the interview with SLS Stages manager Steve Wofford.

During the week NASA also provided imagery of recent training and site visits by the Artemis II flight crew; the video covers Orion side hatch training and a visit to the Northrop Grumman facility where the SLS solid rocket booster assemblies are processed.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
00:57 SLS Core Stage-3 LOX tank processing continues
04:32 Initial takeaways from interview with NASA SLS Stages Element manager Steve Wofford
07:51 Mobile Launcher-2 construction milestone: assembly of the umbilical tower "chair"
09:35 A short-ish Gateway schedule update on HALO assembly and test...and a non-update
11:47 Other news and notes: Artemis II flight crew training and site visits
14:20 The big picture: waiting for big decisions, announcements, updates
17:31 Thanks for watching!

 

[BlueAbyssal]

Micro-meteors anyone?

Or will it be "self-sealing"?

They’re typically better-equipped to resist damage than the can-style modules.

 

[NMaude]

LM put out a video concerning the Orion spacecraft for Artemis II last week:

Over several visits to our campus in Littleton, Colorado, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and their backup crew have been hard at work testing Orion’s crew module hatch.

This is important training that puts hundreds of opening and closing cycles on a hatch to test its durability. With the need to operate the hatch so many times, the training sessions serve as a great opportunity for the crew to train on the many ways the hatch can operate in a variety of situations.

See how testing is done to simulate real-life mission conditions, and hear firsthand from astronaut Victor Glover about the importance of flight hardware training.

To learn more about the testing process and how Artemis II will pave the way for humanity’s return to the Moon and beyond, visit: https://lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ds-on-opening-orions-hatch.html&v=xBkU-1mxWdw

To learn more about the spacecraft designed to carry humans to the Moon, Mars and Beyond, visit: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/...

 

[NMaude]

The Space Bucket has just uploaded a new video concerning the Artemis II mission:

NASA is currently in the process of upgrading some of its critical infrastructure necessary for the future Artemis missions and humans return to the Moon. This mainly includes ground systems such as the mobile launcher or even vehicle assembly building.

However, a recent report from the GAO found that Artemis 2, scheduled less than a year from now in September 2025, is at risk of being delayed.

Full article here - https://thespacebucket.com/nasas-arte...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:27 - New Delays
4:27 - More Artemis Progress

 

[publiusr]

On the Artemis stack

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.A35844

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.A35830

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.A36032

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.A36054

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.A35930

 

[Archibald]

Re-posting some revelations about Starship-HLS

Inside the HLS prototype there are 5 bedrooms (ISS style, but horizontal), and a picture showing that you can fit 20 in one ring around the ship.
Being inside makes it SO clear that it's stupid big, and there will be no lack of space with any size crew.
They only have 2 floors so far:
One with very laid out life support, all clear to see (& in use).
The main one with the bedrooms, a storage area, 4 control seats, and a 40ft ceiling.

The HLS at Starbase didn't have a garage or airlock. (That may have changed, but I don't think so)
You can see the door in/out in pictures of it, up a flight of ~15 stairs on the outside.
Inside that door is the main room that's huge, and has bunks on one side and storage shelves with foam filled space bags on the other. The control seats, arranged like dragon (but just gaming chairs attached to boxes) are straight across from the door. 4 seats, with touch screens displaying Moon transfer, orbit, and landing maneuvers on them. (Similar to dragon docking simulator screens)

The center of the room has a ~8ft wide hole and a HUGE (4ft wide) ladder going down to the lower floor.
The floor is curved on the bottom as part of the dome for the pressure vessel. Big enough that you barely notice the curve in the area you can walk, but can see it curve up the sides under the life support equipment.
The life support looks like it is running fully, with the heat exchanger having a tubes that go out to the AC unit outside.

Will be the first time since Skylab NASA will have "larger than 15 ft diameter" spaceships and space stations. Skylab was a modified 22-ft S-IVB but Staship is even larger than that, around 30 ft.

 

[NMaude]

Phillip Sloos has uploaded a new video mainly concerning Artemis II:

In this video, I'll review the NASA update on Orion base heatshield investigation this past week. The update was a mixed bag: a root cause was found, but the space agency is declining to elaborate. They are performing more testing for Artemis II flight rationale, but they won't say what decisions were made for a second unit that was already built for Artemis III.

We may have to wait until the end of the year to see how comprehensive a public announcement is, and with Artemis II stacking on hold for most or all of that time, chances of another delay to the target launch date are increasing. Currently the official target date is next September, but there may be no schedule margin left by the end of this year if preparations remain on standby.

