1 00:00:10,774 --> 00:00:15,754 Four astronauts have just flown around the Moon on Artemis II. 2 00:00:15,794 --> 00:00:16,414 Four astronauts have just flown around the Moon on Artemis II. 3 00:00:16,454 --> 00:00:19,134 They travelled one million kilometres, 4 00:00:19,174 --> 00:00:23,894 going deeper into space than any humans have gone before. 5 00:00:23,934 --> 00:00:25,534 Wow. It's indescribable. 6 00:00:25,574 --> 00:00:27,274 There's no adjectives. 7 00:00:27,314 --> 00:00:29,534 I'm going to need to invent some new ones. 8 00:00:29,574 --> 00:00:33,834 They returned to Earth at 32 times the speed of sound. 9 00:00:37,074 --> 00:00:39,314 Your Artemis II crew! 10 00:00:39,354 --> 00:00:41,334 APPLAUSE 11 00:00:41,374 --> 00:00:42,914 For three and a half years, 12 00:00:42,954 --> 00:00:47,574 we've been filming behind the scenes of Artemis II, 13 00:00:47,654 --> 00:00:51,914 Nasa's most important mission in half a century. 14 00:00:51,954 --> 00:00:54,194 I call it the arrogance of humanity. 15 00:00:54,234 --> 00:00:57,914 The fact that we think we can assemble machinery like this 16 00:00:57,954 --> 00:00:59,974 and launch it successfully, 17 00:01:00,014 --> 00:01:02,374 it just leaves you with a sense of awe. 18 00:01:02,414 --> 00:01:06,014 Three, two, one, launch. 19 00:01:07,254 --> 00:01:09,954 Sending astronauts to the Moon and back 20 00:01:09,994 --> 00:01:12,794 is expensive, complex and dangerous. 21 00:01:14,534 --> 00:01:16,494 Space flight is risky, 22 00:01:16,534 --> 00:01:19,494 so what you're trying to do is minimise that risk. 23 00:01:20,934 --> 00:01:23,174 Everything has to happen perfectly. 24 00:01:23,214 --> 00:01:26,134 It's not about being hasty, it's about doing it right. 25 00:01:27,794 --> 00:01:30,754 The unexpected behaviour of the heat shield 26 00:01:30,794 --> 00:01:35,454 poses a significant risk to the safety of future crewed missions. 27 00:01:37,934 --> 00:01:40,854 For the last decade, thousands of engineers 28 00:01:40,894 --> 00:01:43,894 have been working on the Artemis programme, 29 00:01:43,934 --> 00:01:47,454 building a rocket powered by liquid hydrogen 30 00:01:47,494 --> 00:01:49,814 that won't blow up at launch... 31 00:01:51,634 --> 00:01:55,334 90% of the entire mass that we've got is chemical energy, 32 00:01:55,374 --> 00:01:57,994 and we continually accelerate. 33 00:01:58,034 --> 00:02:02,414 ..perfecting a capsule that can get back from the Moon safely... 34 00:02:02,454 --> 00:02:02,894 ..perfecting a capsule that can get back from the Moon safely... 35 00:02:02,934 --> 00:02:04,494 Ready to test? 36 00:02:06,634 --> 00:02:08,014 Yes! 37 00:02:11,694 --> 00:02:16,774 ..paving the way for astronauts to inhabit a permanent Moon base. 38 00:02:16,814 --> 00:02:16,934 ..paving the way for astronauts to inhabit a permanent Moon base. 39 00:02:16,974 --> 00:02:20,334 We are actually making science fiction a reality, 40 00:02:20,374 --> 00:02:22,574 and it's happening as we speak. 41 00:02:23,974 --> 00:02:26,534 At the dawn of a new space age, 42 00:02:26,574 --> 00:02:30,054 the pressure is on to go back to the Moon. 43 00:02:30,094 --> 00:02:32,574 Five, 44 00:02:32,614 --> 00:02:34,574 four, 45 00:02:34,614 --> 00:02:36,474 three, 46 00:02:36,514 --> 00:02:38,734 two, 47 00:02:38,774 --> 00:02:39,834 one. 48 00:02:57,794 --> 00:03:01,374 Three and a half years before the launch of Artemis II, 49 00:03:01,414 --> 00:03:03,314 NASA launches Artemis I. 50 00:03:05,574 --> 00:03:10,074 A test flight to the Moon and back without astronauts on board. 51 00:03:10,114 --> 00:03:10,454 A test flight to the Moon and back without astronauts on board. 52 00:03:13,494 --> 00:03:17,534 There are things that we've done many times in sims, 53 00:03:17,574 --> 00:03:20,654 and we've done them many times in the lab. 54 00:03:20,694 --> 00:03:25,414 But in a tanked configuration at the pad, it was the first time. 55 00:03:25,454 --> 00:03:25,694 But in a tanked configuration at the pad, it was the first time. 56 00:03:28,614 --> 00:03:30,874 It is incredibly quiet in the room. 57 00:03:33,634 --> 00:03:36,194 Everybody is focused on their system. 58 00:03:36,234 --> 00:03:37,894 They're focused on the data. 59 00:03:40,454 --> 00:03:42,954 I mean, there's not a sound. 60 00:03:44,534 --> 00:03:49,034 It's the first flight of the Space Launch System, SLS, 61 00:03:49,074 --> 00:03:50,854 It's the first flight of the Space Launch System, SLS, 62 00:03:50,894 --> 00:03:54,194 the rocket specially built for the Artemis programme. 63 00:03:55,574 --> 00:03:58,734 2.2 million kilograms of fuel 64 00:03:58,774 --> 00:04:03,394 have to ignite on cue to lift the rocket into space. 65 00:04:03,434 --> 00:04:04,074 have to ignite on cue to lift the rocket into space. 66 00:04:06,234 --> 00:04:09,594 Rockets are insanely complex vehicles. 67 00:04:09,634 --> 00:04:12,514 Everything has to go right for it to succeed. 68 00:04:12,554 --> 00:04:14,814 And if a single important thing goes wrong, 69 00:04:14,854 --> 00:04:15,994 the rocket blows up. 70 00:04:16,034 --> 00:04:19,534 I mean, it is the ultimate kind of pass-fail test. 71 00:04:19,574 --> 00:04:23,934 At this time, I give you a go to resume count and launch Artemis I. 72 00:04:23,974 --> 00:04:24,394 At this time, I give you a go to resume count and launch Artemis I. 73 00:04:29,894 --> 00:04:32,294 A huge crowd has come to watch the launch. 74 00:04:32,334 --> 00:04:36,094 Among them, some of the hundreds of engineers 75 00:04:36,134 --> 00:04:39,114 that have worked on the Artemis hardware. 76 00:04:39,154 --> 00:04:40,574 Three minutes. 77 00:04:40,614 --> 00:04:45,014 Less than three minutes from launching. 78 00:04:45,054 --> 00:04:48,794 {\an8}In a few minutes, she's going to light up back there. 79 00:04:48,834 --> 00:04:51,714 {\an8}She's one of these dots, right? There she is. 80 00:04:51,754 --> 00:04:54,434 Oh, my gosh. 81 00:04:54,474 --> 00:04:58,174 Oh, my gosh. This is happening. This is happening. 82 00:04:58,214 --> 00:05:02,814 I have been working with Artemis since 2012. 83 00:05:02,854 --> 00:05:06,274 So that is literally ten years. 84 00:05:06,314 --> 00:05:09,994 A decade of my life has been dedicated to Artemis. 85 00:05:10,034 --> 00:05:13,094 Waiting for this moment. 86 00:05:13,134 --> 00:05:15,234 I'm just so beyond excited. 87 00:05:18,054 --> 00:05:22,374 Watching on are members of Nasa's 50-strong astronaut corps. 88 00:05:23,534 --> 00:05:28,034 None of them yet knows who'll be chosen to fly on Artemis II. 89 00:05:29,814 --> 00:05:32,694 Even when I finally got selected to be an astronaut, 90 00:05:32,734 --> 00:05:35,974 {\an8}the Moon seemed still incredibly far away. 91 00:05:36,014 --> 00:05:40,114 {\an8}Now that we are actually starting to fly these missions, 92 00:05:40,154 --> 00:05:42,134 it's started to become real. 93 00:05:42,174 --> 00:05:43,974 And here we go. Ten... 94 00:05:46,534 --> 00:05:48,054 I got a bit of a... 95 00:05:48,094 --> 00:05:50,774 The hair on my arm stood up just a little bit 96 00:05:50,814 --> 00:05:55,134 as those final six seconds ticked off the countdown clock. 97 00:05:55,174 --> 00:05:55,574 as those final six seconds ticked off the countdown clock. 98 00:05:55,614 --> 00:05:59,094 Six, five, core stage engine start. 99 00:06:00,394 --> 00:06:01,854 And then the call. 100 00:06:01,894 --> 00:06:06,154 "Booster ignition and lift-off." 101 00:06:06,194 --> 00:06:07,894 Three, two, one... 102 00:06:07,934 --> 00:06:10,254 Lift-off of Artemis I. 103 00:06:16,974 --> 00:06:18,274 Oh, my God! 104 00:06:19,854 --> 00:06:23,774 We rise together back to the Moon and beyond. 105 00:06:26,054 --> 00:06:28,734 Wow, that is bright, 106 00:06:28,774 --> 00:06:30,714 and that is hauling off the pad. 107 00:06:30,754 --> 00:06:33,954 Oh, my God. It's really hard to look at. I can't even look at it! Yeah. 108 00:06:46,894 --> 00:06:48,314 Oh, my God. 109 00:06:59,094 --> 00:07:00,754 Mummy worked on that. 110 00:07:00,794 --> 00:07:02,454 Isn't that cool? 111 00:07:08,694 --> 00:07:10,254 Woohoo! 112 00:07:14,054 --> 00:07:16,334 Outstanding. 113 00:07:20,014 --> 00:07:21,154 It was... 114 00:07:22,934 --> 00:07:25,034 It was breathtaking. 115 00:07:33,434 --> 00:07:35,814 Good control on the roll from teams in Mission Control Houston. 116 00:07:35,854 --> 00:07:37,094 All good calls so far. 117 00:07:37,134 --> 00:07:39,514 Now 30 seconds into the flight for Artemis I. 118 00:07:41,814 --> 00:07:44,614 The SLS is a multi-stage rocket. 119 00:07:46,334 --> 00:07:49,614 Once each stage has done its job, it separates. 120 00:07:54,134 --> 00:07:56,494 The spacecraft becomes lighter, 121 00:07:56,534 --> 00:07:59,374 better able to accelerate away from Earth. 122 00:08:08,294 --> 00:08:11,494 Within two hours, all that remains are the crew 123 00:08:11,534 --> 00:08:15,634 and service modules, known as Orion, heading into deep space. 124 00:08:15,674 --> 00:08:16,934 and service modules, known as Orion, heading into deep space. 125 00:08:20,054 --> 00:08:23,694 It takes five days for Orion to reach the Moon, 126 00:08:23,734 --> 00:08:27,754 where it settles into a distant lunar orbit, 127 00:08:27,794 --> 00:08:32,054 allowing mission controllers to test the flight systems of Artemis I. 128 00:08:32,094 --> 00:08:32,814 allowing mission controllers to test the flight systems of Artemis I. 129 00:08:35,494 --> 00:08:40,214 For me, one of the highlights was seeing the Earth 130 00:08:40,254 --> 00:08:42,474 pass behind the Moon 131 00:08:42,514 --> 00:08:44,734 and disappear and then come out the other side. 132 00:08:47,334 --> 00:08:51,154 8 billion people disappeared behind 133 00:08:51,194 --> 00:08:54,094 the only other place that humanity had ever been. 134 00:08:57,194 --> 00:08:58,734 I've had a different perspective 135 00:08:58,774 --> 00:09:00,794 every time I've looked at the Moon since then. 136 00:09:02,854 --> 00:09:06,954 Nasa's newest Moon explorer is barrelling its way back home 137 00:09:06,994 --> 00:09:07,134 Nasa's newest Moon explorer is barrelling its way back home 138 00:09:07,174 --> 00:09:09,594 after circumnavigating the Moon and beyond. 139 00:09:11,734 --> 00:09:13,494 Returning from the Moon, 140 00:09:13,534 --> 00:09:16,614 the capsule is travelling 7,000mph faster 141 00:09:16,654 --> 00:09:21,094 than if coming back from the International Space Station. 142 00:09:21,134 --> 00:09:23,774 As it hits the upper atmosphere, 143 00:09:23,814 --> 00:09:28,074 friction generates intense heat and super hot plasma, 144 00:09:28,114 --> 00:09:31,094 visible through the capsule window. 145 00:09:33,954 --> 00:09:36,634 The only protection from this inferno 146 00:09:36,674 --> 00:09:39,914 is a heat shield just 4cm thick. 147 00:09:42,174 --> 00:09:45,234 Demonstrating the heat shield at lunar re-entry velocities 148 00:09:45,274 --> 00:09:47,414 was our number one priority, 149 00:09:47,454 --> 00:09:51,354 because temperatures outside got half as hot as the Sun, 150 00:09:51,394 --> 00:09:53,934 approaching 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. 151 00:09:57,434 --> 00:09:59,494 When you come back from the Moon, 152 00:09:59,534 --> 00:10:03,714 you're coming back at Mach 32, or 24,500 miles an hour. 153 00:10:03,754 --> 00:10:07,174 In fact, we came back at 24,581 miles an hour. 154 00:10:07,214 --> 00:10:09,274 We were 81 miles an hour over the speed limit. 155 00:10:11,294 --> 00:10:13,734 And there it is, 156 00:10:13,774 --> 00:10:14,894 5,000ft. 157 00:10:18,014 --> 00:10:20,294 Three good main chutes for Orion. 158 00:10:23,014 --> 00:10:25,574 Orion in the perfect orientation for splashdown. 159 00:10:29,814 --> 00:10:30,994 Splashdown. 160 00:10:35,254 --> 00:10:39,634 The idea for Artemis II is to go back to the Moon, 161 00:10:39,674 --> 00:10:42,794 but this time with a crew of astronauts on board. 162 00:10:44,614 --> 00:10:49,454 They'll do a single wide loop, flying 7,000km beyond the Moon, 163 00:10:49,494 --> 00:10:50,134 They'll do a single wide loop, flying 7,000km beyond the Moon, 164 00:10:50,174 --> 00:10:54,194 the furthest any humans have ever been into space, 165 00:10:54,234 --> 00:10:56,934 before returning back to Earth. 166 00:10:58,934 --> 00:11:00,914 Artemis I was about testing the hardware, 167 00:11:00,954 --> 00:11:02,494 making sure that everything would work 168 00:11:02,534 --> 00:11:04,534 going to the Moon and back. 169 00:11:04,574 --> 00:11:07,574 {\an8}Now they're putting people on board, and people, of course, 170 00:11:07,614 --> 00:11:10,334 {\an8}there is a sense of danger, a sense of trepidation. 171 00:11:10,374 --> 00:11:12,594 We need to keep the people safe. 172 00:11:12,634 --> 00:11:15,434 It just amps up the safety factor, right? 173 00:11:15,474 --> 00:11:18,314 With Artemis I, a failure would be bad, right? 174 00:11:18,354 --> 00:11:20,534 But it wouldn't have been catastrophic. 175 00:11:20,574 --> 00:11:23,734 If you lose the human crew on Artemis II, that is catastrophic. 176 00:11:23,774 --> 00:11:26,374 That calls into question the future of the whole Artemis programme. 177 00:11:30,514 --> 00:11:34,574 It's a new era of pioneers, star sailors and adventurers. 178 00:11:34,614 --> 00:11:37,254 It's a new era of pioneers, star sailors and adventurers. 179 00:11:45,714 --> 00:11:48,134 APPLAUSE 180 00:11:48,174 --> 00:11:51,834 With so much riding on the safety of the astronauts, 181 00:11:51,874 --> 00:11:56,134 NASA holds a stage managed event to unveil the crew of Artemis II. 182 00:11:56,174 --> 00:11:57,714 NASA holds a stage managed event to unveil the crew of Artemis II. 183 00:11:57,754 --> 00:12:00,394 She's no stranger to breaking records, 184 00:12:00,434 --> 00:12:05,294 logging the longest continuous space flight ever by a woman. 185 00:12:05,334 --> 00:12:09,434 Your mission specialist, Christina Hammock Koch. 186 00:12:12,094 --> 00:12:16,654 I am someone who has loved exploration since I was little. 187 00:12:16,694 --> 00:12:17,094 I am someone who has loved exploration since I was little. 188 00:12:20,014 --> 00:12:22,454 I used to be inspired by the night sky, 189 00:12:22,494 --> 00:12:25,894 and I loved things that made me ponder the size of the universe, 190 00:12:25,934 --> 00:12:29,294 my place in it, and everything that was out there to explore. 191 00:12:31,034 --> 00:12:36,134 He's an F-18 pilot and a Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen. 192 00:12:36,174 --> 00:12:36,354 He's an F-18 pilot and a Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen. 193 00:12:37,694 --> 00:12:41,494 I was interested in aviation as a young child, 194 00:12:41,534 --> 00:12:45,354 and I specifically remember coming across a picture 195 00:12:45,394 --> 00:12:47,694 of a human standing on the Moon, 196 00:12:47,734 --> 00:12:50,054 and it's still burnt in my brain. 197 00:12:50,094 --> 00:12:53,654 And so this really is full circle for me, going to the Moon. 198 00:12:54,914 --> 00:12:59,734 He's a naval aviator that's flown over 40 different aircraft, 199 00:12:59,774 --> 00:13:00,674 He's a naval aviator that's flown over 40 different aircraft, 200 00:13:00,714 --> 00:13:02,294 Victor Glover. 201 00:13:04,534 --> 00:13:07,694 I have fantasised about stepping on the Moon. It's my dream. 202 00:13:10,454 --> 00:13:12,634 They call things moonshots, 203 00:13:12,674 --> 00:13:15,914 when people accomplish something amazing. 204 00:13:15,954 --> 00:13:20,134 It's our generation's opportunity to have our own literal moonshot. 205 00:13:21,474 --> 00:13:26,334 He is a decorated test pilot and leader of the highest character, 206 00:13:26,374 --> 00:13:28,374 He is a decorated test pilot and leader of the highest character, 207 00:13:28,414 --> 00:13:29,614 Reid Wiseman. 208 00:13:31,654 --> 00:13:33,634 Our boss at the time set up a fake meeting 209 00:13:33,674 --> 00:13:35,654 over at the quarantine facility. 210 00:13:36,714 --> 00:13:39,394 I dial in and as soon as I dialled in and I saw the director 211 00:13:39,434 --> 00:13:41,294 of flight operations, I was like, 212 00:13:41,334 --> 00:13:43,174 "Oh, this is not any normal meeting." 213 00:13:43,214 --> 00:13:44,814 And then they went into 214 00:13:44,854 --> 00:13:47,094 "would you would you like to fly on Artemis II?" 215 00:13:47,134 --> 00:13:49,614 And that's kind of the way they always do it, with a question. 216 00:13:49,654 --> 00:13:52,174 And no-one's ever going to answer, "No." 217 00:13:53,334 --> 00:13:55,534 Your Artemis II crew! 218 00:13:55,574 --> 00:13:59,174 APPLAUSE 219 00:14:00,634 --> 00:14:03,714 We know you can run, man. You went up those stairs. 220 00:14:06,594 --> 00:14:08,014 Dude. 221 00:14:08,054 --> 00:14:12,474 These will be the first humans to fly to the Moon since December 1972. 222 00:14:12,514 --> 00:14:13,774 These will be the first humans to fly to the Moon since December 1972. 223 00:14:15,054 --> 00:14:16,574 Apollo 17. 224 00:14:16,614 --> 00:14:19,114 Jack, do you read me? Yeah. 225 00:14:19,154 --> 00:14:21,594 Hello, Houston. 226 00:14:21,634 --> 00:14:22,774 17, loud and clear. 227 00:14:24,234 --> 00:14:26,814 Hippity, hoppity, hippity, hoppity, 228 00:14:26,854 --> 00:14:29,214 hippity hopping over hill and dale. 229 00:14:31,214 --> 00:14:34,774 Artemis intrinsically builds on the legacy of Apollo. 230 00:14:36,014 --> 00:14:37,814 We stand on the shoulders of giants 231 00:14:37,854 --> 00:14:39,794 and we've learnt so much in human exploration. 232 00:14:39,834 --> 00:14:42,634 But, of course, returning to the Moon when we haven't done that 233 00:14:42,674 --> 00:14:46,254 for over 50 years, we are looking back to Apollo. 234 00:14:46,294 --> 00:14:48,714 We're making those comparisons. 235 00:14:48,754 --> 00:14:50,854 By golly, this time goes fast. 236 00:14:52,494 --> 00:14:55,454 Apollo was clearly a programme designed 237 00:14:55,494 --> 00:14:59,614 to demonstrate US superiority in technology compared to 238 00:14:59,654 --> 00:15:02,134 the Soviet Union, and it was successful in that. 239 00:15:02,174 --> 00:15:03,714 And then once it completed that task, 240 00:15:03,754 --> 00:15:06,094 they shut it down, because it cost a lot of money 241 00:15:06,134 --> 00:15:07,454 and every time they launched, 242 00:15:07,494 --> 00:15:11,774 there was a 10 or 15% chance that the crew would not come back safely. 