The moments that space fans have been waiting for for more than 50 years are near: NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the Moon.
But experts warn of everything that could go wrong. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen must be prepared for every danger – from a fire on the launch pad to a health crisis 250,000 miles from Earth.
Advanced safety systems for evacuation and rescue are integrated into Artemis II. At the center of this strategy is the Launch Abort System (LAS), a 13.4-meter-high tower located on the Orion capsule that can rescue astronauts in seconds.
Here are the five worst-case scenarios for Artemis II:
1. Emergency on the launch pad
Artemis II has three possible launch windows: February 6–11, March 6–11, and April 1–6. Astronauts will board the Orion capsule, attached to NASA's most powerful rocket, the 98-meter-long Space Launch System (SLS), filled with two million liters of liquid hydrogen at -252°C.
A sudden fuel leak or fire on the platform could force astronauts to use slide-wire baskets, where they would slide down cables to Earth in 30 seconds. If that doesn't work, LAS could tow them with its rockets 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) up and over a mile (1.2 km) from the platform, where parachutes would safely drop them into the Atlantic Ocean, covering 5–12 miles (8–19 km) in just three minutes.
2. Failure during takeoff
After launch, the rocket enters one of the most dangerous phases: maximum dynamic pressure, about 90 seconds after launch.
A structural failure at this point could tear the rocket apart. The LAS is designed to rescue astronauts, but they will experience up to 15G forces, far more than the 6Gs a normal human can withstand.
3. Failure of critical systems
Artemis II tests new technologies. The Orion capsule has only flown once before, without a crew. If the propulsion system, oxygen or any other critical system fails during the flight to the Moon, the crew will have no immediate escape option.
For this reason, Orion will use the free-return trajectory, which automatically takes the mission around the Moon and back toward Earth without firing the engines, ensuring a safe return in the event of failure.
4. Medical emergencies
Earlier this month, NASA evacuated the ISS for the first time due to a crew health crisis. In space, health problems can escalate quickly: dealing with weightlessness, muscle and bone atrophy, and cardiovascular problems.
Artemis II astronauts will be days away from the nearest hospital, with limited medical equipment and limited expert assistance.
5. Thermal shield failure
The most dangerous part comes during the return to Earth. As Orion re-enters the atmosphere at about 40,000 km/h, the frontal temperature reaches 2,760°C. Only four centimeters of heat-resistant material, called a heatshield, separate the crew from destruction.
Artemis I tests revealed unexpected damage to the Avcoat heat shield, which could have caused gas explosions. For Artemis II, NASA has changed the reentry trajectory, making a sort of "jump" through the atmosphere to dissipate heat and reduce exposure time. This change should ensure a safe reentry without changing the proven heatshield material. /GazetaExpress/
edition
t7 live
