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Author
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Topic: NASA announces 'Artemis Team' astronauts
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-09-2020 02:14 PM
   
collectSPACE NASA reveals 'Artemis Team' astronauts, includes first woman, next man on moonNASA has selected a group of astronauts to prepare for and possibly fly to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. NASA's newly-announced "Artemis Team" includes 18 men and women who will pave the way for the next human missions to orbit and land on the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The cadre includes the first woman and next U.S. man to step foot on the moon, although specific mission assignments have yet to be made.  |
ashot
Member Posts: 70
From:
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 12-12-2020 02:34 AM
Am I the only one noticing the parallel with Slayton's promise to 18 astronauts (three first prime and backup Apollo crews) that "those who will land are in this room"? Magic of figures? |
dom
Member Posts: 1036
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-12-2020 01:40 PM
I really hope it's Nicole Mann, so she can say the line: "That's one small step for Mann, one giant leap for Womankind." |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1739
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 12-12-2020 03:18 PM
That line would kill all funding for NASA! Just kidding! |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1733
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 12-13-2020 01:06 PM
I presume NASA will consider the Artemis III lunar landing a test flight of whatever vehicle they wind up using. As such I think it's likely that both crewmembers on that first landing will have flight test backgrounds. If so, that would reduce the list of the next two people to walk on the moon to Mann, McClain and Moghbelli among the women, and Tingle, Glover, Chari and Dominic among the men.I would also assume that at least one of those individuals will be assigned to Artemis II, which will have major test objectives for the Orion spacecraft. |
Skylon
Member Posts: 319
From:
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 12-14-2020 07:47 AM
I wouldn't assume an "all test pilot" crew. For the Commander, most likely yes. However neither Bill Anders nor Buzz Aldrin on Apollos 8 and 11 were test pilots. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1733
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 12-14-2020 08:43 AM
Yes, but they were experienced pilots. Each astronaut assigned to the first flight of Dragon 2 and Starliner have had test backgrounds, even through the couple of crew changes (Boe/Fincke and Ferguson/Wilmore). Someone with that skill is able to analyze vehicle performance and return with observational data, and to deal with unexpected events in flight. They provide a valuable resource to confirm the vehicle operates as it was designed to, and to make recommendations on any changes that should be made. There won't be any pre-landing tests of the vehicle like Apollos 9 and 10, so in my opinion that makes it even more likely that this first crewed flight will be considered a test flight and won't include a scientist like Meir or Rubins. |
keith.wilson
Member Posts: 94
From: Isle of Gigha, Argyll, Scotland
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 12-15-2020 11:01 AM
So we now know the 18 NASA astronauts who will be involved in Artemis with international group members to be announced at a later date. Is anyone surprised about the non-inclusion of any current NASA astronauts in the Artemis group? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-15-2020 11:57 AM
I was surprised that Bob Hines was not included. A NASA research pilot-turned-astronaut, Hines is the oldest member of "The Turtles" (Group 22) at 45. (Frank Rubio, who was selected for the Artemis Team, is also 45, but 11 months younger than Hines.) |
David C
Member Posts: 1397
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 12-15-2020 01:36 PM
Just putting this out there. What do you think being "in the Artemis Team" really means, rather than what they say publically that it means? Do you think being in or out is entirely voluntary? Is it irreversible? Thinking of the case of Jim McDivitt turning down the X-20 back when many a test pilot would have given their right arms, figuratively speaking, to be assigned to Dyna-Soar. He declined because, if I recall correctly, he (correctly) assessed that the program was going nowhere. Isn't Artemis still basically unfunded? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-15-2020 03:34 PM
The major component of the Artemis architecture still needing significant funding is the human landing system. The Space Launch System, Orion, the European service module and ground facilities are complete or in final stages of development.That aside, little is known how the 18 were selected, but NASA does not have a history of forcing its astronauts to accept a mission they do not want to fly. NASA did say that being part of the team would not preclude members from flying other missions (i.e. to the space station), as is the present case with Nicole Mann and Raja Chari. The agency also said that more astronauts may be added to the team over time, and inclusion on the team does not necessarily mean an Artemis flight assignment. The primary purpose of the team, as it exists now, is to assign astronauts to work with the three human landing system providers as they develop their vehicles. |
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