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Half a century has passed since the last manned missions to the Moon; During this time, neither the United States, China nor other space powers sent an expedition
Half a century has passed since the last manned missions to the Moon; During this time, neither the United States, China nor other space powers sent an expedition to the satellite. At the same time, the United States has been preparing for several years a new lunar program “Artemis”, the successor to the first “Apollo” program.
From October to December 2022, as part of the first Artemis mission, the Orion spacecraft launched on a Space Launch System rocket flew around the moon to prepare the way for future astronauts.
When humanity sets foot on the moon again and what will be done there – read in the material 24 Channels.
After the first mission in 2022, NASA was planning to launch a manned mission around the Moon in 2024 and then land on the Earth satellite. NASA said it became clear in January 2024 that the agency was out of time and the Artemis 2 mission was delayed until September 2025 to address development and operational issues.
Space Launch System rocket before launch / NASA photo
Next up is the “Artemis-3” mission, which is planned to land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole in September 2026. The Gateway lunar orbital station, where astronauts will fly on the “Artemis-4” mission, should be completed by 2028.
Lunar Gateway is a project of NASA’s orbital lunar station planned to be launched after 2025. The station will be smaller than the International Space Station and will use artificial intelligence systems. The Gateway will serve as a staging point for flights to the Moon and beyond.
We are returning to the Moon like we have never done before, and the safety of our astronauts is NASA’s top priority as we prepare for future Artemis missions. We have learned a lot since Artemis 1, and the success of these missions depends on commercial and international partnerships to understand and define humanity’s place in the solar system. Artemis represents what we can achieve as a nation and as a global coalition. When we focus on solving difficult problems, we can achieve big goals.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said:
On the Artemis-2 mission, astronauts will test critical environmental control and life support systems. SpaceX and Blue Origin companies are also participating in flight preparations. Future missions will be carried out by SpaceX’s giant Starship system, designed for flights to the Moon and Mars.
The launch pad for the future mission is already being prepared at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is a mobile launch complex prepared by NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) program teams and contractor Bechtel National.
Mobile launch complex / NASA photo
Each bolt and beam installed represents the next stage of humanity’s return to the moon.
says Sean Quinn, program manager for NASA’s EGS program.
The weight of the entire complex is more than 1,100 tons and it is installed at a height of at least 2 meters from the ground. A special heavy jack system and four self-propelled modular conveyors were used for its movement and installation.
The mobile launch complex will serve as an “intermediary” between ground launch systems, the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
In the Arizona desert of the USA, NASA is testing moon walks for astronauts who will participate in moon missions. Lunar Landscape Area is a volcanic area near the city of Flagstaff.
Tests in Arizona / Photo: NASA
NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas also participated in the walks held in May. They roam the desert in mock-up spacesuits, prepare for mission science operations and test advanced technology. For example, augmented reality displays on helmets that will output navigation data. The field test team consists of astronauts, NASA engineers and experts in the Arizona desert, and is led by a team of flight controllers and scientists from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Field tests help us validate all the systems, hardware, and technologies we will need to conduct successful operations on the Moon during Artemis missions. Our engineering and science teams worked together seamlessly to ensure we were ready every step of the way for astronauts to set foot on the moon again.
says Barbara Yanoiko, director of field trials at the Johnson Center.
Additionally, the Artemis-2 crew has already completed one day of their mission to the Moon. The four astronauts, along with reserve astronaut Jenny Gibbons from Canada, spent the day aboard the Orion spaceship model at the Johnson Space Centre.
Astronauts on a model ship / NASA photo
As three members of the Artemis-2 crew told Space.com, it was a valuable experience for them.
The training staff did a great job. After the launch, they organized a one-day simulation in which we performed all the activities of the first day. We did not simulate a launch. But when we “entered orbit”, we simulated how we would pick up things, make sure the water supply system was working, install the toilet, find a place to store spacesuits… We went through the whole “choreography”, including preparing places for sleeping,
– said Jeremy Hansen, astronaut of the Canadian Space Agency mission.
Astronauts on “Artemis” missions will conduct research and preparation for the construction of a permanent human base on the Moon. Especially, it is planned to establish the railway in the first month.
NASA plans to build the first lunar railway system, whose goal is to transport payloads on the Moon reliably, autonomously and efficiently. It will help establish a permanent lunar base in the 2030s, as envisioned in NASA’s Moon-Mars plan. The system will have a name SWIMMING WITHOUT SINKING (Elastic Levitation on a Path – flexible levitation on a path).
FLOAT will use magnetic robots that hover over a three-layer flexible film strip:
FLOAT robots will have no moving parts and, unlike wheeled or tracked rover robots, will hover above the track to minimize buffering from lunar dust.
Individual robots will be able to transport payloads of various shapes and sizes at speeds of more than 0.5 meters per second. FLOAT will not require a pilot or field preparation, and its rails can be folded and deployed into new locations as needed. This is relevant because NASA may build multiple moon bases for lunar missions.
Moon base project / NASA photo
The Artemis program could eventually build multiple bases around the moon, rather than a single base camp at the moon’s south pole as planned since 2020, according to Jim Free, NASA’s deputy administrator for exploration systems development.
The “Artemis” base camp is planned to be built at the Moon’s south pole, in the Shackleton Crater, which contains water ice reserves. NASA is considering collaborating with international partners (Europe, Canada and Japan) to create a network of bases on the moon for scientific and research purposes.
Source: 24 Tv
I’m Maurice Knox, a professional news writer with a focus on science. I work for Div Bracket. My articles cover everything from the latest scientific breakthroughs to advances in technology and medicine. I have a passion for understanding the world around us and helping people stay informed about important developments in science and beyond.
