NASA is gearing up to fly a suited manikin or crash test dummy that'll fly aboard the Orion spacecraft as it travels around the Moon and back in the upcoming Artemis I mission.
The "Moonikin" is equipped with various sensors to help NASA learn how to best protect human astronauts ahead of the planned manned mission:
The manikin’s seat will be outfitted with two sensors – one under the headrest and another behind the seat – to record acceleration and vibration throughout the mission. The seats are positioned in a recumbent, or laid-back, position with elevated feet to help maintain blood flow to the head during ascent and entry. The position also reduces the chance of injury by allowing the head and feet to be held into position during launch and landing, and by distributing forces across the entire torso during high acceleration and deceleration periods, like splashdown.
The crew is expected to experience 2.5 times the force of gravity during ascent and four times the force of gravity at two different points during the planned reentry profile. Engineers will compare Artemis I flight data with previous ground-based vibration tests with the same manikin, and human subjects, to correlate performance prior to Artemis II.
But don't let NASA rocket scientists hog all the fun - get in on the action by naming the Moonikin. Right now, there are 8 names in the running (sadly, Moony McMoonface isn't one of them):
ACE. Straightforward, practical. Stands for Artemis Crew Explorer.
CAMPOS. Resourceful, problem-solver. A dedication to Arturo Campos, key player in bringing Apollo 13 home.
DELOS. Nostalgic, romantic. The island where Apollo and Artemis were born, according to Greek myth.
DUHART. Warm, welcoming. A dedication to Irene Duhart Long, chief medical officer at Kennedy Space Center.
MONTGOMERY. Pioneer, innovative. A dedication to Julius Montgomery, first African American to work at the Cape Canaveral Air Force station as a technical professional.
RIGEL. Bright, inspirational. The giant superstar in the Orion constellation.
SHACKLETON. Secretive, abundant. A crater on the Moon’s south pole and a reference to a famous Antarctic explorer.
WARGO. Enthusiastic, passionate. A dedication to Michael Wargo, the agency’s first Chief Exploration Scientist.
Learn more about each names, then vote on today's bracket.
Update: The winner is CAMPOS!
Images: NASA