NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2022-156A
Artemis 1 is an uncrewed mission to launch the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion Crew Vehicle to lunar orbit and return to Earth to test out the systems for the planned Artemis 2 crewed launch (date TBD). The launch vehicle configuration is a Block 1 SLS vehicle consisting of two main stages. The first stage comprises two solid rocket boosters and a core stage containing four RS-25D engines, burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The second stage is the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), consisting of one RL-10 engine. On top of these stages and adapters is the Orion Service and Crew Module, topped by the launch abort system. The spacecraft has a height of 98 meters and a fully fueled mass of 2.6 million kg.
Artemis 1 launched on 16 November 2022 at 6:47:44 UT (1:47:44 a.m. EST), followed by injection into Earth orbit, and core stage separation, and firing of its ICPS stage for trans-lunar injection. About a half-hour after this the ICPS and its stage adapter separated. The 10 cubesats were deployed. As of 21 November, six of the ten cubesats were operational and performing well. The status of one, LunIR, has not been reported, and three more, OMOTENASHI, NEA Scout and Team Miles, have not communicated with the ground to this point. The Orion module reached the Moon on 21 October, flying about 130 km above the surface for a gravity assist, to go into a wide 350,000 x 440,000 km lunar orbit. After roughly two weeks the spacecraft will return to Earth, the crew and service module will separate, and the Orion crew module will reenter and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Total mission duration is planned to be roughly 25 days
A collection of ten ride-on missions are flying on Artemis 1. All ten are 6U cubesats, and all are mounted in the stage adapter on top of the ICPS second stage. The adapter is fitted with deployment mechanisms to launch the satellites. This was done following the trans-lunar injection burn and separation from the ICPS. The ten satellites are: LunaH-Map, Lunar IceCube, NEA Scout, LunIR, OMOTENASHI, EQUULEUS, BioSentinel, CuSP, ArgoMoon, and Team Miles.
Launch Date: 2022-11-16
Launch Vehicle: SLS Block 1 Crew
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
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