The four astronauts chosen for the next moon mission, Artemis 2, participated in a symbolic signing event on Monday, November 27, on a rocket piece that will carry them to lunar destinations in late 2024, just a year from now.
Amid their training for the moon mission, the Artemis 2 crew added their signatures to the adapter for their Orion spacecraft. This adapter will be affixed to the top of the formidable Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The signing ceremony took place at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, with the astronauts donning cleanroom attire.
During their round-the-moon mission, the adapter will be positioned just beneath the astronauts’ Orion spacecraft, as noted in a release by NASA on November 28. The four astronauts
“The Orion stage adapter is a small ring structure that connects NASA’s Orion spacecraft to the SLS rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage, and fully manufactured at Marshall,” the release stated. “The adapter’s diaphragm will serve as a barrier to prevent gases created during launch from entering the spacecraft.”
Artemis 2 comprises a notable crew, featuring NASA commander Reid Wiseman, NASA pilot Victor Glover (the first Black person to venture beyond low Earth orbit), NASA mission specialist Christina Koch (the first woman), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (the first non-American). This diverse and accomplished team is set to play a pivotal role in the upcoming lunar mission.