As part of the Artemis 2 mission, NASA has successfully completed a demonstration of manual control of the Orion spacecraft during its fourth day of flight.
Astronauts Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen took control of the spacecraft and for 41 minutes tested various control modes, including three- and six-axis motion, to evaluate the system’s performance in deep space conditions.
Artemis 2 tests manual control and prepares to capture the Moon
This demonstration is key to confirming the NASA crew’s ability to take control of the spacecraft in critical situations, while additional testing will be conducted by Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover in the coming days.
In parallel, the crew received a detailed plan for imaging the surface of the Moon during the upcoming flyby. Astronauts will observe and analyze selected geological structures for six hours, while the windows of the capsule will be directed towards the Moon.
During the day, the crew also took the first “selfie” photos using cameras mounted on the spacecraft’s solar wings, and the images will soon be sent to Earth.
The mission continues according to plan, and the next few days will be crucial for the realization of one of the most important moments: passing by the Moon and the return of humans to deep space after more than half a century, NASA announces.