243 00:15:14,134 --> 00:15:17,094 Over the course of three and a half years, 244 00:15:17,134 --> 00:15:21,194 the Apollo programme completed a total of six lunar landings... 245 00:15:23,374 --> 00:15:28,034 ..at a cost equivalent to $280 billion today. 246 00:15:32,414 --> 00:15:36,594 We leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, 247 00:15:36,634 --> 00:15:37,854 We leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, 248 00:15:37,894 --> 00:15:42,714 with peace and hope for all mankind. 249 00:15:44,574 --> 00:15:48,134 If you look at Nasa's budget in the 1960s, 250 00:15:48,174 --> 00:15:51,674 at its peak, it was drawing down 5% of the federal budget. 251 00:15:51,714 --> 00:15:54,874 Nasa's budget today is 0.5%. 252 00:15:54,914 --> 00:15:59,174 So ten times less or one tenth of what it was back in the 1960s. 253 00:15:59,214 --> 00:16:00,434 So ten times less or one tenth of what it was back in the 1960s. 254 00:16:00,474 --> 00:16:02,934 And NASA is sort of building the Artemis programme 255 00:16:02,974 --> 00:16:04,334 within that budget. 256 00:16:16,494 --> 00:16:19,814 Despite having much less money, the long-term ambition 257 00:16:19,854 --> 00:16:23,134 for Artemis far exceeds that of Apollo. 258 00:16:26,134 --> 00:16:30,354 Rather than landing astronauts for a few days at a time, 259 00:16:30,394 --> 00:16:33,914 the goal is to establish a permanent Moon base... 260 00:16:35,814 --> 00:16:40,174 ..a stepping stone to explore Mars and the rest of the solar system. 261 00:16:40,214 --> 00:16:40,574 ..a stepping stone to explore Mars and the rest of the solar system. 262 00:16:48,354 --> 00:16:51,314 Although Artemis II won't land on the Moon, 263 00:16:51,354 --> 00:16:55,534 Victor Glover is part of the team prepping for future missions 264 00:16:55,614 --> 00:16:59,614 when astronauts will set foot again on the lunar surface. 265 00:17:01,214 --> 00:17:03,154 All right, you guys ready to go in the water? 266 00:17:04,374 --> 00:17:06,014 Give me two, ready. Copy that. 267 00:17:07,074 --> 00:17:11,934 Today's task is to simulate a moonwalk underwater, 268 00:17:11,974 --> 00:17:16,074 testing the new spacesuit being developed for lunar exploration. 269 00:17:16,114 --> 00:17:16,294 testing the new spacesuit being developed for lunar exploration. 270 00:17:19,694 --> 00:17:23,494 Glover is familiar with the sensation of being weightless, 271 00:17:23,534 --> 00:17:27,474 having carried out four spacewalks at the International Space Station. 272 00:17:29,974 --> 00:17:31,174 But this is different. 273 00:17:32,454 --> 00:17:34,654 On the Moon there is gravity, 274 00:17:34,694 --> 00:17:37,374 but it's six times weaker than on Earth. 275 00:17:39,054 --> 00:17:42,094 Anything that, say, weighs 100lb on Earth 276 00:17:42,134 --> 00:17:45,514 would weigh one sixth that on the Moon's surface. 277 00:17:47,254 --> 00:17:49,574 Also, the suit itself is filled with air, 278 00:17:49,614 --> 00:17:50,894 and air is buoyant, 279 00:17:50,934 --> 00:17:53,934 so you're inside of a balloon at the bottom of the pool, 280 00:17:53,974 --> 00:17:56,814 and you have to add weight to it in specific places, 281 00:17:56,854 --> 00:17:59,494 such that you don't do a flip, for instance, 282 00:17:59,534 --> 00:18:01,074 as soon as you start to, 283 00:18:01,114 --> 00:18:03,794 you know, outstretch your arms or start to walk around. 284 00:18:05,854 --> 00:18:08,814 Hey, Victor, I'm just going to suggest you use this time 285 00:18:08,854 --> 00:18:10,534 to exercise the joints on the suit, 286 00:18:10,574 --> 00:18:13,034 just to get a feel for how those move. 287 00:18:15,914 --> 00:18:18,274 As you kneel down, you're not only balancing 288 00:18:18,314 --> 00:18:20,094 and holding up your weight, 289 00:18:20,134 --> 00:18:24,754 you're also moving a big suit that only bends in certain places. 290 00:18:24,794 --> 00:18:24,994 you're also moving a big suit that only bends in certain places. 291 00:18:25,034 --> 00:18:27,994 {\an8}And so that joint wants to move my leg a certain way. 292 00:18:28,034 --> 00:18:32,934 {\an8}And so I had to take my time and let the suit move, let my body move. 293 00:18:33,014 --> 00:18:35,494 But it was good. 294 00:18:38,174 --> 00:18:39,874 Approaching the moon surface. 295 00:18:42,914 --> 00:18:44,734 APPLAUSE 296 00:18:47,894 --> 00:18:51,054 On the same day, India lands an uncrewed 297 00:18:51,094 --> 00:18:53,814 spacecraft on the moon - 298 00:18:53,854 --> 00:18:57,314 the first successful landing at the lunar south pole. 299 00:19:00,914 --> 00:19:02,534 The Vikram is India's lander 300 00:19:02,574 --> 00:19:05,094 that they attempted to get on the surface of the Moon today. 301 00:19:05,134 --> 00:19:07,114 And so I actually was going to jump out of the pool 302 00:19:07,154 --> 00:19:09,234 and go check my phone to see if they were successful. 303 00:19:09,274 --> 00:19:10,694 I'm hearing that they were, 304 00:19:10,734 --> 00:19:13,074 but I haven't read the news myself yet. 305 00:19:13,114 --> 00:19:16,254 They were. Awesome. Well, congratulations to India. 306 00:19:16,294 --> 00:19:18,714 That's a big accomplishment, major. 307 00:19:21,054 --> 00:19:24,134 A rover rolls out of the Vikram lander 308 00:19:24,174 --> 00:19:27,154 and starts exploring the south pole. 309 00:19:29,014 --> 00:19:32,854 This is the same area of the moon being targeted by NASA 310 00:19:32,894 --> 00:19:35,174 for future Artemis missions. 311 00:19:37,494 --> 00:19:41,654 During the Apollo programme, each landing was at a different site 312 00:19:41,694 --> 00:19:43,894 clustered around the lunar equator. 313 00:19:46,214 --> 00:19:48,874 The plan for all future Artemis missions 314 00:19:48,914 --> 00:19:51,434 is to land near the south pole. 315 00:19:53,254 --> 00:19:57,634 This part of the Moon has deep craters where the sun never shines. 316 00:19:57,674 --> 00:20:01,134 They're thought to contain huge deposits of water 317 00:20:01,174 --> 00:20:02,534 in the form of ice. 318 00:20:03,794 --> 00:20:05,054 Where you have ice, 319 00:20:05,094 --> 00:20:08,854 you have the ability to melt that and provide drinking water 320 00:20:08,894 --> 00:20:13,034 clearly for habitation modules, but also then the potential to split 321 00:20:13,074 --> 00:20:16,294 that water into hydrogen and oxygen gas, 322 00:20:16,334 --> 00:20:18,474 which can be used for atmosphere, 323 00:20:18,514 --> 00:20:21,094 and it can also be used for potential rocket fuel. 324 00:20:23,094 --> 00:20:26,494 With other countries eyeing up the same real estate, 325 00:20:26,534 --> 00:20:30,874 NASA needs to get its astronauts to the Moon as soon as possible 326 00:20:30,914 --> 00:20:30,994 NASA needs to get its astronauts to the Moon as soon as possible 327 00:20:31,034 --> 00:20:35,254 and stake its own claim to the lunar south pole. 328 00:20:35,294 --> 00:20:36,674 Isn't it time to get a move on? 329 00:20:36,714 --> 00:20:39,914 We are getting a move on. Trust me, we are whipping the ponies. 330 00:20:39,954 --> 00:20:41,614 And you don't want to run too fast, right? 331 00:20:41,654 --> 00:20:44,214 It's not about being hasty, it's about doing it right. 332 00:20:44,254 --> 00:20:45,914 And like I said, I'm not in a rush. 333 00:20:45,954 --> 00:20:48,714 We had a saying in Navy test flying - if you want it bad, 334 00:20:48,754 --> 00:20:50,534 you get it bad. And these spacecraft, 335 00:20:50,574 --> 00:20:52,454 everything has to happen perfectly. 336 00:20:52,494 --> 00:20:54,234 We've got a lot of things that have to go perfectly 337 00:20:54,274 --> 00:20:56,134 to get us to the Moon and back safely. 338 00:20:56,174 --> 00:20:59,614 So for Artemis II, I want it to go at the pace that it needs to go, 339 00:20:59,654 --> 00:21:02,574 and that's going to be the best thing that we can do to ensure 340 00:21:02,614 --> 00:21:05,534 Artemis III is a success - or whatever mission 341 00:21:05,574 --> 00:21:07,974 we actually put humans on the surface of the Moon. 342 00:21:10,454 --> 00:21:14,734 At over 3,000 sites across the US and in Europe, 343 00:21:14,774 --> 00:21:18,594 engineers are developing hardware for the Artemis II mission. 344 00:21:23,134 --> 00:21:26,334 They're building a rocket capable of sending astronauts 345 00:21:26,374 --> 00:21:30,714 to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. 346 00:21:36,134 --> 00:21:40,654 That rocket is the Space Launch System - SLS. 347 00:21:40,734 --> 00:21:45,354 Its huge core stage contains the fuel tanks and main engines. 348 00:21:48,194 --> 00:21:50,734 Alongside are two solid fuel boosters 349 00:21:50,774 --> 00:21:53,214 to provide extra thrust at launch. 350 00:21:54,554 --> 00:21:56,894 Above is the upper stage, 351 00:21:56,934 --> 00:22:01,134 and then the service module that power the vehicle in space. 