NASA continues to prepare for the mission to the Moon. Planning to launch an unmanned rocket as part of the Artemis 1 mission, NASA chose an animated character as the flight dummy. ESA “astronaut” Shaun the Sheep (Shaun the Sheep) will be sent to the Moon by Artemis 1.
Shaun the Sheep named Artemis 1st Moon mission astronaut
Production company Aardman and the European Space Agency have signed a new partnership. Child animation character Shaun the Sheep has been selected as NASA’s Artemis 1 flight dummy and will accompany the Orion spacecraft to be launched to the Moon.
While Shaun the Sheep isn’t a live character, he will technically be the first ESA astronaut to go to the Moon on the Artemis mission. Since the Artemis 1 mission will be carried out unmanned, choosing an animation character will allow the project to attract more attention.
“This launch will be exciting for Shaun and the agency,” said David Parker, ESA Director of Human and Robotics Discovery. “We are very happy that he was chosen for the post. “While this is a small step for man, we understand that it is a giant leap for sheep.”
If the tests of the next-generation SLS rocket are successful, the Artemis 1 mission could begin on August 23. Along with the Orion spacecraft, the rocket will carry NASA’s puppet Moonikin Campos and Shaun the Sheep into space.
The spacecraft will use the Moon’s gravity to gain speed and go 70,000 km beyond the Moon and perform a flight around the Moon. According to ESA’s statement, this will be the farthest Moon point humanity has ever reached.
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