Liputan6.com, Jakarta - NASA's Artemis program continues to advance rapidly, and is now poised to make history with the Artemis IV mission.
This fourth crewed mission has the ambitious goal of returning humans to the lunar surface, marking the first crewed landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.
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With a targeted launch in early 2028, Artemis IV will carry four astronauts on an epic journey to explore the unexplored lunar south pole.
The astronauts will conduct in-depth scientific studies of the lunar south pole, an area believed to hold potentially vital water ice resources.
Furthermore, the mission will deliver the European Space Agency's (ESA) first International Habitation (I-Hab) module to the Lunar Gateway space station, bolstering the infrastructure in lunar orbit.
The mission is designed to last 3-4 weeks, with two astronauts spending approximately one week on the lunar surface with advanced technologies such as an upgraded Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
Artemis IV Mission Objectives
Artemis IV has several interrelated primary objectives, all oriented toward returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable base for exploration.
One of the most significant objectives is a crewed lunar landing, which will return astronauts to the surface of Earth's natural satellite after more than five decades.
Astronauts will conduct in-depth research to understand the geology and resource potential of the south pole, which is previously unexplored area.
In addition to surface exploration, Artemis IV is also responsible for delivering the International Habitation (I-Hab) module to the Lunar Gateway.
The Advanced Technology Behind Artemis IV
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will be the primary launch vehicle, carrying four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Artemis IV will be the first mission to use the standard SLS configuration with a Centaur V upper stage, a significant upgrade from the previously used Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS).
This upgrade will substantially increase the SLS rocket's capacity, from 27 tons to 42 tons.
The mission will rely on a separate support flight to place a Human Landing System (HLS) lunar lander—either SpaceX's Starship HLS or Blue Origin's Blue Moon—into lunar orbit prior to crew launch.
After Orion docks with the lander, two astronauts will transfer to the HLS to descend to the lunar surface and conduct extravehicular activities (EVA).
Mission Schedule and Sequence to the Moon
The Artemis IV mission is targeted for launch in early 2028, marking the beginning of an epic 3-4 week journey.
After launch, the exploration upper stage (EUS) will perform a translunar injection, propelling Orion toward the Moon.
Orion will then perform a transposition maneuver, separate from the EUS, turn around, dock with Lunar I-Hab, and retract from the EUS.
Orion and the European Service Module will carry Lunar I-Hab on its journey toward the Moon, performing a gravity-assisted flyby of the Moon before arriving in Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO).
At NRHO, Orion will dock with the Lunar Gateway and connect to Lunar I-Hab.
Once preparations are complete, two astronauts will descend to the lunar surface using the Human Landing System (HLS) to conduct approximately one week of exploration and scientific research near the lunar South Pole.
After completing the mission on the surface, the astronauts will return to Orion, which is waiting in lunar orbit and return the four astronauts safely to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
Space Exploration Future with the Artemis Program
The Artemis program as a whole represents NASA's long-term vision for extended and sustainable space exploration.
Previous missions, such as Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight in late 2022, and Artemis II, a manned lunar flight beyond the Moon on April 1, 2026, have paved the way.
Artemis III, originally planned as the first manned lunar lander, will now be a manned demonstration mission in low Earth orbit to test commercial lunar landers before Artemis IV takes over as the first manned lunar lander.
After Artemis IV, NASA plans to conduct annual lunar landings.