As NASA’s Artemis II heads to the moon, UK helps power safe return
The KREPE-3 mission capsule sendoff offered a unique opportunity to view all 12 flight capsules before their delivery to the International Space Station. Photo courtesy of UK Pigman College of Engineering.
As Artemis II prepares to lift off — marking the first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years — researchers at the University of Kentucky are celebrating a milestone years in the making and their role in helping bring astronauts home safely.
An Orion capsule seated atop a 322-foot rocket will blast off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida as early as 6:24 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 1. Its mission: carry four astronauts around the moon and back — sending humans the farthest they’ve ever been from Earth.
The mission builds on lessons learned from Artemis I and represents a major step forward in NASA’s efforts to return humans to the moon.
Behind the scenes, faculty, staff and students in UK’s Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering have contributed critical research to improve one of the most essential components of human spaceflight: the rocket’s heat shield.
To read the full article with details about the research and how it impacts the Artemis II mission, follow the link below: