ARTEMIS I MISSION

Artemis I is an uncrewed mission of NASA.
It will test the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule.
Artemis I will be the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to build a long-term human presence at the Moon for decades to come.
The primary goals for Artemis I are to demonstrate Orion’s systems in a spaceflight environment and ensure a safe re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery prior to the first flight with crew on Artemis II.

Artemis I launch

The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft have completed their journey from their assembly building to Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
At launch, the rocket will produce a maximum of more than 3.9 million kilograms of thrust from its four RS-25 engines and five-segment boosters.
Shortly after launch, the boosters, service module and launch abort systems will be offloaded.
Then, the core stage engines will be shut down and the core stage will separate from the spacecraft.

Artemis I: Trajectory to the moon

After launch, the spacecraft will orbit the Earth and deploy its solar arrays.
Next, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will give Orion a “push” to help it leave Earth’s orbit and travel toward the planet’s only natural satellite.
Then, within about two hours from launch time, when the spacecraft is on a trajectory to the Moon, it will separate from ICPS.
When it separates from the spacecraft, ICPS will deploy small satellites, known as CubeSats to send them on their journey to deep space.
This includes BioSentinel, which will carry yeast into deep space to study the effects of deep space radiation on living matter.
The other CubeSats will also perform many science and technology demonstrations.

Artemis I: Moon orbit

On its path to the Moon, Orion will be propelled by a service module built by the European Space Agency.
Apart from supplying the spacecraft’s propulsion system and power, the service module is also designed to house air and water for future crewed missions.
Once it enters the Moon’s orbit, the spacecraft will collect data.
Afterwards, Orion will use a precisely timed engine firing of the service module in combination with the Moon’s gravity to accelerate back towards our planet.

Artemis I: Reentry into Earth’s atmosphere

After a total mission time of around 6 weeks, Orion will enter Earth’s atmosphere.
And if all goes as planned, it will land in the sea, within eyesight of a recovery ship stationed off the coast of Baja in California.

ISRO’s Moon Exploration Efforts

Chandrayaan 1:

The Chandrayaan project began in 2007 with an agreement between India’s space agency ISRO and Russia’s ROSCOSMOS for mutual cooperation.
However, the mission was postponed in January 2013 and rescheduled to 2016 as Russia was unable to develop the lander on time.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT

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