Artemis II crew, prepare for take off

Artemis II crew, prepare for take off ✈️

With Johnson Space Center being the home of astronaut training, the Artemis II crew is preparing for their mission around the Moon and back through T-38 flight training at Ellington Airfield in Houston.

The T-38 is a two-engine jet that can hold two crew members together and reach speeds as high as Mach 1.2, making it faster than the speed of sound. The T-38, which can fly to heights of 50,000 feet/15,240 meters, is used for aerobatic maneuvers to help the astronauts become adjusted to unusual attitudes that they might experience in space. They also manage real risks in real time that helps prepare for quick decision making in the harsh environment of space. Since the Apollo era, astronauts have received dedicated training in the T-38.

Working together in flight is similar to how the crew might work together in their Orion spacecraft. The Artemis II mission will send @NASAastronauts @Astro_Reid, @AstroVicGlover, and @astro_christina, and @CanadianSpaceAgency astronaut @AstroJeremy on a 10-day flight test around the Moon. This first crewed mission back to the Moon will set the tone as we look forward to establishing a long term presence on the lunar surface with #Artemis.

Video Credit: NASA
Thumbnail Image Credit: Josh Valcarcel