Speakers' kit – Artemis II: mission to the Moon
Resources that experts can use to deliver presentations about Canada's role in Moon exploration to audiences across Canada.
Presentation
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Artemis II: mission to the Moon
- Thank you for having me here today. I'm excited to speak about the Artemis II mission – the first crewed flight to the Moon in over 50 years.
- Like the Apollo program over half a century ago, the Artemis campaign will enable humans to again explore the Moon – our planet's only natural satellite.
- Equipped with the knowledge and expertise gained from 25 years of human presence aboard the International Space Station, now we venture 1,000 times farther, to the Moon – to establish a lunar presence in a sustainable way, and to explore deeper into space than ever before.
- Artemis is the start of a new era of lunar exploration, where dreamers and do-ers unite to make the impossible happen. Welcome aboard!
Text version: Artemis II: mission to the Moon
Artemis I recap
- In , the night sky lit up as the Space Launch System – or SLS – tore through the atmosphere with the uncrewed Orion spacecraft on top.
- It was the start of a journey of over 2 million kilometres for Orion.
- Based on this success, Orion is again gearing up to fly to the far side of the Moon, with a crew of four astronauts this time.
Credit: NASA
A new era of lunar exploration
- The Artemis campaign is humanity's ambitious return to the Moon, and it is designed to take a step-by-step approach to lunar exploration.
- Artemis II will test the Orion spacecraft's systems, adapted to meet the needs of a crew on board.
- Notably, Artemis II is crucial to set the stage for the third Artemis mission. Then, for the first time since , astronauts will again venture onto the lunar surface.
- Later missions in the NASA-led Artemis campaign also include the construction and use of Gateway, a small space station in lunar orbit.
Text version: Artemis missions. Artemis I: an uncrewed test flight; Artemis II: a crewed test flight; Artemis III: Moon landing. (Credit: NASA)
Teamwork makes the dream work
- These four astronauts will be on board Artemis II when it launches no later than .
- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will join NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon.
- Having a Canadian astronaut as part of the Artemis II crew is a testament to the strong partnership between Canada and the United States in space exploration.
- Canada's seat on the mission is thanks to our contribution to Gateway: Canadarm3 is a robotics system designed for the lunar station.
Text version: Artemis II crew. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina H. Koch, Jeremy Hansen. (Credit: NASA)
A first for Canada
- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian to fly around the Moon.
- His historic mission will make Canada the second country to send an astronaut on a lunar mission.
- To date, only 24 people have seen Earth or the "blue marble" from a lunar vantage point – Jeremy will be the first Canadian to have that honour.
Text version: CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen. (Credit: NASA)
Ensuring a seat for Canada
- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jenni Gibbons has been assigned as a backup astronaut for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years.
- Assigning Jenni as the official backup ensures that Canada will keep its seat on this historic mission in the event that Jeremy Hansen is unable to fly. It also offers a chance to influence how future Artemis missions will unfold and how to prepare for them.
- Jenni is fully integrated into the training and flight-testing flow alongside the Artemis II crew and helps pave the path forward for future Artemis missions.
- She is also preparing to support Artemis missions from ground control as a lunar capcom (capsule communicator), which will also be a first for Canada.
Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel
Sweet ride!
- The Artemis II mission will blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Florida.
- The Orion spacecraft (right) will launch atop the SLS (left), one of the most powerful rockets in the world.
- Together, the duo is humanity's ticket back to the Moon!
- During the uncrewed Artemis I test flight, the Orion crew module did not contain the life-support systems required for crewed missions. Orion and its European Service Module will be outfitted with these systems for Artemis II and future missions.
- Fully testing all of Orion's systems is a main objective of the Artemis II mission.
Credit: NASA
Flight path
- The historic Artemis II mission is set to perform a flyby of the Moon.
- The crew will test several important aspects for future Artemis missions, including:
- mission planning;
- system performance;
- crew interfaces; and
- guidance and navigation systems.
- After launch, Orion will orbit Earth twice to ensure its systems are working as expected while still close to home.
- During the second orbit high above Earth, a checkout of the spacecraft begins. The crew will perform a sequence of manoeuvres designed to test manual piloting of Orion. It will also assess life support, exercise, and habitation equipment to ensure readiness before heading to the Moon.
- A powerful engine burn by the European Service Module will set Orion on a four-day outbound course to the Moon.
- Orion will fly approximately 10,400 kilometres beyond the Moon before completing a lunar flyby and returning to Earth.
- Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where the crew capsule and crew will be recovered by a US Navy ship.
Credits: NASA, CSA
Training (1/3)
- To prepare for their time in space, the Artemis II crew started intensive training in .
- Most of the training takes place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. There, they learn to use the Orion simulator and interact with a mock-up of the spacecraft.
Credit: NASA/James Blair
Training (2/3)
- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the crew learns about the SLS rocket and launchpad and countdown operations.
- The crew is learning to operate and monitor systems of the Orion spacecraft and rocket for every phase of the mission: from launch and flying to the Moon, to re-entering Earth's atmosphere and splashdown.
Credit: NASA
Training (3/3)
- Further training includes emergency preparedness, water survival, and lunar fundamentals courses in geology and other lunar sciences.
Credit: CSA
Life on Orion
- Additional phases of training are designed to prepare the crew for living aboard a new vehicle.
- Orion is only about the size of a camper van, so the crew will need to live and work in limited quarters.
- They'll train to:
- conduct daily operations;
- prepare food;
- exercise using a flywheel; and
- operate the various life-support systems and habitation equipment.
Credit: NASA/James Blair
Gearing up for deep-space exploration
- These are exciting times for Canada!
- Canada gets to send an astronaut on Artemis II thanks to its contribution of Canadarm3 to Gateway.
- This important contribution also opens up a range of opportunities for Canada, including lunar science, technology demonstration, and commercial activities, as well as another flight to Gateway.
- This new era of lunar exploration provides opportunities for Canadian companies and researchers, who are ready to take advantage of this international effort by contributing smart innovations, cutting‑edge technologies, and world-leading science.
- These upcoming missions to new destinations will inspire young Canadians to reach for the stars and become the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers.
End – CSA website and social media
To stay up to date on Canada's role in going back to the Moon, visit the Canadian Space Agency's website and follow us and Jeremy on social media.
Text version: Follow us on social media. Suivez-nous dans les médias sociaux. asc-csa.gc.ca (Credits: CSA, NASA)