352 00:22:01,174 --> 00:22:01,254 and then the service module that power the vehicle in space. 353 00:22:03,394 --> 00:22:06,394 And finally, the Orion crew module, 354 00:22:06,434 --> 00:22:09,014 which will carry the astronauts to the Moon. 355 00:22:14,494 --> 00:22:16,254 Since the 1960s, 356 00:22:16,294 --> 00:22:18,274 NASA rockets have been designed 357 00:22:18,314 --> 00:22:22,694 and engineered here at Marshall Space Flight Center. 358 00:22:22,734 --> 00:22:22,854 and engineered here at Marshall Space Flight Center. 359 00:22:22,894 --> 00:22:25,454 NEWSREEL:Out of this centre will come the vehicles 360 00:22:25,494 --> 00:22:29,654 that will carry the United States into outer space. 361 00:22:36,054 --> 00:22:38,574 The challenge for any rocket engineer 362 00:22:38,614 --> 00:22:41,174 is to balance the rocket equation... 363 00:22:42,514 --> 00:22:45,594 ..which determines the ratio of fuel 364 00:22:45,634 --> 00:22:50,134 to mass to thrust needed for a successful launch. 365 00:22:51,954 --> 00:22:53,694 Physics doesn't read PowerPoint. 366 00:22:53,734 --> 00:22:54,954 {\an8}It doesn't read our reports. 367 00:22:54,994 --> 00:22:56,574 {\an8}It doesn't care about any of that. 368 00:22:56,614 --> 00:22:59,094 {\an8}So the rocket equation is simply a representation 369 00:22:59,134 --> 00:23:01,774 of the physical requirements to cheat gravity. 370 00:23:03,514 --> 00:23:07,734 The tyranny of the rocket equation is that heavy rockets require more 371 00:23:07,774 --> 00:23:08,614 The tyranny of the rocket equation is that heavy rockets require more 372 00:23:08,654 --> 00:23:12,914 fuel, but more fuel makes rockets heavier, requiring even more fuel. 373 00:23:12,954 --> 00:23:14,694 fuel, but more fuel makes rockets heavier, requiring even more fuel. 374 00:23:16,814 --> 00:23:21,094 A fully loaded SLS weighs 2.6 million kg, 375 00:23:21,134 --> 00:23:21,314 A fully loaded SLS weighs 2.6 million kg, 376 00:23:21,354 --> 00:23:25,334 of which 2.3 million is fuel. 377 00:23:25,374 --> 00:23:28,854 90% of the entire mass that we've got is chemical energy, 378 00:23:28,894 --> 00:23:31,814 and a good bit of the rest of that mass is actually structured 379 00:23:31,854 --> 00:23:33,474 to hold that chemical energy. 380 00:23:34,694 --> 00:23:39,314 We're going from zero velocity sitting on the launchpad 381 00:23:39,354 --> 00:23:41,574 to 32,000ft per second. 382 00:23:42,674 --> 00:23:45,194 That's an incredible energy ride, 383 00:23:45,234 --> 00:23:47,174 so we continually accelerate. 384 00:23:49,334 --> 00:23:51,714 So this is like no other kind of atmospheric machine. 385 00:23:51,754 --> 00:23:53,694 It's not like aeroplanes. It's not like cars. 386 00:23:53,734 --> 00:23:56,174 We don't get to a cruising speed and stop. 387 00:23:57,394 --> 00:23:59,494 And so we designed for every iteration 388 00:23:59,534 --> 00:24:02,854 that could occur between lift-off and orbit. 389 00:24:09,514 --> 00:24:13,454 The rocket's journey into space is another engineering challenge. 390 00:24:14,974 --> 00:24:18,314 At Marshall, they still test aerodynamics 391 00:24:18,354 --> 00:24:21,834 using a wind tunnel built during the Apollo era. 392 00:24:23,454 --> 00:24:27,554 By inserting a scale model of the SLS into the tunnel 393 00:24:27,594 --> 00:24:29,654 and blowing air over it, 394 00:24:29,694 --> 00:24:32,974 it's possible to analyse the forces acting on the rocket 395 00:24:33,014 --> 00:24:37,894 as it accelerates through Earth's atmosphere on its way into space. 396 00:24:41,494 --> 00:24:43,894 This is 25,000 to 50,000ft, 397 00:24:43,934 --> 00:24:46,374 and air molecules pile up on each other. 398 00:24:46,414 --> 00:24:49,574 They create a very dense layer of air. 399 00:24:49,614 --> 00:24:51,474 And so that's what we call a shock wave. 400 00:24:51,514 --> 00:24:54,874 And so once we get supersonic, we'll see these all over the vehicle. 401 00:24:57,434 --> 00:25:00,994 That dictates our stability in our control system, and this gives us 402 00:25:01,034 --> 00:25:03,954 all the data that we need in order to control the rocket. 403 00:25:07,294 --> 00:25:11,014 Such data can be used to plot every second of the journey... 404 00:25:12,954 --> 00:25:16,074 ..ensuring the smoothest and safest ride into orbit. 405 00:25:17,214 --> 00:25:19,574 There's a joke around Marshall Space Flight Center 406 00:25:19,614 --> 00:25:22,454 that in God we trust, everybody else bring data. 407 00:25:33,194 --> 00:25:35,734 On the outskirts of New Orleans, 408 00:25:35,774 --> 00:25:39,874 {\an8}Artemis II has gone from its design phase into assembly. 409 00:25:43,854 --> 00:25:47,774 65m long, the core stage of the SLS 410 00:25:47,814 --> 00:25:51,874 is the largest single rocket section NASA has ever built. 411 00:25:57,634 --> 00:26:00,054 When you see SLS, you think scale. 412 00:26:00,094 --> 00:26:04,034 You do not understand scale until you go see that thing in real life. 413 00:26:07,214 --> 00:26:09,714 I call it the arrogance of humanity. 414 00:26:09,754 --> 00:26:13,174 The fact that we think we can assemble machinery like this 415 00:26:13,214 --> 00:26:17,214 and launch it successfully, it just leaves you with a sense of awe. 416 00:26:18,634 --> 00:26:21,054 Three. Two. One. 417 00:26:24,954 --> 00:26:29,254 The core stage contains two massive aluminium fuel tanks, 418 00:26:29,294 --> 00:26:33,274 which at launch will be filled with liquid hydrogen and oxygen. 419 00:26:36,274 --> 00:26:40,454 Liquid hydrogen generates more thrust than any other rocket fuel... 420 00:26:41,854 --> 00:26:46,214 ..but its molecules are so light and loosely packed together 421 00:26:46,294 --> 00:26:49,654 they require more storage space than any other fuel. 422 00:26:52,734 --> 00:26:55,374 That's why the core stage is so large. 423 00:26:58,294 --> 00:27:01,034 Liquid hydrogen is the rocket fuel of choice, 424 00:27:01,074 --> 00:27:03,394 and you can see why - it packs a punch. 425 00:27:03,434 --> 00:27:07,654 It will get people to the Moon, but it is incredibly hard to handle. 426 00:27:10,614 --> 00:27:14,094 It needs to be kept at temperatures of -250 Celsius. 427 00:27:15,474 --> 00:27:18,514 The fuel lines, the tank itself, 428 00:27:18,554 --> 00:27:20,974 everything has to be kept at that temperature 429 00:27:21,014 --> 00:27:25,134 or the liquid hydrogen will start to evaporate, to expand. 430 00:27:25,174 --> 00:27:25,494 or the liquid hydrogen will start to evaporate, to expand. 431 00:27:26,814 --> 00:27:30,314 Now imagine if your liquid hydrogen starts expanding in the tank - 432 00:27:30,354 --> 00:27:33,434 the tank will explode, and so everything has to be kept at that 433 00:27:33,474 --> 00:27:37,694 low, low temperature so that everything stays in its liquid form. 434 00:27:40,154 --> 00:27:43,814 The space shuttle also used liquid hydrogen as a fuel source... 435 00:27:45,134 --> 00:27:47,694 ..but encountered so many problems 436 00:27:47,734 --> 00:27:51,234 that 60% of all its launches had to be postponed. 437 00:27:53,654 --> 00:27:56,814 The worry is the same thing will happen with Artemis. 438 00:28:00,794 --> 00:28:03,594 Lift-off of the 25th space shuttle mission, 439 00:28:03,634 --> 00:28:05,534 and it has cleared the tower. 440 00:28:08,054 --> 00:28:10,294 NASA knows only too well 441 00:28:10,334 --> 00:28:13,894 how dangerous liquid hydrogen can be at launch. 442 00:28:13,934 --> 00:28:18,014 Normal throttles for most of the flight, 104%. 443 00:28:18,054 --> 00:28:19,894 Challenger, go at throttle up. 444 00:28:19,934 --> 00:28:21,314 Roger, go at throttle up. 445 00:28:27,954 --> 00:28:31,414 With the Challenger space shuttle, a rupture of the fuel tank 446 00:28:31,454 --> 00:28:35,414 caused liquid hydrogen to ignite catastrophically... 447 00:28:37,074 --> 00:28:38,654 Obviously a major malfunction. 448 00:28:40,154 --> 00:28:42,794 ..taking the lives of seven astronauts. 449 00:28:47,374 --> 00:28:52,334 The core stage of the SLS is transported 1500km by barge... 450 00:28:54,094 --> 00:28:57,874 ..to Kennedy Space Center, from where it will eventually launch. 451 00:29:00,134 --> 00:29:04,114 On arrival, it's taken to the Vehicle Assembly Building, 452 00:29:04,154 --> 00:29:07,114 the largest single-storey building in the world. 453 00:29:09,794 --> 00:29:14,174 The head of NASA, Bill Nelson, is taking a look for himself. 454 00:29:16,294 --> 00:29:20,854 That core stage packs a big punch. 455 00:29:20,894 --> 00:29:25,114 {\an8}8.8 million pounds of thrust 456 00:29:25,154 --> 00:29:25,734 {\an8}8.8 million pounds of thrust 457 00:29:25,774 --> 00:29:30,274 at lift-off in those four engines right there. 458 00:29:30,354 --> 00:29:33,714 By the way, those engines were the same engines 459 00:29:33,754 --> 00:29:36,174 that were on the space shuttle. 