First Manned Lunar Flyby Mission by the US in 53 Years Scheduled for April 2nd

For the first time in over half a century, the United States is attempting to send astronauts to lunar orbit. The success or failure of this milestone mission is not only crucial for the advancement of NASA's deep space exploration roadmap but will also directly impact the commercial space industry chain centered around lunar economic development.

According to CCTV News, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on March 31st that preparations for the launch are proceeding in an orderly fashion. The "Artemis 2" mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than 6:24 AM Beijing time on April 2nd (18:24 EST on April 1st). At that time, the "Space Launch System," America's new generation of lunar rockets, will carry the "Orion" spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida into space, sending four astronauts into lunar orbit for a 10-day circumlunar flight.

Weather forecasts indicate a 20% probability of weather rule violations during the launch window, meaning an 80% chance of favorable conditions for launch. Mark Burger, NASA's launch weather officer, stated at a press conference on the 31st that the weather conditions in the rocket's ascent corridor are "very conducive to launch," with only a 9% risk probability, which is considered "very ideal."

Returning to Deep Space After 53 Years, a Mission of Profound Significance

"Artemis 2" marks the first time since 1972 that the United States is attempting to send astronauts into deep space beyond Earth's orbit, more than 53 years after the last manned lunar landing mission. This mission also represents the first crewed flight for the "Orion" spacecraft.

The four astronauts on this mission are: NASA astronaut and Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. They will travel in the Orion spacecraft, named "Integrity," and will fly near lunar orbit, with the potential to directly observe parts of the far side of the Moon that humanity has never seen with their own eyes.

NASA Deputy Administrator Amit Kshatriya stated before the launch: "The vehicle is ready, the systems are ready, and the crew is ready. This flight carries with it an entire plan – lunar landings, a lunar base, deep space nuclear propulsion. All of this begins on Wednesday, not ends."

Launch Process and Subsequent Key Milestones

The countdown for the launch, which spans over 49 hours, officially began at 4:44 PM EST on March 30th. The launch window is two hours long, and the SLS rocket stands at an impressive 322 feet (approximately 98 meters) tall.

As planned, approximately 20 minutes after launch, the four solar panels on the European Service Module will deploy to provide power to the spacecraft. About 49 minutes after liftoff, the upper stage will execute a perigee raise maneuver, placing Orion into an elliptical orbit; approximately one hour later, an apogee raise maneuver will be performed to enter a high Earth orbit.

The second day of flight will bring a critical decision point: NASA will assess the status of the spacecraft and crew to decide whether to initiate the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn, officially embarking on the journey to the Moon. During the mission, astronauts will also perform manual flight demonstrations to verify Orion's maneuverability required for docking with future lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX.

The data on deep space radiation environments and flight experience gathered from this mission will provide significant support for NASA's subsequent plans for manned lunar landings and the establishment of a lunar base.