NASA's Artemis II mission marks historic return to the Moon

USA. After more than half a century, humanity has returned to the Moon. Under NASA's Artemis-2 mission, four astronauts departed on Wednesday aboard a powerful rocket for a historic lunar orbit, a journey expected to pave the way for future landings.

The 32-story Space Launch System rocket, carrying three American and one Canadian astronaut, lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the evening. Thousands gathered to witness the launch, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the Apollo era. This mission is considered a significant step toward establishing a long-term lunar presence for NASA.

Minutes into the flight, Commander Reid Wiseman described the view toward the Moon as a 'beautiful moonrise.' He was joined by pilot Victor Glover, astronaut Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen. The crew is considered historic in terms of diversity, including the first woman, a person of color, and a non-American citizen.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called it a 'new chapter in human spaceflight,' describing the long interval since the previous lunar mission as a brief pause. According to him, the Moon is no longer just a destination, but a journey toward becoming a permanent future base.

Technical challenges created tension for hours before the launch. Despite fears that the old issue of hydrogen leaks might recur, the launch was completed smoothly. Last-minute issues with battery sensors and flight controls were quickly resolved, giving the flight the green light.

In the initial phase of this 10-day test flight, astronauts will check the spacecraft's systems while in Earth's orbit. Then, the main engine will ignite to begin the journey toward the Moon. They are expected to travel further from Earth than ever before while orbiting the Moon without landing on its surface.

After passing behind the Moon, the spacecraft will travel an additional 6,400 kilometers before setting a course back to Earth. This journey will be based on a 'free-return' trajectory, which ensures the spacecraft returns safely using gravitational assistance.

During the flight, the astronauts will also practice manual controls to test the effectiveness of human intervention if automated systems fail. Through the windows of the Orion capsule, they will observe rare views of the Moon, with some regions potentially being seen by human eyes for the first time.

However, the mission is not without risks. There are concerns that the hydrogen leak issue in the SLS rocket has not been fully resolved. The previous Artemis-1 mission also faced issues with the capsule's heat shield system. Special precautions have been taken this time to prevent such weaknesses from recurring.

Although NASA has not released a risk assessment, officials state that it is in 'better than normal' condition. Veteran astronaut Charlie Duke also wished the team well, noting that risks are inherent in such historic journeys.

The Artemis program has adopted a different approach than the Apollo era. It does not just aim to reach the Moon, but has put forward a plan to build a long-term base there. Future missions aim to land on the Moon's south pole and expand scientific research there.

According to astronaut Koch, the lunar journey is the foundation for the path to Mars. She called this mission the 'start of a new era,' presenting the Moon as a destination of possibilities for all people on Earth.

Glover mentioned that this journey is part of the shared history of all humanity, stating that it is not just for one country, race, or gender, but will become a 'story of humanity.'