Artemis II: Mission to the Moon

Welcome to Bedtime History. Hello, this is Breck. If you enjoy the show, be sure to subscribe to be notified about new episodes. And to get our entire catalog of episodes ad-free, you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts. Also, be sure to check out our 400-plus educational videos on our YouTube channel. We also have a new show called Bedtime Safari, so look for the link in the show notes of our most recent episodes. Yesterday my son popped into my office and said, Hey, did you know Artemis 2 is launching today? I'd totally forgotten it was the big day. I quickly tuned into YouTube, watched the launch, and then continued to watch as it left Earth's atmosphere and headed for its 10-day journey around the moon. Have you heard about the Artemis 2 mission? Right now, the Artemis 2 mission is underway, carrying humans farther from Earth than any crew has traveled in more than 50 years. Artemis 2 is part of NASA's Artemis program, a series of missions designed to help humans return to the moon and prepare for future journeys to Mars. The astronauts are flying aboard the Orion spacecraft, which sits on top of the powerful space launch system, often called SLS. This rocket is one of the most powerful ever built. It produces millions of pounds of thrust, pushing the spacecraft out of Earth's gravity and into deep space. Yesterday the launch took place after years of preparation. Engineers carefully checked every system on the rocket and spacecraft. Astronauts trained for months to prepare for the journey. They practiced working together, solving problems, and learning how to operate the spacecraft safely. Now all that training is being put to use as the mission continues. The crew aboard Artemis 2 includes four experienced astronauts. The commander of the mission is Reid Wiseman. He leads the team and helps guide important decisions during the flight. The pilot is Victor Glover, who helps operate the spacecraft's systems and navigation. Mission specialist Christina Koch brings her experience from spending nearly a full year in space, studying how the human body adapts to microgravity. The fourth astronaut is Jeremy Hansen, representing Canada, and becoming the first Canadian astronaut to travel around the Moon. As the spacecraft travels through space, it is moving incredibly fast. Orion can reach speeds of about 24,500 miles per hour, or nearly 40,000 kilometers per hour. At that speed, it could travel from New York to Los Angeles in just a few minutes. The Moon is about 238,855 miles away from Earth, which means the journey takes several days even at extremely high speed. Right now, the astronauts are living inside the Orion capsule as it moves farther away from Earth. Inside the spacecraft, everything floats because of microgravity. Pens, food packets, and even the astronauts themselves gently drift if they are not strapped down. The astronauts carefully monitor equipment, check navigation systems, and communicate regularly with mission control on Earth. The mission is expected to last about 10 days. During this time, Orion will travel around the Moon and then return safely back to Earth. Although Artemis II will not land on the Moon, the flight is an important test. Engineers are studying how well the spacecraft performs in deep space, far beyond Earth's orbit. The astronauts are also testing life support systems that provide oxygen, control temperature, and recycle water. These systems are essential for keeping astronauts safe during longer missions in the future. Every piece of equipment must work correctly to prepare for future Moon landings. As Orion approaches the Moon, the astronauts will see views that few humans have ever witnessed. The Moon will appear as a huge rocky world covered in craters and mountains. They will also see Earth far away, looking small and bright against the blackness of space. Many astronauts say seeing Earth from space reminds them how special and connected our planet is. The Artemis program continues the story of earlier Moon missions, such as the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s. Those missions first brought humans to the Moon. Now Artemis aims to build on that history and create new opportunities for exploration and scientific discovery. One goal of Artemis is to learn more about the Moon's surface and resources. Scientists believe the Moon may contain frozen water near its poles. This water could help future astronauts stay longer by providing drinking water and even fuel for rockets. Studying the Moon helps prepare humans for even longer missions, such as traveling to Mars. Artemis II also represents teamwork between countries. The presence of a Canadian astronaut shows how nations can work together peacefully to explore space. Future missions may include astronauts from additional countries, making space exploration a shared human effort. The journey to the Moon requires careful planning because space is a very different environment than Earth. There is no air to breathe, temperatures can become extremely hot or cold, and astronauts must rely completely on their spacecraft for protection. Engineers spent years designing Orion to keep the crew safe. When the mission is complete, Orion will re-enter Earth's atmosphere at very high speed. Special heat shields protect the spacecraft from intense heat created by friction with the air. Parachutes will then slow the capsule as it lands safely in the ocean, where recovery teams will bring the astronauts home. Right now, as Artemis II continues its journey, millions of people around the world are following the mission with excitement. Students, scientists, engineers, and families are watching updates and learning about space exploration. Missions like Artemis II inspire people to imagine new possibilities for the future. Space exploration often leads to new inventions that help people on Earth. Technologies developed for spacecraft have led to improvements in computers, materials, communication systems, and medical equipment. The knowledge gained from Artemis missions may lead to new discoveries that benefit everyone. Imagine looking up at the Moon tonight, knowing that humans will be traveling nearby it within a few days. The Artemis II astronauts are continuing a long tradition of exploration that stretches back through history. Just as early explorers once crossed oceans to learn more about our planet, astronauts now travel beyond Earth to learn more about our universe. Artemis II shows what humans can accomplish when they work together, solve problems, and keep asking questions. The mission is not only about reaching the Moon, but also about preparing for future journeys that may take humans even farther. As the spacecraft continues its path around the Moon this week, the astronauts are helping open the door to a new chapter of exploration. Their journey reminds us that curiosity and determination can carry us beyond the limits of what once seemed possible.