460 00:29:39,094 --> 00:29:42,794 But instead of throwing them away, we're using them. 461 00:29:47,774 --> 00:29:51,794 Rather than inventing a new engine, NASA was mandated by Congress 462 00:29:51,834 --> 00:29:52,114 Rather than inventing a new engine, NASA was mandated by Congress 463 00:29:52,154 --> 00:29:56,574 to recycle and update the RS-25 engines 464 00:29:56,614 --> 00:29:59,134 that had previously powered the space shuttle. 465 00:30:01,934 --> 00:30:06,154 Developed in the 1970s to deliver maximum thrust from liquid hydrogen 466 00:30:06,194 --> 00:30:07,034 Developed in the 1970s to deliver maximum thrust from liquid hydrogen 467 00:30:07,074 --> 00:30:11,174 fuel, they were known as the Ferrari of rocket engines. 468 00:30:15,754 --> 00:30:20,494 The space shuttle main engines were great engines, really miraculous. 469 00:30:20,534 --> 00:30:20,694 The space shuttle main engines were great engines, really miraculous. 470 00:30:20,734 --> 00:30:24,354 But it turns out if you want an affordable space programme, 471 00:30:24,394 --> 00:30:26,734 you don't want to be launching Ferraris in space, 472 00:30:26,774 --> 00:30:29,694 especially if you drive it one time and the car goes away. 473 00:30:29,734 --> 00:30:32,214 You know, you want a Toyota that you can drive again 474 00:30:32,254 --> 00:30:33,874 and again and again and again, 475 00:30:33,914 --> 00:30:37,134 and that's really kind of been the big change. 476 00:30:37,174 --> 00:30:39,994 While the shuttle was designed to be reusable, 477 00:30:40,034 --> 00:30:42,754 the SLS is a single-use rocket. 478 00:30:44,174 --> 00:30:49,214 Each RS-25 engine will be flown only once and then discarded. 479 00:30:49,254 --> 00:30:49,654 Each RS-25 engine will be flown only once and then discarded. 480 00:30:51,914 --> 00:30:55,134 A disposable engine at a premium price. 481 00:30:56,694 --> 00:30:59,214 If you total up all the money that Nasa's spending, 482 00:30:59,254 --> 00:31:02,574 the costs of a single RS-25 engine 483 00:31:02,614 --> 00:31:06,554 is between 100 million and 140 million USD. 484 00:31:09,914 --> 00:31:14,854 SpaceX is building a comparable Raptor engine for $500,000. 485 00:31:14,894 --> 00:31:15,394 SpaceX is building a comparable Raptor engine for $500,000. 486 00:31:15,434 --> 00:31:16,934 Half a million. 487 00:31:21,754 --> 00:31:25,114 Having committed to the RS-25 engines, 488 00:31:25,154 --> 00:31:29,254 NASA is unable to use new and cheaper options 489 00:31:29,294 --> 00:31:29,494 NASA is unable to use new and cheaper options 490 00:31:29,534 --> 00:31:33,134 currently being developed by the commercial space sector. 491 00:31:37,614 --> 00:31:42,054 Congress basically told NASA that it's going to use contracts, 492 00:31:42,094 --> 00:31:45,314 workforce systems from previous programmes. 493 00:31:47,334 --> 00:31:49,774 It wanted to try and save some money, 494 00:31:49,814 --> 00:31:52,334 probably save some of that expertise. 495 00:31:52,374 --> 00:31:56,894 {\an8}And so until Congress says NASA can move away from this, 496 00:31:56,934 --> 00:31:57,014 {\an8}And so until Congress says NASA can move away from this, 497 00:31:57,054 --> 00:32:00,314 {\an8}which isn't until at least Artemis V, Nasa's going to keep 498 00:32:00,354 --> 00:32:03,094 flying SLS without reusable engines. 499 00:32:06,874 --> 00:32:09,914 At the top of the spacecraft sits the Orion capsule, 500 00:32:09,954 --> 00:32:11,374 which carries the crew. 501 00:32:12,514 --> 00:32:15,954 Inside, there's nine cubic metres of space - 502 00:32:15,994 --> 00:32:18,014 the same as a medium-sized camper van. 503 00:32:20,574 --> 00:32:22,734 But before it can go to the Moon, 504 00:32:22,774 --> 00:32:25,414 it needs to be certified ready to fly. 505 00:32:31,154 --> 00:32:34,854 To do this, engineers are running post-flight tests 506 00:32:34,894 --> 00:32:37,654 on the returned capsule from Artemis I. 507 00:32:42,194 --> 00:32:45,054 They start by shaking the capsule, 508 00:32:45,094 --> 00:32:47,494 blasting it with extreme noise... 509 00:32:49,534 --> 00:32:52,614 ..200 times more intense than a jet engine... 510 00:32:54,274 --> 00:32:57,954 ..simulating the most extreme vibrations that might occur 511 00:32:57,994 --> 00:32:59,094 during a mission. 512 00:33:04,494 --> 00:33:07,454 The focus is on the forward bay cover - 513 00:33:07,494 --> 00:33:10,214 the yellow cap at the top of the capsule - 514 00:33:10,254 --> 00:33:14,614 which needs to eject on re-entry so the parachutes can deploy 515 00:33:14,654 --> 00:33:17,894 and the capsule can slow down and land safely. 516 00:33:21,514 --> 00:33:25,174 It's critical that this mechanism works properly on Artemis II. 517 00:33:26,374 --> 00:33:29,854 {\an8}It takes less than a second for the pyros 518 00:33:29,894 --> 00:33:32,574 {\an8}or explosives to separate that cover, 519 00:33:32,614 --> 00:33:35,094 but it takes months to plan, 520 00:33:35,134 --> 00:33:37,294 months to make sure that everything is set up. 521 00:33:37,334 --> 00:33:40,074 Like, we're looking here at a catch system 522 00:33:40,114 --> 00:33:42,994 so the forward bay cover will go into that net, 523 00:33:43,034 --> 00:33:46,934 the bungee cords then will keep a tension so it stays in that. 524 00:33:46,974 --> 00:33:49,774 And then we have very high speed photogrammetry 525 00:33:49,814 --> 00:33:52,974 cameras that are set up with extremely bright lights 526 00:33:53,014 --> 00:33:56,694 that are focused on the hardware so the engineers can analyse it 527 00:33:56,734 --> 00:33:59,694 and see if all the systems are performing as expected. 528 00:34:01,734 --> 00:34:06,014 If any wires or bolts have come loose from the shaking, 529 00:34:06,054 --> 00:34:08,494 the forward bay cover could malfunction... 530 00:34:09,954 --> 00:34:13,174 ..forcing engineers to rethink the design of the capsule. 531 00:34:16,114 --> 00:34:17,774 Ready to test? 532 00:34:17,814 --> 00:34:20,174 All right, let's go test. 533 00:34:23,254 --> 00:34:27,634 {\an8}Testing does end up requiring more time to be put in 534 00:34:27,674 --> 00:34:27,954 {\an8}Testing does end up requiring more time to be put in 535 00:34:27,994 --> 00:34:31,214 {\an8}to the design development process of spacecraft. 536 00:34:32,334 --> 00:34:36,834 But it's necessary at both the component level 537 00:34:36,874 --> 00:34:37,214 But it's necessary at both the component level 538 00:34:37,254 --> 00:34:39,674 and all the way up to the entire system level. 539 00:34:41,134 --> 00:34:43,854 That's how we fly spacecraft safely. 540 00:34:46,074 --> 00:34:48,314 On my mark, I'll fire FBC pyros. 541 00:34:50,534 --> 00:34:51,674 Three. 542 00:34:53,094 --> 00:34:54,754 Two. 543 00:34:54,794 --> 00:34:55,894 One. 544 00:35:01,414 --> 00:35:02,734 Yes! 545 00:35:02,774 --> 00:35:04,494 CHEERING 546 00:35:06,054 --> 00:35:09,194 Confirmation of FBC pyros firing. 547 00:35:09,234 --> 00:35:10,454 Copy. 548 00:35:14,494 --> 00:35:17,294 The forward bay cover has detached cleanly. 549 00:35:18,354 --> 00:35:21,274 The capsule's design has passed its test. 550 00:35:24,794 --> 00:35:27,194 But all is not well with Orion. 551 00:35:34,374 --> 00:35:36,994 When Artemis I splashed down, 552 00:35:37,034 --> 00:35:39,234 the mission was hailed as a great success. 553 00:35:40,294 --> 00:35:43,294 But in reality, there were problems with the capsule. 554 00:35:45,754 --> 00:35:47,934 As it was hauled onto the recovery ship, 555 00:35:47,974 --> 00:35:50,214 it was quickly examined by engineers. 556 00:35:51,634 --> 00:35:54,474 Their biggest concern - the heat shield. 557 00:35:55,894 --> 00:35:59,614 How was it affected by the intense heat of re-entry? 558 00:36:01,654 --> 00:36:04,154 Fitted to the underside of the capsule, 559 00:36:04,194 --> 00:36:07,174 the heat shield is built from Avcoat, 560 00:36:07,214 --> 00:36:11,694 an epoxy resin developed in the 1960s for the Apollo programme. 561 00:36:14,014 --> 00:36:17,174 The tiles are meant to melt and vaporise, 562 00:36:17,214 --> 00:36:19,454 taking heat away from the capsule. 563 00:36:21,634 --> 00:36:23,454 But it didn't work out like that. 564 00:36:27,134 --> 00:36:30,014 It takes 16 months for the state of the heat shield 565 00:36:30,054 --> 00:36:31,734 to become public knowledge. 566 00:36:33,394 --> 00:36:36,634 This report caused quite a stir when it came out. 567 00:36:36,674 --> 00:36:40,974 It makes some pretty sort of damning claims, really. 568 00:36:41,014 --> 00:36:41,414 It makes some pretty sort of damning claims, really. 569 00:36:41,454 --> 00:36:43,774 What I'm looking at here especially 570 00:36:43,814 --> 00:36:46,534 is the pictures of the Orion heat shield. 571 00:36:46,574 --> 00:36:51,234 What you can see is sort of cavities and some burn marks on these areas. 572 00:36:51,274 --> 00:36:51,434 What you can see is sort of cavities and some burn marks on these areas. 573 00:36:51,474 --> 00:36:55,214 And it is pretty scary, because this was the technology 574 00:36:55,254 --> 00:36:58,654 that's going to be used to get people to the Moon, 575 00:36:58,694 --> 00:37:02,454 and yet there is this degradation. 