I am a total space junky. Anytime there is a NASA space launch, everything else comes to a halt while I watch the entire mission.
I’ve dialed back from trying to keep up with what is happening on the International Space Station, but this recent Artemis II launch has me hooked. And now that I have found the NASA posts on YouTube, including the daily chats with the astronauts, I’m totally hooked again.
Space History
Years ago, I was the same way when Apollo II went to the moon. More recently than the actual mission, it was replayed and I re-watched it. Afterward, I wrote a page about my feelings about that mission. It is here on my blog and if you are also a space junkie and want to read it, click here.
The Artemis II Mission
This mission, compared to Apollo II, really puts a lot of things in greater prospective. They tell us that the Artemis module, Integrity, is roughly the size of a small camper, with room for the astronauts to get out of their space suits and more around. The bathroom, with a toilet, was displayed in one image that I saw. I’m not sure what Apollo’s accommodations were on their mission. That’s just the beginning of the 21st century differences. The rocketry and power has certainly been enhanced over this time and the size of the space module, therefore, is much larger.
The propulsion change capability is totally amazing. It’s like they are totally in control, like driving down the freeway, on their trip. Having the ability to leave Earth’s gravity and then enter the moon’s gravity. And the ability to steer the module around the far side and propel the module back from the moon’s gravity on it’s way back to earth.
The communication capability, except for those tense 40 minutes when they lost contact behind the moon, is truly amazing and a delight for this space junky. Today, I listened to a portion of a broadcast that was like a TV interview, with the commander out there in space talking and answering questions from Earth. It was awesome.
And the photography they were able to do from behind the moon and then send back to earth when communication was re-established, has given us all the ability to see what they saw. This week, we have all been able to travel to the moon.
Re-entry is still to come on Friday. I am writing this on Wednesday evening. You can bet that I will be on the YouTube Live feeds for that. It’s scheduled for the Pacific Ocean just off San Diego. I’m in Arizona, not that far from San Diego, and I would love to be there, but I’m sure it will be far enough from shore that I will see more on YouTube.
At my age, I will never get a chance to do an actual space trip, but with the advancement of all the technology, I’m reasonably sure some of you young people who may be reading this will have that opportunity.
International Space Station – NASA
The International Space Station is humanity’s home in space. It is a research station orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth. It’s purpose is to learn more about astronaut health and training.
Up until now, the thought of people being able to transit from earth to a space station has seemed like a mammoth feat. The fact that these people are able to actually live there for months at a time has been amazing. But I can see where one day people will be able to hop up to similar facilities, maybe like space resorts. Combine the small camper amenities of Integrity, and the longer-term amenities of the space station. Talk about “getting away” for a bit of rest.
PS
The mission was an awesome success with a pinpoint landing in the Pacific off of San Diego. The weather was a bit overcast, and the sea was pretty choppy, so the removal of the astronauts from the capsule seemed to take forever, but it was finally successfully completed.