Artemis I

 

Artemis I is NASA's first step to returning to moon after 50 years since astronauts landed there for the last time.  The giant moon rocket at the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion capsule will take off on Sept 2nd.

The SLS rocket will attempt to send the Orion capsule around the moon and back with no one aboard. Astronauts could circle the moon in 2024 and attempt a lunar landing in 2025.  Artemis exploration programs was named after God Apollo's twin sister Artemis in Greek mythology.

NASA official said that the moon missions will be central to its human spaceflight program which aims to establish ultimately a long-term presence on Moon's surface and prepare for future missions to Mars. 

NASA called off moon launch twice due to a hydrogen leak.  NASA said that Artemis I is now scheduled to launch on Sept 27 or Oct 2. 

The Goddess, the Queen and the Plant

Artemis (Greek: Ἄρτεμις) was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. She was the goddess of hunt, animals, childbirth and virginity.  

Artemis name could be related to Bear (Greek:  Αρκτος), supported by the bear cult of the goddess in Attica where a sanctuary was established in Brauron (Greek: Βραυρων) since Iphigenia’s return from the land of Taurus. 

Many gods and men were attracted to Artemis, but only her hunting companion, Orion, won her heart.  A scorpion sent by Apollo, who wanted to protect his sister honor killed Orion, a giant and a legendary hunter.  Apollo to appease his bereaving sister threw Orion and his dog to heaven.  Orion became the most beautiful constellation and Sirius the brightest star in the winter sky of the northern hemisphere.  There are many myths about Artemis and the bear; such as she became enraged when Callisto, one of her nymphs who allowed Zeus to seduce her and bear him a son, Arcas, the ancestor of Arcadians.  Artemis changed her into a bear then shot and killed her. As Orion, she was sent up to the heavens, and became the constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major) commonly known as the Big Dipper.  In an another myth, Artemis sent a wild boar to kill Adonis as punishment for his hubristic boast that he was a better hunter than she.

Artemisia I (Greek: Ἀρτεμισία) was queen of Halicarnassus in Asia Minor, who allied and fought for Xerxes I, during the second Persian invasion of Greece.  She personally commanded her fleet at the naval battles at Artemisium and allegedly was the admiral of the Persian fleet at Salamis in 480 BC.  Herodotus, states that she was the only female commander on either side and praises her decisiveness, intelligence, and courage.  The Great King Xerxes during the battle of Salamis said that if his men fought like Artemisia, a woman, no army could stand in his way. 

Artemisia is a large, diverse group of plants of the daisy family of Asteraceae.  Artemisia species grow in temperate climates, usually in dry or semiarid habitats. Notable species include A. annua (sagewort), A. vulgaris (mugwort), A. tridentata (big sagebrush), A. absinthum (wormwood), A. dracunculus (tarragon).  Most species have strong aromas and bitter tastes.  Artemisin a compound found in A. Annua has been used for medicinal purposes since the time of Hippocrates.  Treatments containing artemisinin-combination therapies are used in malaria while a recent study reports potential therapeutic effects in breast cancer.