The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission has revealed that they received an alarming message the moment their ship passed the so-called "point of no return" during its journey to the Moon.
The Orion capsule, carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen, is now on its way to the Moon after completing a crucial maneuver called a “translunar injection burn.” This engine firing takes the spacecraft out of Earth orbit and puts it on a trajectory toward the Moon.
But just 20 minutes after this maneuver, the crew received an emergency message about a "possible cabin leak."
“We got a warning about a ‘suspected cabin leak,’” astronaut Hansen said in the first live interview from space. “It immediately makes you think: should we abort the mission, put on our suits, and find a way to get back to Earth in a day?”
A leak in the cabin is a serious problem, as it could compromise the structure of the ship and expose the crew to the vacuum of space. Fortunately, after verification it turned out to be just an anomaly and the pressure in the cabin remained normal.
"Houston confirmed that everything was OK and we continued towards the Moon," Hansen added.
The mission's launch marked the beginning of a mammoth journey of about 1.1 million kilometers around the dark side of the Moon. This is the first time in more than 50 years that humans have set foot on the Moon.
During the first 24 hours, Orion remained in Earth orbit while the crew performed safety checks and rested. NASA said the main engines fired for about six minutes, providing the necessary thrust to continue the journey.
On the sixth day, the ship will reach the farthest point from Earth, surpassing the record set by Apollo 13, which will make these astronauts the farthest travelers in history.
“This is no ordinary mission,” said Commander Wiseman. “Sending four people this far is a gigantic endeavor.”
The crew also reported some minor challenges, such as low temperatures in the cabin and unusual sleeping patterns in zero gravity.
After circling the Moon, Orion will begin its return journey to Earth, a journey that is expected to take four days. During this time, astronauts will conduct important safety tests, including protection from solar radiation.
Upon entering the atmosphere, the ship will reach speeds of up to 40,000 km/h before landing in the Pacific Ocean, where it will be met by rescue teams.
This mission aims to pave the way for a Moon landing in 2028 – the first since 1972. However, it carries higher risks, as Orion uses relatively new technologies that have not been tested with crew in deep space before.
If critical systems fail after leaving Earth orbit, returning would be much more difficult. In the most extreme scenario, the failure of multiple systems could leave the spacecraft unable to change course – a situation with potentially fatal consequences. /GazetaExpress/
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