Illustration of NASAs Orion spacecraft flying through area. Credit: NASA
NASA Artemis I– Flight Day 19: Orion Prepares for Close Lunar Flyby, Teams Examining Power Conditioning Issue
On Flight Day 19 of the Artemis I mission, Orion performed the second return trajectory correction burn on Sunday, December 4, at 10:43 a.m. CST, utilizing the auxiliary thrusters and increasing the spacecrafts velocity by 1.16 mph (1.71 feet per second).
Orion experienced an issue with a power conditioning distribution unit (PCDU) shortly after obtaining signal with the Deep Space Networks Canberra ground station at 12:41 a.m. CST. Specifically, the issue was that 4 of the latching current limiters responsible for downstream power suddenly changed off. These lower-level switches link to the propulsion and heating unit subsystems. After teams validated the system was healthy, they successfully repowered the downstream elements. There was no disturbance of power to any critical systems, and there were no adverse impacts on Orions navigation or communication systems.
Groups are examining whether a prospective factor to this concern is related to a power configuration test executed by the flight teams to examine previous instances in which one of 8 umbilical latching current limiter systems opened without a command. The umbilical was effectively commanded closed each time and there was no loss of power streaming to avionics on the spacecraft.
Orion experienced a problem with a power conditioning circulation unit (PCDU) quickly after obtaining signal with the Deep Space Networks Canberra ground station at 12:41 a.m. CST. There was no disturbance of power to any important systems, and there were no adverse results on Orions navigation or interaction systems.
A host of test objectives offer details to engineers about how Orion runs in area, permitting them chances to validate performance models and discover as much as possible about the spacecraft.
On Monday, December 5, Orion will make its closest method to the Moon, flying 79.2 miles above the lunar surface.
On the 19th day of the Artemis I objective, Orion records Earth from a camera installed on one of its solar arrays as the spacecraft prepares for the return powered flyby of the Moon on December 5, when it will pass around 79 miles (127 km) above the lunar surface area. Credit: NASA
The spacecraft obtained extra data using its optical navigation system, which is a sensitive cam to take pictures of the Moon and Earth to help orient the spacecraft by taking a look at the size and position of the heavenly bodies in the images. Engineers likewise continue to work strategies to accomplish a number of extra test goals throughout Orions journey back to Earth. A host of test objectives offer information to engineers about how Orion runs in space, permitting them chances to verify efficiency models and learn as much as possible about the spacecraft.
In preparation for Orions go back to Earth, the group from NASAs Exploration Ground Systems Program and the U.S. Navy, who will recover Orion from the Pacific Ocean, completed its final training day at sea, utilizing a mock pill in the water for divers and little boats to practice open water healing treatments.
On Monday, December 5, Orion will make its closest method to the Moon, flying 79.2 miles above the lunar surface. It will perform the return powered flyby burn at 10:43 a.m. CST, which will last about 3 minutes and 27 seconds, altering the speed of the spacecraft by around 655 mph (961 feet per second) or 1,054 km/h (293 meters per second). The return powered flyby is the last large maneuver of the mission, with only smaller trajectory corrections to target Earth staying.
Live protection of the close lunar flyby and burn will begin at 8 a.m. CST on NASA TELEVISION, the agencys site, and the NASA app. Throughout the protection, lighting will be various than it was during Orions initial close lunar flyby on November 21. The spacecraft will lose communications with Earth for roughly 31 minutes beginning at 10:40 a.m. CST, as it flies behind the far side of the Moon.
At 4 p.m. CST on December 5, NASA leaders will discuss the outcomes of the return powered flyby burn and the deployment of healing assets to sea ahead of Orions splashdown on December 11. Live protection will be offered on all NASA channels.
Simply after 4:30 p.m. CST on December 4, Orion was taking a trip 222,213 miles (357,617 km) from Earth and 23,873 miles (38,420 km) from the Moon, cruising at 3,076 mph (4,950 km/h).
