The Reading Public Museum has announced it will be hosting a watch party for the launch of the Artemis II mission on Wednesday evening April, 1st in the Neag Planetarium. Doors will open at 6:00p.m. with an estimate launch time of 6:24 p.m.
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed test flight in the Artemis campaign. Four astronauts will fly aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft and confirm the spacecraft’s systems operate as designed in the deep space environment. In this Golden Age of exploration and innovation, the Artemis missions will allow astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and help build momentum for the first crewed missions to Mars.
The Artemis II mission profile follows the uncrewed Artemis I flight test by demonstrating a broad range of SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion capabilities for deep space. This mission will prove Orion’s life support systems are ready to sustain crew on future missions and allow the crew to practice operations essential to the success of Artemis III and beyond.
NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are the Artemis II astronauts.
The initial launch will be similar to Artemis I as SLS lofts Orion into space. With crew aboard this mission, Orion and the upper stage, called the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS), will then orbit Earth twice to ensure Orion’s systems are working as expected while still close to home.
Orion will start in an elliptical orbit that will be refined to a “safe” high Earth orbit of approximately 44,525 x 115 statute miles. For perspective, the International Space Station flies a nearly circular Earth orbit about 250 miles above our planet.
After the burn to enter the high Earth orbit, Orion will separate from the upper stage, which the crew will use as a target for a manual piloting test called the proximity operations demonstration. During the demonstration, mission controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will monitor Orion as the astronauts transition the spacecraft to manual mode and pilot Orion’s flight path and orientation. This demonstration will provide performance data and operational experience that cannot be readily gained on the ground in preparation for critical rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking – as well as undocking – operations in lunar orbit beginning on Artemis III.
Admission to the Artemis II watch Party is free, however reservations are required as seats are limited. To reserve your seat please visit, https://www.readingpublicmuseum.org/event/artemis-ii-launch-party/.
“The Reading Public Museum is excited and honored to partner with NASA to celebrate this momentous occasion in human exploration” said Neag Planetarium Director Mark Mazurkiewicz. “We are thrilled to provide this opportunity to the next generation of explorers and space enthusiasts of all ages.
The Reading Public Museum is supported in part by grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and is located at 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA. Admission per day is: $14 adults (18-64), $8 children/seniors/college students (w/ID) and free to Members and children three years old and under. Currently enrolled Reading School District students and up to five accompanying guests receive free regular Museum admission and free admission to public Neag Planetarium shows with proof of enrollment. The Museum is open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Online: www.readingpublicmuseum.org.