This video covers the heatshield investigation update and plans for work on Artemis II hardware in the meantime. Boeing started expansion of their SLS Core Stage production to the Kennedy Space Center almost two years ago, and we're now seeing the groundwork nearing completion. In the video, I'll take a first look at the engine section integration facility now at capacity, with the other Boeing SLS production facility in the Vehicle Assembly Building nearing activation.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Stories cited:
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/na...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...of-orion-heat-shield-char-loss/&v=ytrqFVCFWt8
https://spacenews.com/nasa-finds-but-...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...e-of-orion-heat-shield-erosion/&v=ytrqFVCFWt8
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/10...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...at-shield-problems-as-a-secret/&v=ytrqFVCFWt8
https://spacenews.com/ground-systems-...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...s-could-delay-artemis-2-launch/&v=ytrqFVCFWt8

00:00 Intro
01:20 Orion heatshield investigation continues
03:43 Artemis II schedule uncertainty also continues
09:35 Artemis II Core Stage prepared for breakover and lift
12:03 Boeing SLS Core Stage facility in VAB High Bay 2 nearing activation
14:18 EGS work on Mobile Launcher-1 in the VAB in the meantime
15:46 Boeing SLS SSPF worksite at engine section capacity
21:39 Other news and notes
23:35 Thanks for watching!

​

 

[NMaude]

Phillip Sloss has a video out about what Musk and Trump may have planned for the SLS and Artemis programme:

NASA could soon be looking at another complication to their lunar landing plans, with the different Artemis Moon to Mars programs up for review by the incoming Trump administration. The second term promises to be different in many ways, beginning with it being the only non-consecutive one since Presidential term limits were enacted.

More importantly to NASA and Artemis, Elon Musk is advising Trump on the transition and beyond. Given the implications of the SpaceX founder advising Trump on NASA policy, this video is likely the first episode in what could end up being a big story into and through 2025.

Nothing has happened yet and there are no guaranteed outcomes, but given the personalities involved, it's hard to ignore the possibility of big changes. For now, I'll take a first look at why one would think Trump and Musk would want to make changes, what happened to five years ago during Trump's first term just as the Artemis branding was announced, some differences between then and now, and how messy drastic changes could get.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
01:57 "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" -- What do Musk and Trump think?
03:45 Different political situation than with the SLS cancellation attempt in Trump's first term
07:46 Current Artemis situation: two halves don't make a whole, not yet
09:40 Potential changes, potential implications, potential complications
14:36 Thanks for watching!

 

[Rhinocrates]

Phillip Sloss has a video out about what Musk and Trump may have planned for the SLS and Artemis programme:

I wouldn't place any bets. Two volatile narcissists in a bromance of convenience? How long do you think that will last?

 

[NMaude]

Celestium (Formerly Astrographics) has uploaded a video about the Lunar Gateway:

Why build a space station around the Moon? Explore Artemis' Lunar Gateway—humanity's next giant leap for lunar exploration, science, and Mars missions. Join us for an in-depth breakdown!

 

[NMaude]

Phillip sloss has a new video out concerning the Starship IFT-6 flight and the start of Artemis II stacking:

Stacking for NASA's Artemis II lunar flyby mission finally began this past week...and then went back on hold again until whenever the Orion heatshield decision is made. Regardless of the uncertain decision schedule, it's still a big milestone and in this video, I'll look at Exploration Ground Systems activities over the last week and a half to stage the SLS solid rocket booster aft assemblies to roll out of storage at the Kennedy Space Center, move them to the Vehicle Assembly Building, and then crane them onto the Mobile Launcher in VAB High Bay 3.

I'll also go over why that's likely where stacking will stay put until after Thanksgiving and into December.

SpaceX executed the latest Starship flight test and although the visual spectacle was a mixture of new launch lighting and a missed catch opportunity, I'll review how what happened in space during the middle of the mission was more important for Artemis III.

There was also new Orion and SLS information that provided some updated status, even if updates to NASA schedules and SpaceX roadmaps remain elusive for Artemis overall.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

00:00 Intro
00:58 In-space restart test during Starship flight test 6 was the top Artemis priority
03:14 NASA starts Artemis II initial stacking, but the rest is on hold until the Orion heatshield decision
09:13 Artemis II Orion vacuum test continues in the O&C Building
11:36 Boeing SLS November status updates
14:45 Other news and notes on Gateway and the Axiom Space AxEMU
16:12 Thanks for watching!

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1861487896424784384

View: https://twitter.com/nasawatch/status/1861487896424784384

A name keeps popping up as a possible @NASA Administrator nominee: Mike Gold. He's the guy behind #Artemis Accords and a lot of the regulatory mods within #NASA and elsewhere that allowed @SpaceX, @BlueOrigin, @Axiom_Space @Rocketlab etc to do that cool space stuff FYI @ElonMusk