The SLS launcher will be used by NASA to bring astronauts back to the Moon in the coming decade. But this year, a first mission is planned: to circumnavigate the Moon. Departure is soon.
Three letters, a name and an ambition. This is how one could describe NASA’s SLS project. Indeed, it is with this rocket – whose acronym stands for Space Launch System – that the American space agency intends to carry out the Artemis program, which should lead to the return of astronauts to the Moon during the 2020 decade.
NASA’s updated schedule predicts a manned moon landing in 2025 at the earliest. But before that, there will already have been two previous missions: Artemis 1 and Artemis 2. The first should also occur during the first half of 2022. According to the latest news, a flight at the end of March is planned. Objective ? Make a simple loop around the Moon.
It is not the SLS rocket that will circle the Moon, but the Orion capsule, which is at its top. It is this ship that will welcome the crews, but for the moment it is empty: the test planned for the next few weeks will take place without anyone on board, in order to validate the entire trip in real conditions and without any catch. of risks.
The SLS is now assembled and after a long wait, the launcher was able to make a first outing, as if he were going to the launch pad for the big start. Of course, before the flight test, the SLS and Orion, which are now integrated, will undergo a dress rehearsal to check the systems and test all stages of the countdown.
The American space agency knows the historic event: it is both one of the biggest missions of the year, but also undoubtedly of the decade – if not of all recent history in terms of space conquest. To mark the event, NASA therefore mobilized its entire team of photographers. Here is a selection of the best shots they took.
The most successful photos of the SLS rocket
