By Madison Tuttle, NASAs John F. Kennedy Space
August 7, 2023
The Crew Module Test Article (CMTA) is seen in the waters of the Pacific Ocean throughout NASAs Underway Recovery Test 10 (URT-10). The CMTA is a major mockup of the Orion spacecraft and is utilized by NASA and its Department of Defense partners to practice healing procedures for crewed Artemis objectives. URT-10 is the first test particularly in assistance of the Artemis II mission and permitted the group to practice what it will be like to recuperate astronauts and get them back to the recovery ship securely. The raft, wrapping around the capsule, supplies a platform from which the crew will be airlifted to the healing ship situated a number of thousand backyards away. When the astronauts are aboard the ship, teams will secure the Orion module with a series of lines and slowly tow it back inside the ship, simply as they did during Artemis I.
Preparations for Future Recovery Test
Naval helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 “Wildcards” fly over the Orion Crew Module Test Article (CMTA) with American flags after completing operations during an Artemis II objective simulation throughout NASAs Underway Recovery Test 10 (URT-10) off the coast of San Diego. Credit: NASA/Kenny Allen
NASA and the Department of Defense completed the very first healing test for the Artemis II mission, simulating astronaut extraction and spacecraft healing. The test is part of a series targeted at preparing for the Artemis II flight, marking a pivotal point in human deep-space exploration and future lunar landings.
On August 1, NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense effectively finished the first recovery test for the crewed Artemis II mission off the coast of San Diego. During the test, the team practiced how they will extract the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon from their spacecraft after they land in the Pacific Ocean, and recover the Orion team module.
Knowing From Past Missions
Building upon the lessons gained from the effective recovery of the Orion spacecraft after the Artemis I flight test, and incorporating the addition of team for Artemis II, recovery teams are revising their timelines and treatments. The modifications intend to make sure the astronauts will be securely delivered to the recovery ship in less than two hours after splashing down.
Throughout the test, NASAs landing and recovery group utilized a new team module test post (see image below), with workers from the team standing in for the four astronauts who will fly on the mission. The objective was to successfully demonstrate the modified procedures.
The Crew Module Test Article (CMTA) is seen in the waters of the Pacific Ocean throughout NASAs Underway Recovery Test 10 (URT-10). The CMTA is a full-scale mockup of the Orion spacecraft and is used by NASA and its Department of Defense partners to practice healing treatments for crewed Artemis objectives. URT-10 is the first test specifically in assistance of the Artemis II mission and permitted the team to practice what it will be like to recover astronauts and get them back to the recovery ship safely. Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
Ensuring Astronaut Safety
” Ensuring the safety of the Artemis II crew, not just around the Moon, once they return to Earth, is our main focus, said Lili Villarreal, NASAs landing and healing director.” With the extraordinary efforts of the NASA group and Department of Defense, we will when again bring our astronauts safely home from the Moon.”
Post-Mission Procedures
The raft, covering around the pill, supplies a platform from which the team will be airlifted to the recovery ship located several thousand lawns away. When the astronauts are aboard the ship, groups will protect the Orion module with a series of lines and slowly tow it back inside the ship, just as they did throughout Artemis I.
Preparations for Future Recovery Test
Prior to the recent test, the Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, went to Naval Base San Diego to consult with the healing group and discover more about the healing vessel and screening that will assist bring them securely back to coast. The crew will take part in a future recovery test next year as part of their mission training.
Series of Demonstrations and Future Missions
While this test, Underway Recovery Test 10 (URT-10), was the first time NASA and its Navy and Air Force partners put their Artemis II recovery operations to the test, it is tenth in a series of presentations at sea off the coast of California. The healing group will capture lessons found out and use them to future underway tests to make certain they are prepared to recover the Artemis II crew and bring them home safely.
The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will evaluate NASAs fundamental human deep area expedition capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the method for lunar surface objectives, consisting of landing the very first female and very first individual of color on the Moon.