Artemis mission shares office space—and physics—with Apollo
Why it matters: The Artemis 2 mission is the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972, marking a significant step in NASA's return to the Moon.
- Artemis astronauts are on day three of their mission, preparing for a slingshot maneuver around the moon on Monday.
- Mission control experts at the Johnson Space Center, including flight directors Judd Frieling and Rick Henfling, are overseeing the mission from the White Flight Control Room.
- CAPCOM Stan Love, a former astronaut, is the direct communicator with the four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
- NASA spokesperson Kylie Clem highlights the rigorous training of the mission control team, who work for years to earn their roles.
- Howard Hu, NASA Orion Program Manager, notes that while physics remains constant, computing capabilities have significantly advanced since the Apollo era, allowing for greater crew interaction.
The Artemis 2 mission, carrying four astronauts towards a lunar flyby, is leveraging both cutting-edge technology and invaluable lessons from the historic Apollo program, operating from the same Johnson Space Center that oversaw past moon missions. While modern computing power has dramatically advanced, the fundamental physics governing space travel remains constant, connecting the current crewed mission to its 1972 predecessor.
