Artemis mission launching tomorrow- Back to the moon and beyond...

[Lou Schneider]

It works basically the same, since they are still depending on heavy power for a short time then coast, coast, coast, just as Apollo did, and as pretty much all current spacecraft must do. It would take a different propulsion mechanism, probably one with nearly continuous power use, to change that "equation."

I think they'd also have to be at about the same speed at the gravity EQ point, so in case of a retro rocket failure they'd go into lunar orbit or even into an earth return path instead of continuing into steep space. So a faster acceleration rate won't make a large difference in transit time.

 

[Larry N.]

That's where the "continuous power" comes in Lou, using a different mechanism, not rocket power. Just greater acceleration alone won't, as you indicate, be a large help, though it could shorten the time a little.

 

[Kirk]

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission, the agency's first big step toward returning astronauts to the lunar surface, launched to the moon on Nov. 16 on a critical test flight to return astronauts to the moon. It will splash down on Dec. 11 you can watch live on Space.com or open the YouTube feed above in a new window.

 

[Rene T]

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission, the agency's first big step toward returning astronauts to the lunar surface, launched to the moon on Nov. 16 on a critical test flight to return astronauts to the moon. It will splash down on Dec. 11 you can watch live on Space.com or open the YouTube feed above in a new window.

Amazing. Right down to exact seconds after more than 25 days in space.