576 00:37:02,494 --> 00:37:06,094 And the Inspector General actually says, "In our judgment, 577 00:37:06,134 --> 00:37:09,094 "the unexpected behaviour of the heat shield poses 578 00:37:09,134 --> 00:37:13,734 "a significant risk to the safety of future crewed missions." 579 00:37:13,774 --> 00:37:14,214 "a significant risk to the safety of future crewed missions." 580 00:37:14,254 --> 00:37:17,054 And sort of having something like that written 581 00:37:17,094 --> 00:37:19,894 in a report means a response is needed. 582 00:37:19,934 --> 00:37:23,374 Something has to change, because this sort of charring 583 00:37:23,414 --> 00:37:26,054 of the heat shield could risk human life. 584 00:37:27,834 --> 00:37:31,334 The material's ablative, so it sort of burns away slowly. 585 00:37:31,374 --> 00:37:32,814 And you expect that, 586 00:37:32,854 --> 00:37:37,174 but you didn't expect chunks of it to fall away like they did. 587 00:37:40,574 --> 00:37:43,454 When you see something that anomalous on a critical system 588 00:37:43,494 --> 00:37:46,034 like the heat shield where there's no backup, 589 00:37:46,074 --> 00:37:48,194 then that really raises your concerns. 590 00:37:51,754 --> 00:37:56,014 {\an8}It looks like you can see pieces of the shuttle coming off. 591 00:37:58,734 --> 00:38:01,854 Columbia, Houston, UHF comm check. 592 00:38:03,714 --> 00:38:07,034 Columbia, Houston, UHF comm check. 593 00:38:10,534 --> 00:38:14,614 The risk of an accident at re-entry is well known to NASA. 594 00:38:16,074 --> 00:38:19,494 In 2003, damaged heat tiles led to the break-up 595 00:38:19,534 --> 00:38:21,434 of the space shuttle Columbia. 596 00:38:23,694 --> 00:38:27,874 As with Challenger, seven astronauts lost their lives. 597 00:38:30,954 --> 00:38:35,814 The space shuttle had two major disasters and 14 astronauts died. 598 00:38:35,854 --> 00:38:36,134 The space shuttle had two major disasters and 14 astronauts died. 599 00:38:36,174 --> 00:38:39,554 That has weighed heavily on NASA, on America, 600 00:38:39,594 --> 00:38:42,914 and it's definitely something that has affected this mission 601 00:38:42,954 --> 00:38:44,574 and other human space flight missions. 602 00:38:45,714 --> 00:38:50,014 NASA launches a formal investigation into what went wrong 603 00:38:50,054 --> 00:38:53,934 with the heat shield and how best to proceed with the mission. 604 00:38:59,374 --> 00:39:03,394 Seven months later, the agency announces its conclusions. 605 00:39:05,814 --> 00:39:10,574 {\an8}We've conducted expansive testing, 606 00:39:10,614 --> 00:39:13,694 {\an8}including analysing samples from 607 00:39:13,734 --> 00:39:17,654 the heat shield, and now we know the root cause. 608 00:39:19,454 --> 00:39:23,534 Blame is focused on the skip entry manoeuvre 609 00:39:23,574 --> 00:39:26,614 used for the first time on Artemis I 610 00:39:26,654 --> 00:39:30,554 to slow the spacecraft down as it entered Earth's atmosphere. 611 00:39:31,774 --> 00:39:36,094 {\an8}This is a technique we use coming back from the Moon, because 612 00:39:36,134 --> 00:39:40,454 the velocity is much greater than coming back from low Earth orbit. 613 00:39:40,494 --> 00:39:41,174 the velocity is much greater than coming back from low Earth orbit. 614 00:39:43,374 --> 00:39:47,334 They were trying a different re-entry procedure, a skip entry. 615 00:39:49,154 --> 00:39:51,134 {\an8}So that's where the spacecraft dips 616 00:39:51,174 --> 00:39:54,474 {\an8}into the Earth's atmosphere once, 617 00:39:54,514 --> 00:39:57,394 {\an8}then it creates a small amount of lift. 618 00:39:57,434 --> 00:39:59,934 It exits the Earth's atmosphere, 619 00:39:59,974 --> 00:40:03,394 and then it comes back in a second time for the re-entry. 620 00:40:04,734 --> 00:40:06,914 Doing that skip manoeuvre meant 621 00:40:06,954 --> 00:40:10,114 that layers of gas were trapped inside the heat shield. 622 00:40:10,154 --> 00:40:13,174 So when it came into Earth's atmosphere for the second time, 623 00:40:13,214 --> 00:40:16,154 those gases had to escape and that caused cracking 624 00:40:16,194 --> 00:40:18,474 and chunks of the heat shield to come off. 625 00:40:23,014 --> 00:40:26,014 NASA decides to keep the existing design of heat shield 626 00:40:26,054 --> 00:40:27,354 for Artemis II... 627 00:40:29,334 --> 00:40:31,774 ..but to ditch the double dip skip entry. 628 00:40:34,614 --> 00:40:38,814 Instead, Artemis II will make what engineers call a ballistic entry, 629 00:40:38,854 --> 00:40:39,634 Instead, Artemis II will make what engineers call a ballistic entry, 630 00:40:39,674 --> 00:40:42,674 with a single, steeper profile, 631 00:40:42,714 --> 00:40:45,954 as if the capsule has been fired like a bullet from a gun. 632 00:40:49,614 --> 00:40:50,734 But will it work? 633 00:40:52,374 --> 00:40:56,294 We don't know. I mean, engineering, the models, 634 00:40:56,334 --> 00:40:59,294 all the modelling suggests it will work. 635 00:40:59,334 --> 00:41:02,654 But all of that data suggested that with the skip 636 00:41:02,694 --> 00:41:06,474 re-entry on Artemis I, there wouldn't be heat shield loss. So... 637 00:41:08,014 --> 00:41:10,174 This is a compromise. 638 00:41:10,214 --> 00:41:12,834 They're keeping the existing heat shield because to design a new 639 00:41:12,874 --> 00:41:14,854 one would take an awful long time. 640 00:41:14,894 --> 00:41:16,734 But with all space missions, 641 00:41:16,774 --> 00:41:18,354 there is a risk. 642 00:41:18,394 --> 00:41:20,574 They've mitigated the risk as much as possible, 643 00:41:20,614 --> 00:41:23,734 but there is still always that risk that there could be 644 00:41:23,774 --> 00:41:26,334 a catastrophic failure and loss of life. 645 00:41:30,674 --> 00:41:32,654 We'll be nervous coming in. 646 00:41:32,694 --> 00:41:34,614 You can't be not nervous. 647 00:41:34,654 --> 00:41:36,554 But you trust the architecture, 648 00:41:36,594 --> 00:41:39,514 you trust the engineering, and it's going to work out. 649 00:41:46,374 --> 00:41:48,314 {\an8}Go for upstage to internal power. 650 00:41:48,354 --> 00:41:50,334 {\an8}With the launch now scheduled 651 00:41:50,374 --> 00:41:54,714 for spring 2026, the astronauts spend time in the Orion simulator, 652 00:41:54,754 --> 00:41:56,414 for spring 2026, the astronauts spend time in the Orion simulator, 653 00:41:56,454 --> 00:41:59,454 practising every step of the mission... 654 00:41:59,494 --> 00:42:01,734 Launch in ten seconds if you're syncing your watches. 655 00:42:01,774 --> 00:42:02,894 There's initial lift. 656 00:42:02,934 --> 00:42:05,254 ..starting with launch. 657 00:42:05,294 --> 00:42:09,794 Five. Four. Three. Two. One. 658 00:42:09,834 --> 00:42:10,934 Launch. 659 00:42:13,154 --> 00:42:14,174 In the air. 660 00:42:16,034 --> 00:42:17,974 There is a lot of training. 661 00:42:18,014 --> 00:42:19,934 If we were to boil it all down, 662 00:42:19,974 --> 00:42:22,374 we could probably get it done in under a year. 663 00:42:22,414 --> 00:42:24,434 But we are also flying this vehicle for the first time, 664 00:42:24,474 --> 00:42:27,514 so we do need to spend a lot more time than 665 00:42:27,554 --> 00:42:31,374 the next crew will have to spend on just all of the what-ifs. 666 00:42:31,414 --> 00:42:34,374 Six minutes, 30 seconds so far. 667 00:42:34,414 --> 00:42:35,814 Meco is in 90 seconds. 668 00:42:37,254 --> 00:42:39,274 I would say 90% of the training we have done, 669 00:42:39,314 --> 00:42:41,934 we've provided feedback where we could cut it down, 670 00:42:41,974 --> 00:42:45,314 we could shorten this, we could focus on these important aspects. 671 00:42:46,374 --> 00:42:48,874 Shut down in three, two, one. 672 00:42:52,194 --> 00:42:53,614 We're road testing the training. 673 00:42:53,654 --> 00:42:55,734 We're road testing the preparation towards launch. 674 00:42:55,774 --> 00:42:58,294 We're road testing all of that. That's our job. 675 00:42:58,334 --> 00:43:00,714 There is no substitute for preparation. 676 00:43:01,854 --> 00:43:04,654 There's no substitute for having an intimate knowledge 677 00:43:04,694 --> 00:43:08,294 of what you're doing, and what that allows you to do is generate options 678 00:43:08,334 --> 00:43:10,294 when things go wrong. 679 00:43:10,334 --> 00:43:13,294 As we say in the military, you train hard, you fight easy. 680 00:43:14,414 --> 00:43:17,614 I often get asked, "Why put people in space? 681 00:43:17,654 --> 00:43:21,794 "We have robotic missions, we have AI, why have humans?" 682 00:43:21,834 --> 00:43:23,734 What is the pressure that makes you worried 683 00:43:23,774 --> 00:43:26,134 we couldn't recharge the N2 regulator? 684 00:43:26,174 --> 00:43:28,574 To me, they are critical, 685 00:43:28,614 --> 00:43:32,414 because they are literally the eyes and the ears of the mission. 686 00:43:33,834 --> 00:43:37,034 On the Artemis II mission, the astronauts aren't going to do 687 00:43:37,074 --> 00:43:40,454 much flying. They're going to do some demonstrations, but that's not 688 00:43:40,494 --> 00:43:43,334 essential - Orion could fly itself to around the Moon. 689 00:43:43,374 --> 00:43:46,614 But in emergencies, you do want humans flying. 