What were the qualifications of the Artemis II astronauts?
Introduction
The Artemis II mission is the second crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024. The Artemis II spacecraft will carry four astronauts to lunar orbit, where they will test the systems and procedures that will be used for the Artemis III lunar landing. In this article, we will introduce you to the Artemis II astronauts and their roles in the mission.
The Crew
- Commander: Tony Antonelli
- Pilot: Christina Koch
- Mission Specialist 1: Sergio Benavides
- Mission Specialist 2: Jessica Watkins
Their Roles
Each astronaut has a specific role in the Artemis II mission:
- Commander: Tony Antonelli is responsible for the overall safety and success of the mission. He will lead the crew’s activities in lunar orbit and oversee the testing of the spacecraft’s systems and procedures.
- Pilot: Christina Koch will assist the commander in all aspects of the mission, including the piloting of the spacecraft, and will be responsible for the spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking with the lunar gateway.
- Mission Specialist 1: Sergio Benavides will be responsible for the operation of the spacecraft’s science instruments and experiments. He will collect data and samples that will be used to study the lunar environment and prepare for future Artemis missions.
- Mission Specialist 2: Jessica Watkins will be responsible for the operation of the spacecraft’s robotic arm, which will be used to perform maintenance and repairs on the lunar gateway. She will also assist with the collection of samples and data.
Conclusion
The Artemis II mission is an important step in NASA’s plan to return humans to the moon by 2024. The four astronauts who will travel to lunar orbit on the Artemis II spacecraft have unique and critical roles in the mission. With their expertise and dedication, they will help pave the way for future exploration and discovery on the moon.