NASA reveals footage of astronauts training in desert for moon mission
It's taken more than half a century, but NASA really is going back to the moon.
Some of the space agency's astronauts have been training in the Northern Arizona desert for the looming Artemis 3 mission, which is currently slated to land in September 2026. Decades of other U.S. space priorities (such as the Space Shuttle and building the International Space Station), along with the astronomical costs of sending astronauts to our natural satellite, have impeded such a return endeavor.
But after the successful launch of NASA's new megarocket in 2022 — the Space Launch System — the moon mission's wheels are turning, albeit slowly. That's because every component of the agency's new lunar campaign, dubbed Artemis, must be profoundly safe. Lives will be aboard.
SEE ALSO:NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.NASA has released images of the astronauts' May 2024 training in the desert, including a recent view of NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas simulating a nighttime space walk (the official Artemis 3 astronaut crew has yet to be announced). Training in the dark or twilight is essential, as the conditions mimic the dark, shadowy regions Artemis astronauts will explore: NASA is going to the moon's south pole region, a place where the sun barely rises over the lunar hills. It's a world of profoundly long shadows and dim environs.
The endeavor you see below is called the Joint Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Test Team Field Test 5, or JETT5.
NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas simulating a moonwalk for the looming Artemis 3 mission.Credit: NASA / Josh ValcarcelOn left: Astronaut Andre Douglas reviews sample collection procedures. On right: Astronaut Kate Rubins ensures she has the necessary tools.Credit: NASA / Josh ValcarcelAstronaut Kate Rubins used a hammer to drive in tube that will collect soil samples from the ground. On the moon, these samples will be sealed and then returned to Earth.Credit: NASA / Josh ValcarcelThe two astronauts pushing a tool cart across the desert surface.Credit: NASA / Josh ValcarcelNASA captured these images in a rugged region called the San Francisco Volcanic Field. The area astronauts are headed to is also quite rugged. It's a heavily cratered region, teeming with volcanic rocks. Crucially, they'll be hunting for ice deposits, too.
Related Stories
- NASA’s most unusual astronaut has died
- The U.S. is exploring a railroad for the moon. It has a good reason.
- The best telescopes for gazing at stars and solar eclipses in 2024
- Mission control is trying 'restlessly' to save a spacecraft to Mercury
- If a scary asteroid will actually strike Earth, here's how you'll know
"The ice deposits could also serve as an important resource for exploration because they are comprised of hydrogen and oxygen that can be used for rocket fuel or life support systems," NASA explained.
The moon may one day serve as a lunar fuel depot, where after burning copious amounts of fuel during launch, spacecraft stop to fill up for deeper space missions. They may be headed to Mars, resource-rich asteroids, or beyond.
(责任编辑:新闻中心)
- ·Best smart home deals this week at Amazon
- ·平安人寿青岛分公司:开展黑产打击专项工作 维护保险消费者合法权益
- ·青岛市人社局部署开展“深化作风能力优化营商环境”专项行动
- ·亲子采摘乐,缤Fun过新年
- ·Value Judgment
- ·“书香地铁”第4期走进五四广场站 诵读经典领略国学魅力
- ·追寻红色记忆,汲取革命力量
- ·年夜饭必备!解锁电白丝苗米的N种美味方式
- ·When will Trump and Harris debate? The presidential campaigns snipe over ABC News’ rules.
- ·寻一段“青岛往事” 中国电影院焕新亮相
- ·Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 27
- ·山东省地矿局四院顺利承担崂山风景区2022年地质灾害治理工程(三期)设计项目
- ·佛冈水头:创建全省一流中医药特色卫生院,打造“带不走的医疗队”
- ·“唱响新春 筑梦未来”新春合唱音乐会 琴岛爱乐合唱团用歌声致敬时代
- ·Cheap heat
- ·全国首份《现代能源体系指数蓝皮书2022》在青岛发布
- ·中国平安发挥综合金融优势 助力养老第三支柱建设 旗下银行、基金正式上线个人养老金相关业务
- ·写实的魅力!“卓尔不凡”中青年写实油画名家作品展亮相青岛市市南区
- ·PS5 Pro: It looks like a sketch of the design just leaked
- ·8小时卖出1.2万件 即墨服装商户直播售货迎战“双十一”