690 00:43:47,854 --> 00:43:49,294 That's what they trained for. 691 00:43:52,854 --> 00:43:56,934 A huge rocket that will carry NASA'S first crewed Moon mission in more 692 00:43:56,974 --> 00:44:01,214 than half a century has begun its journey to the launchpad in Florida. 693 00:44:02,294 --> 00:44:05,334 Artemis II may blast off as early as next month 694 00:44:05,374 --> 00:44:07,534 on a ten-day trip around the Moon. 695 00:44:16,454 --> 00:44:20,694 Now, this is the start of a very long journey. 696 00:44:20,734 --> 00:44:25,174 We ended our last human exploration of the Moon on Apollo 17, 697 00:44:25,214 --> 00:44:26,934 the 17th mission. 698 00:44:26,974 --> 00:44:29,454 Now, I hope someday my kids are going to be watching, 699 00:44:29,494 --> 00:44:32,974 maybe decades into the future, the Artemis 100 mission. 700 00:44:34,254 --> 00:44:36,794 We should be able to undertake repeatable, 701 00:44:36,834 --> 00:44:38,854 affordable missions to and from the Moon. 702 00:44:40,734 --> 00:44:44,934 The SLS rocket slowly rolls out to the launchpad. 703 00:44:44,974 --> 00:44:45,474 The SLS rocket slowly rolls out to the launchpad. 704 00:44:45,514 --> 00:44:48,354 Top speed - 0.8 miles an hour. 705 00:44:49,814 --> 00:44:52,334 You four are about to fly farther into space 706 00:44:52,374 --> 00:44:54,714 than any humans have ever flown. 707 00:44:54,754 --> 00:44:58,214 But how are you training your families as you get ready 708 00:44:58,254 --> 00:45:00,054 to leave them behind on Earth? 709 00:45:01,214 --> 00:45:04,034 Trying to train them honestly and openly. 710 00:45:04,074 --> 00:45:05,414 With my kids, I told them, 711 00:45:05,454 --> 00:45:07,034 "Here's where the will is, here's where the trust documents 712 00:45:07,074 --> 00:45:08,614 "are, and if anything happens to me, 713 00:45:08,654 --> 00:45:10,374 "here's what's going to happen to you." 714 00:45:10,414 --> 00:45:12,714 It's our families that we think about the most on launch day. 715 00:45:14,494 --> 00:45:18,594 After 12 hours, the rocket arrives at its destination. 716 00:45:20,254 --> 00:45:22,374 Launchpad 39B. 717 00:45:27,914 --> 00:45:30,994 But in February, it has to roll back again 718 00:45:31,034 --> 00:45:33,514 into the Vehicle Assembly Building. 719 00:45:35,254 --> 00:45:38,414 Engineers have discovered two problems - 720 00:45:38,454 --> 00:45:41,134 a hydrogen leak and a helium leak. 721 00:45:47,054 --> 00:45:51,634 By March, the rocket has been repaired and it rolls out again. 722 00:45:51,674 --> 00:45:52,114 By March, the rocket has been repaired and it rolls out again. 723 00:45:54,214 --> 00:45:58,814 NASA sets a new launch date - 1st of April 2026. 724 00:45:58,854 --> 00:45:59,894 NASA sets a new launch date - 1st of April 2026. 725 00:46:04,194 --> 00:46:06,954 About nine hours prior to lift-off, we'll wake up. 726 00:46:06,994 --> 00:46:08,374 They're going to take our temperature, 727 00:46:08,414 --> 00:46:10,154 our weight, our blood pressure. 728 00:46:10,194 --> 00:46:12,914 Once that's complete, it's time to go start getting dressed, 729 00:46:12,954 --> 00:46:14,374 and we'll go into the suit room. 730 00:46:16,694 --> 00:46:18,434 They'll leak-check us, 731 00:46:18,474 --> 00:46:20,254 make sure our suit holds pressure. 732 00:46:21,754 --> 00:46:25,534 And then when that's complete, we wait until it's time to walk out. 733 00:46:35,174 --> 00:46:38,654 From the moment that you walk out to go out to the launchpad, 734 00:46:38,694 --> 00:46:41,254 you're on this extremely choreographed timeline. 735 00:46:45,994 --> 00:46:48,834 The spacecraft awaits its crew. 736 00:46:51,434 --> 00:46:53,774 As you get out to the pad, you can look all the way up and see the top 737 00:46:53,814 --> 00:46:55,034 of the rocket. 738 00:46:55,074 --> 00:46:57,674 It's full of fuel, so it'll be venting. 739 00:46:59,094 --> 00:47:01,114 It'll be cold, it'll be alive. 740 00:47:02,294 --> 00:47:04,494 And we are just teeny tiny specks... 741 00:47:05,734 --> 00:47:08,094 ..amongst this 280-foot-tall rocket in front of us. 742 00:47:10,254 --> 00:47:12,054 We'll get in an elevator. 743 00:47:12,094 --> 00:47:14,774 We'll ride that elevator up to the 274 level. 744 00:47:16,614 --> 00:47:20,174 And we walk down the gantry to the white room, put on our helmet, 745 00:47:20,214 --> 00:47:22,374 put on our gloves, make sure we look good from head to toe, 746 00:47:22,414 --> 00:47:23,934 and then one at a time, we'll go into the Orion 747 00:47:23,974 --> 00:47:25,494 and start getting strapped in. 748 00:47:26,894 --> 00:47:29,934 The crew has given their capsule a nickname... 749 00:47:31,114 --> 00:47:32,654 ..Integrity. 750 00:47:34,654 --> 00:47:37,894 It'll be their home for the next ten days of the mission. 751 00:47:43,334 --> 00:47:46,854 We are now under an hour from the opening 752 00:47:46,894 --> 00:47:51,474 of our two-hour launch window at 6:24pm Eastern Time. 753 00:47:51,514 --> 00:47:53,134 Yes, this has been a beautiful day. 754 00:47:53,174 --> 00:47:55,934 Rocket science has hundreds - or thousands - of things that all 755 00:47:55,974 --> 00:47:59,214 have to go just right. It all has to be perfect. 756 00:47:59,254 --> 00:48:01,614 The rocket has to launch within this window. 757 00:48:01,654 --> 00:48:03,634 If it doesn't launch in this window, it can't go today. 758 00:48:08,734 --> 00:48:12,134 You get to T minus ten minutes, ten minutes to go in the countdown, 759 00:48:12,174 --> 00:48:14,174 they'll pause it there for about 30 minutes. 760 00:48:14,214 --> 00:48:16,534 They'll go through and ask basically everyone 761 00:48:16,574 --> 00:48:19,934 if they're part of the rocket or the spacecraft is good to go. 762 00:48:19,974 --> 00:48:21,474 MCO. 763 00:48:21,514 --> 00:48:22,974 MCO is go. 764 00:48:23,014 --> 00:48:25,414 Houston flight. Houston flight is go. 765 00:48:25,454 --> 00:48:29,174 If there's a reading out of bounds during that time, then the countdown 766 00:48:29,214 --> 00:48:32,214 will be stopped and the launch will be scrubbed for the day. 767 00:48:32,254 --> 00:48:35,774 Artemis II crew is go for launch. 768 00:48:35,814 --> 00:48:37,374 I copy that. 769 00:48:37,414 --> 00:48:38,734 Good luck. 770 00:48:38,774 --> 00:48:41,014 Godspeed, Artemis II. 771 00:48:41,054 --> 00:48:42,134 Let's go. 772 00:48:44,254 --> 00:48:45,714 Ten. Nine. 773 00:48:45,754 --> 00:48:48,194 Eight. Seven. 774 00:48:48,234 --> 00:48:49,854 RS-25 engines. 775 00:48:51,314 --> 00:48:53,014 Four. Three. 776 00:48:53,054 --> 00:48:54,594 Two. One. 777 00:48:54,634 --> 00:48:57,234 Booster ignition and lift-off. 778 00:48:58,654 --> 00:48:59,894 Go! 779 00:48:59,934 --> 00:49:02,014 CHEERING 780 00:49:02,054 --> 00:49:03,754 That's BLEEP... 781 00:49:07,034 --> 00:49:09,634 The crew of Artemis II now bound for the Moon. 782 00:49:11,734 --> 00:49:14,334 Humanity's next great voyage begins. 783 00:49:16,454 --> 00:49:17,854 Good roll pitch. 784 00:49:17,894 --> 00:49:19,454 Roger, roll pitch. 785 00:49:28,894 --> 00:49:32,214 Mission control, Houston, seeing good performance from main engines. 786 00:49:32,254 --> 00:49:34,694 Three miles in altitude, 787 00:49:34,734 --> 00:49:36,834 travelling more than 1,200 miles per hour. 788 00:49:40,194 --> 00:49:43,854 The rocket powers its way into orbit 789 00:49:43,894 --> 00:49:47,374 as designed by the engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center. 790 00:49:51,354 --> 00:49:52,574 Confirm separation. 791 00:49:55,934 --> 00:49:58,254 Now passing 5,000 mph. 792 00:50:00,274 --> 00:50:03,194 Houston, Integrity. Good last jettison. Great view. 793 00:50:04,814 --> 00:50:08,094 Yeah, Integrity, nominal Meco. Core stage separated. 794 00:50:12,314 --> 00:50:16,414 It was really great to look out the window and see the full Moon 795 00:50:16,454 --> 00:50:18,434 off the front of the vehicle. 796 00:50:18,474 --> 00:50:20,534 There's no doubt where we are heading right now. 797 00:50:20,574 --> 00:50:21,994 All right. Signing off. 798 00:50:24,554 --> 00:50:26,094 It's great to see you all wave 799 00:50:26,134 --> 00:50:27,954 and we are really enjoying seeing you up there. 800 00:50:29,094 --> 00:50:31,154 Not as much as we're enjoying being here. 801 00:50:32,214 --> 00:50:33,434 That is true. 802 00:50:36,554 --> 00:50:40,254 The spacecraft is being monitored by Mission Control in Houston. 803 00:50:41,894 --> 00:50:44,334 It's now travelling into deep space... 804 00:50:46,534 --> 00:50:48,134 ..heading for the Moon. 805 00:50:49,494 --> 00:50:53,734 We know that there was some talk about some burnt smell 806 00:50:53,774 --> 00:50:55,894 when the...from the heaters. 807 00:50:55,934 --> 00:50:58,494 So we just thought we'd check in with you. 808 00:50:58,534 --> 00:51:00,674 We're continuing to look at that. 809 00:51:00,714 --> 00:51:03,194 Jeremy Hansen is the only one who hasn't been to space before. 810 00:51:03,234 --> 00:51:04,934 The rest of them, they have an idea 811 00:51:04,974 --> 00:51:06,394 of how to move their bodies in space, 812 00:51:06,434 --> 00:51:08,614 but it's different for each person on how long it takes 813 00:51:08,654 --> 00:51:12,474 to get used to it, and if they get motion sick or not. 814 00:51:12,514 --> 00:51:15,554 So there's just a lot that will be going on during this mission. 815 00:51:18,014 --> 00:51:22,494 Your body is being bombarded by galactic cosmic rays. 816 00:51:22,534 --> 00:51:24,314 And actually we see that as astronauts, 817 00:51:24,354 --> 00:51:25,894 when we're falling asleep, 818 00:51:25,934 --> 00:51:28,934 you close your eyes and before you actually drop off, 819 00:51:28,974 --> 00:51:31,494 you'll see several flashes 820 00:51:31,534 --> 00:51:34,454 like bright streaks of light going across your eye. 821 00:51:34,494 --> 00:51:37,154 And you know that that's a high-energy particle 822 00:51:37,194 --> 00:51:39,094 striking the back of your retina. 823 00:51:39,134 --> 00:51:42,834 It's quite pretty to look at, but it's not when you realise the damage 824 00:51:42,874 --> 00:51:44,614 that could be doing to your body, 825 00:51:44,654 --> 00:51:46,854 and that could cause some form of cancer. 826 00:51:54,554 --> 00:51:58,534 Good morning, Houston from inside Integrity... 827 00:51:58,574 --> 00:52:01,734 On day six, Integrity reaches the Moon. 828 00:52:04,614 --> 00:52:07,814 The crew will do a seven-hour flyby, 829 00:52:07,854 --> 00:52:12,054 capturing high quality images of the lunar surface, 830 00:52:12,094 --> 00:52:12,314 capturing high quality images of the lunar surface, 831 00:52:12,354 --> 00:52:16,154 going further from Earth than any crew has gone before. 832 00:52:17,734 --> 00:52:21,714 But first, they want to name a crater 833 00:52:21,754 --> 00:52:25,254 located at the western edge of the Moon's near side. 834 00:52:26,654 --> 00:52:29,294 A number of years ago, we started this journey 835 00:52:29,334 --> 00:52:33,194 in our close-knit astronaut family and we lost a loved one. 836 00:52:34,774 --> 00:52:36,674 Her name was Carroll, 837 00:52:36,714 --> 00:52:40,534 the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie. 838 00:52:42,234 --> 00:52:43,934 And we would like to call it Carroll. 839 00:52:45,274 --> 00:52:49,814 And you spell that C-A-R-R-O-L-L. 840 00:53:01,694 --> 00:53:06,094 On the ground, the science team are receiving live reports 841 00:53:06,134 --> 00:53:09,094 as the astronauts fly by the Moon 842 00:53:09,134 --> 00:53:12,434 observing different geological features. 843 00:53:12,474 --> 00:53:16,654 I think Copernicus is the easternmost feature that we can see. 844 00:53:16,694 --> 00:53:16,974 I think Copernicus is the easternmost feature that we can see. 845 00:53:17,014 --> 00:53:19,614 A very nice ring to the north, 846 00:53:19,654 --> 00:53:23,534 and the south is with a lot of terrain shadow features. 847 00:53:25,854 --> 00:53:28,114 We are getting a sneak preview from 848 00:53:28,154 --> 00:53:30,354 one of our cameras at what you're looking at, 849 00:53:30,394 --> 00:53:32,214 and we see some of what you're describing. 850 00:53:33,354 --> 00:53:34,374 We love it. 851 00:53:37,214 --> 00:53:39,354 The Artemis II crew has been trained 852 00:53:39,394 --> 00:53:42,714 to observe the Moon, to find significant features. 853 00:53:44,134 --> 00:53:46,374 As the spacecraft goes around the Moon, 854 00:53:46,414 --> 00:53:48,874 an astronaut can look at a spot from different angles. 855 00:53:48,914 --> 00:53:51,314 It might take a spacecraft years to have 856 00:53:51,354 --> 00:53:53,574 that trajectory where they can see all those angles. 857 00:53:55,074 --> 00:53:58,494 Something I've never seen in photographs before, but is very 858 00:53:58,534 --> 00:54:02,454 apparent - all the new craters, some of them are super tiny. 859 00:54:02,494 --> 00:54:05,614 There's a couple that really stand out, obviously, 860 00:54:05,654 --> 00:54:08,854 and they are so bright compared to the rest of the Moon. 861 00:54:11,334 --> 00:54:14,334 The flyby ends with a final flourish... 862 00:54:16,454 --> 00:54:18,394 OOHING 863 00:54:20,134 --> 00:54:24,314 ..a total solar eclipse seen for the first time from space. 864 00:54:26,334 --> 00:54:30,474 The Sun has gone behind the Moon and the corona is still visible... 865 00:54:30,514 --> 00:54:32,214 The Sun has gone behind the Moon and the corona is still visible... 866 00:54:33,394 --> 00:54:35,574 ..and it creates a halo almost around the entire Moon. 867 00:54:35,614 --> 00:54:38,454 But when you get to the Earth side, the earthshine has already shone 868 00:54:38,494 --> 00:54:40,894 and the Moon is just hanging in front of us, 869 00:54:40,934 --> 00:54:45,874 this, uh, black orb out in front of us. 870 00:54:45,954 --> 00:54:47,974 Um... Wow. It's amazing. 871 00:54:49,814 --> 00:54:52,894 No matter how long we look at this, our brains 872 00:54:52,934 --> 00:54:56,934 are not processing this image in front of us. 873 00:54:56,974 --> 00:54:59,694 There's no adjectives. I'll need to invent some new ones 874 00:54:59,734 --> 00:55:02,854 to describe what we are looking at out this window. 875 00:55:06,994 --> 00:55:08,534 Wow. 876 00:55:08,574 --> 00:55:09,834 It's so cool. 877 00:55:16,494 --> 00:55:20,614 After nine days in space, Artemis II is coming home. 878 00:55:23,974 --> 00:55:26,814 Re-entry I think is probably the most critical part of the mission. 879 00:55:27,954 --> 00:55:31,414 You can see the reflection of one of the crew members in the window. 880 00:55:32,974 --> 00:55:34,494 You're testing the Orion heat shield, 881 00:55:34,534 --> 00:55:37,074 which had some failure during Artemis I. 882 00:55:37,114 --> 00:55:40,494 So that's, I think, in terms of pucker factor for me, 883 00:55:40,534 --> 00:55:42,014 that re-entry will be the highest part. 884 00:55:45,174 --> 00:55:48,914 With the heat shield, I am optimistic, 885 00:55:48,954 --> 00:55:52,814 but there's no getting round it - it is a time of trepidation, 886 00:55:52,854 --> 00:55:56,894 and it is one of those moments where you wish them godspeed. 887 00:55:58,934 --> 00:56:02,494 And we have crossed the threshold, now entering the Earth's atmosphere. 888 00:56:03,674 --> 00:56:06,754 In the final stretch here, the last 13 minutes. 889 00:56:06,794 --> 00:56:08,614 They're about to lose communications, too. 890 00:56:08,654 --> 00:56:09,994 It'll be a six-minute blackout. 891 00:56:16,154 --> 00:56:19,654 As predicted... Communications are gone. ..communications blackout. 892 00:56:19,694 --> 00:56:21,794 No voice, no data from the crew. 893 00:56:23,974 --> 00:56:27,434 This is a visualisation of the plasma build-up around the 894 00:56:27,474 --> 00:56:31,734 spacecraft and the repelling of that heat on Integrity's heat shield. 895 00:56:39,094 --> 00:56:42,794 So that pinpoint of light shows the vehicle, the first 896 00:56:42,834 --> 00:56:45,874 tug of gravity being felt by Integrity's astronauts. 897 00:56:49,254 --> 00:56:50,814 We're getting intermittent views. 898 00:56:52,934 --> 00:56:55,114 Still waiting to establish voice communication. 899 00:56:58,034 --> 00:57:01,034 Integrity, Houston. Comm check post-blackout. 900 00:57:06,094 --> 00:57:08,334 Houston, Integrity. We have you loud and clear. 901 00:57:10,254 --> 00:57:13,334 Big cheers from the viewing room here in Mission Control as voice 902 00:57:13,374 --> 00:57:16,574 communication re-established with commander Reid Wiseman. 903 00:57:17,974 --> 00:57:20,214 We see three good-looking parachutes. 904 00:57:21,554 --> 00:57:22,774 Integrity copies. 905 00:57:33,994 --> 00:57:35,534 Houston, Integrity. Splashdown. 906 00:57:35,574 --> 00:57:38,254 Sending post-landing command now. 907 00:57:38,294 --> 00:57:40,374 Splashdown confirmed. 908 00:57:40,414 --> 00:57:42,354 CHEERING 909 00:57:45,434 --> 00:57:47,694 The first crew member is out of Integrity. 910 00:57:49,214 --> 00:57:51,014 So if we do this right, 911 00:57:51,054 --> 00:57:55,454 we'll look back on Artemis II and barely remember it. 912 00:57:55,494 --> 00:57:58,694 You know, we have celebrated the Apollo programme for 50 years, 913 00:57:58,734 --> 00:58:00,834 and we've been constantly looking back. 914 00:58:00,874 --> 00:58:03,314 And so what we want to do is actually look forward. 915 00:58:07,854 --> 00:58:11,774 {\an8}of not Artemis III, IV, V but Artemis 30, 50. 916 00:58:11,814 --> 00:58:15,134 {\an8}And then you have a growing community on the Moon, 917 00:58:15,174 --> 00:58:18,134 {\an8}potentially on Mars, throughout the solar system. 918 00:58:20,734 --> 00:58:22,454 That's what we're working toward. 919 00:58:22,494 --> 00:58:25,934 Now, will we get there? I'm hopeful, but I'm not certain. 920 00:58:27,674 --> 00:58:31,494 The next mission will be a test flight in low Earth orbit. 921 00:58:33,754 --> 00:58:37,074 But the plan for Artemis IV is to land on the Moon... 922 00:58:39,354 --> 00:58:41,814 ..some time in 2028. 923 00:59:09,094 --> 00:59:09,174 Across the British Isles, there are magical places -