On August 29, 2022, NASA was scheduled to launch Artemis 1 into space. However, the launch was “scrubbed.” Apparently, there was a leak in one of the tanks. The engineers tried to troubleshoot and fix the problem, but to no avail. According to NASA’s Communications Team, the earliest that Artemis 1 could have attempted to launch for a second time would have been Friday, September 2, 2022.
Unfortunately, on September 2, 2022, the launch was “scrubbed” for a second time as well. In order for NASA to “get this right,” we will have to wait a little longer. The launch will happen no earlier than Friday, September 23, 2022, at 6:47AM, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (space.com). For now, we wait.
I am so excited about the idea of witnessing this phenomenon. I know there have been astronauts traveling to the International Space Station for quite some time, but space exploration gurus have been talking about Artemis 1 and going back to the moon for several years. In fact, I have the Artemis 1 poster in my kitchen (yes, in my kitchen).
In my excitement, perhaps I jumped the gun. You may be asking yourselves: What is the big deal and what exactly is Artemis 1?
Here is a blurb about the Artemis 1 project, as written by NASA: “With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.”
Hollywood has so much to do with why I am captivated about space: The Star Wars Trilogies, Dune, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Alien, and Star Trek, are just a few of the movies that served as my introduction to space and why I am so intrigued by the possibilities!
For a listing of the Top Thirty of the best space movies, as reported by Authors: Phil de Semlyen, Andy Kryza, and Matthew Singer, you will find the suggested titles here: https://wWW.timeout.com/film/the-best-space-movies.
Space travel to the moon is closer than we could have ever imagined. Many moons ago (no pun intended), the question, “Would you travel to the moon?” would have been purely rhetorical for the average person. However, with advances being made in space travel by entities like SpaceX, civilians will soon be able to catch a flight to the moon. Until then, let’s cheer on NASA and the Artemis 1 Project. You can always host a launch party with your family or read the best book ever to a young child: “Good Night, Moon.” (Written by: Margaret Wise Brown). It is still an all-time favorite.
Fingers-crossed, that everything will go well on September 23, 2022. Good luck, NASA! Goodnight, moon!
Posted on: September 10, 2022