00:00And finally, later today, assuming the weather in South Florida cooperates,
00:03four astronauts aboard the Artemis II rocket will launch into space for the first mission
00:08to the moon since the end of the Apollo missions way back in 1972. Yes, it's been that long since
00:15the U.S. has had a dalliance with the moon. Now, this mission will not put the astronauts on the
00:20moon, but it will pave the way for another giant leap for mankind as soon as 2028. The purpose of
00:26this mission is to test the life support systems and maneuvering capabilities of the Orion command
00:30module. Two things even my non-astronaut mind knows are pretty important. If that goes well,
00:35next year, Artemis III will launch in order to practice rendezvousing with new lunar landers.
00:40And if that goes according to plan, it's moon or bust in two years. Now, what will be groundbreaking
00:45for Artemis II, the one slated for liftoff today, is how it will orbit the moon. The far side of
00:51the
00:51moon, always in shadow during the Apollo missions, will be lit up by the sun this time.
00:56Every view that we've ever had of the backside of the moon has come from photos or unmanned probes,
01:00but these lucky four will be able to peep it for themselves in real time. They will have to take
01:05turns at the window, though. The capsule is, shall we say, cozy. They're going to be in tight quarters
01:10for 10 days. The only time the astronauts are going to have alone is when they are doing their
01:15business, because unlike the Apollo missions, this capsule has a bathroom door, which apparently is
01:21very impressive. But there is some real history being made, too. The Artemis II will mark the first
01:27time a woman, a black astronaut, and a Canadian, three different crew members on this trip, will make
01:32the journey to the moon.
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