The astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission have made the names of their spacecraft official — Integrity. What an exhilarating decision to have during their quarantine period! Commander Reid Wiseman announced the crew’s name. He described it as representing their teamwork culture and commitment to the future mission. With Artemis II, the first crewed mission, NASA will conduct a vital crewed test flight. The Orion crewed spacecraft will fly by the Moon, but not land on it, setting the stage for humanity’s next return to the Moon.
Yet the four astronauts on board underwent an exhaustive naming process while quarantined. Their backups, Jenny Gibbons from the Canadian Space Agency and Andre Douglas from NASA, bolstered them every step of the way. Wiseman took great care to stress the collaborative process that went into choosing the name, pointing out that this was the highest priority for the crew.
The Naming Process
While in quarantine, the astronauts used their time to meet and plan, generating ideas and debating possible names for their spacecraft. Wiseman shared insights into their process:
“A couple months ago, we thought, as a crew, we need to name this spacecraft. We need to have a name for the Orion spacecraft that we’re going to ride this magical mission on.”
They multiplied efforts, working around the clock for weeks, often locking themselves in the quarantine facility. Finally, after much discussion, they came to an agreement and decided upon “Integrity.”
Selecting “Integrity” for them recognizes their deep devotion to the mission. It’s about much more than a pretty picture, for it embodies the values of teamwork and collaboration needed for space exploration success.
“We all had our little pet names. And as we worked our way through this, we went big to small, which this crew does so well.”
The upcoming Artemis II mission is a crucial step down the road to returning to the lunar surface. It clears the path for Artemis III, which intends for humans to land on the surface of the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. Unlike all previous missions to the Moon, this upcoming mission will not orbit the Moon, but will instead fly by before returning to Earth.
Mission Details and Objectives
Artemis II’s most critical goal is the testing of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield. This critical element faced significant challenges on their first uncrewed Artemis I test flight. The last mission found over 100 cracks in the char layer of the heat shield. In most instances, it snapped all the way off. To alleviate these concerns, NASA is developing a new replacement heat shield for the Artemis III crewed capsule.
Wiseman shared the urgency of being prepared for this endeavor when he said,
This sentiment captures well NASA’s desire to be safe and methodical in their planning before heading into space.
“We just do not anchor on dates. We are going to launch when this vehicle is ready, when this team is ready, and we are going to go execute this mission to the best of our abilities.”
In response to issues faced during Artemis I, NASA has adjusted the reentry plan for Artemis II. These adjustments are intended to improve both safety and performance, incorporating lessons learned from other recent missions. Yet the team’s priority is being methodical and making sure that every element leading up to the flight passes appropriate tests and scrutiny before moving forward.
Modifications and Future Aspirations
The Artemis II mission will be another notable step forward in NASA’s pursuit of more complex exploration missions. By pushing the Orion spacecraft to its limits and under real-world conditions, it sets vital groundwork for future lunar missions. The Artemis III mission will return humans to the Moon’s surface. Thanks to the close training and preparations taking place with Artemis II, that dream is now a tangible reality…
Lunar exploration excitement is at a fever pitch! From reaching orbit to landings, every aspect of space travel demands years, often decades, of experience and foresight to succeed.
Wiseman also spoke about the mission’s broader implications:
“When we get off the planet, we might come right back home. We might spend three or four days around Earth. We might go to the moon.”
This illustrates not only the excitement surrounding lunar exploration but also the careful planning that goes into each step of space travel.