The Artemis I mission, that used Amorim's cork, reaffirms NASA´s efforts since 1972 to land the first astronauts on the moon.

According to NASA's official statement, the agency’s Orion spacecraft lifted off for its flight test debut on November 16th at 1:47 a.m. EST Wednesday from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  

The primary goal for Artemis I is to make repeated trips to the moon enabling human exploration.

Amorim´s cork was used as a thermal ablative material, to create a sturdy char layer that protects the structural part of the rocket, maintaining its integrity and slowing thermal degradation during demanding conditions.

Amorim TPS has been used in the aerospace industry since the 60s due to its excellent ablation and insulation properties.

Artemis I is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to build a long-term human presence at the Moon, and cork is ready to play its significant role. 

Early Morning Artemis I - Image Credit: NASA/Cory Huston
We Are Going: Artemis I Launches - Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls