NASA has released a photo of three spacecraft that will play key roles in the next three Artemis moon missions.
After successfully testing the Orion spacecraft on a lunar flyby at the end of last year after being launched into space by NASA's new Space Launch System rocket, the American space agency is now in charge of the construction of three additional Orion capsules for planned Artemis missions.
The Orion craft for Artemis II is pictured on the right, within the high bay of NASA's Kennedy Space Center's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. Artemis III is on the left, while Artemis IV is in the center.
According to NASA, each Orion capsule is in a different level of development as technicians and engineers prepare the spaceship to carry astronauts to the moon on subsequent trips.
Each Orion capsule is at a distinct stage of construction, according to NASA, as technicians and engineers prepare the spaceship to carry passengers to the moon on subsequent journeys.
The heat shield on the Artemis II crew module was just installed, and crews hope to conduct acoustic testing in the coming months. In preparation for the lunar mission, the crew module will be attached to the service module when it is ready.
Artemis II is scheduled to launch in November 2024, carrying NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The astronauts will not land on the moon, but will instead undertake a flyby, passing close to the lunar surface before returning home.
A successful mission will clear the way for Artemis III, which would attempt to land the first woman and person of color on the moon. Orion will transport the astronauts to lunar orbit, where they will transfer to a modified version of SpaceX's Starship lander. While the date is now set for 2025, it is contingent on SpaceX's progress with the testing of its Super Heavy and Starship vehicles.