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Image source: NASA
NASA’s revised plans to return astronauts to the moon are quickly taking shape.
On February 27, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Revealing a new vision for artemis projectand a mission the agency hopes will establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. This reshuffle includes updated mission objectives artemis 3 In addition to this, the cadence between launches is shorter space launch system (SLS) rocket, and the SLS redesign now taking center stage.
Under the previous program structure, the SLS “Block 1” variant would use the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) as its upper stage, which would launch Artemis 1 to Artemis 3, while Artemis 4 and above will fly using SLS Block 1B and Block 2, which feature the more powerful Exploration Upper Stage (EUS). However now, NASA yes Cancel these upgrades Used to “standardize” SLS configuration.
As of the time of the announcement on February 27, NASA had not indicated what a standardized version of SLS would look like or what the vision for SLS’s superiors would be. But images released simultaneously showing the new Artemis frame show the program’s Orion crew module flying on a vehicle that is clearly neither ICPS nor EUS.
Instead, Orion and its service module were filmed burning up under the power of Centaur 5, the upper stage of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) new Vulcan rocket.
This encourages Speculations at the timethis was confirmed on March 6, when the government Award Management System (SAM.gov) The website lists “Vulcan Centaur V Space Launch System Upper Stage” contract opportunity.
This opportunity comes from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Based in Alabama, it is described as a “sole source contract” for ULA to provide “the next generation upper stage for the Space Launch System (SLS) Artemis IV and Artemis V.”
“Due to the highly specialized nature of this requirement, no other supplies or services can meet the agency’s request,” agency officials added in the SAM.gov post.
Centaur V has a proven flight record on Vulcan, which debuted in 2024 and has been successfully launched four times (including Some noteworthy issuesnot related to Centauri). Its predecessors, the Centaurs III and IV, flew using the same RL10 engines and relied on much of the same technology built into the Centaur V, which completed nearly 170 launches on ULA’s Delta IV and Atlas rockets.
Outline of the restructured NASA Artemis program. |Image source: NASA
In addition, similar to the Centaur variant, the Delta cryogenic second stage, supports the Orion spacecraft Discovery Flight Test-1 In December 2014, ULA Delta Heavy launched the capsule to space first. The mission will deliver the unmanned Orion spacecraft into Earth orbit and back.
Powered by two RL10 engines, the Centaur V is the largest and most advanced in ULA’s Centaur series. It holds about twice as much fuel as ICPS and is nearly the same diameter as Orion and its service module.
“ULA’s Centaur (with minor modifications) is the only existing space propulsion stage that can meet the SLS upper stage design parameters and performance characteristics while meeting NASA’s schedule,” NASA said in a statement. Submitted documents Justify awarding the contract to ULA without competition.
This timeline is also part of a shift in the architecture of Artemis. Artemis 2 is expected to launch as early as April 1, but that remains unchanged for now. However, every mission since then has been repurposed and sped up.
Artemis 2 will be launched crew of four astronauts A 10-day one-lap mission moon and return to Earth. Artemis 3 was originally designed to be the program’s first lunar landing, targeting 2028, but has been converted to a 2027 test flight with Orion and one or more Artemis lunar landers. low earth orbit. (SpaceX’s Starship and blue originof blue moon The landers were selected under Artemis’ Human Landing Services contract, and NASA has said Artemis 3 will use one or both, depending on their readiness. )
Artemis 4 is now the first mission in the series with the goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface, which NASA still hopes to complete in 2028, with subsequent landings of Artemis 5 likely to occur the same year.
With Artemis 2 SLS already stacked and nearly ready for launch, Artemis 3 SLS already outfitted to house the ICPS, Artemis 4 and 5 are the two missions confirmed to launch Orion using a standardized SLS configuration and the Centaur V upper stage, according to NASA contract specifications. There’s no mention of any missions outside of Artemis 5.
For now, how Orion will get into orbit beyond Artemis 5 is probably just speculation. SLS experienced multiple delays cost overruns Over its long history, it has sparked criticism from many who believe its continued funding is more of a jobs initiative pushed by the U.S. Senate than a sustainable space program. Some in the space industry are asking about its feasibility space exploration technology corp.Super Heavy Booster – First Stage starship Giant rocket, still in development — to support Orion launches, maybe even Starship becomes Artemis’ manned transport vehicle Available for Artemis 6 and above.
