The Orion capsule from the Artemis 1 mission is well on its way to the Moon. NASA’s new megarocket, carrying the spacecraft, lifted off Wednesday from Florida. After spending a few moments in orbit around the Earth, one last push put it on its way to the Moon, where it will arrive in a few days.
On its way, Artemis 1 photographed the Earth. The images published on NASA’s social networks thus show the blue planet after 9:30 a.m. after the capsule flight.
A 25-day mission around the Moon
When the capsule reaches the Moon, it will be placed in a distant orbit for about a week, venturing up to 40,000 miles behind the only natural satellite, a record for a habitable capsule.
Artemis 1 is a test flight that will go around the Moon without landing there and without an astronaut on board. The mission, which is expected to last 25 days in total, should confirm that the vehicle is safe for a future crew.
This flight marks the beginning of the Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon. The goal is to establish a lasting human presence there, in preparation for a trip to Mars.
Source: BFM TV
