After half a century of waiting, NASA’s plans to return to the moon are back on the agenda. This time things are very different!

NASA is now doing this with the Artemis program. The dream is about to become reality. What are the scientific and technological details behind the Return to the Moon project?

In 2017, the Trump administration signed Space Policy Directive 1, which set a goal of returning to the Moon by 2025.

In line with this goal, the Artemis program It contains four main components: Space launch system, Orion spacecraft, human landing system and gateway.

SLS is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. Rocket developed by Boeing It is 65 meters long and 8.4 meters in diameter. The SLS Block 1 configuration, which will be used for the first three Artemis missions, will later be upgraded to Block 1B and Block 2 variants.

The Orion spacecraft will carry astronauts into lunar orbit. The vehicle was designed by Lockheed Martin. It has a structure similar to the Apollo command module but larger and equipped with advanced technologies. Also part of Orion is the European Service Module, designed by Airbus.

A Human Landing System (HLS) is required for a landing on the lunar surface.

NASA invited private sector leaders to discuss this issue SpaceX’s Starship HLS system chosen. The system will land on the lunar surface and then return the astronauts.

Gateway will be located in orbit around the moon first space station will be. NASA will build this station in several phases and add different modules to it.

The first modules are HALO and Power and Thrust Element. The station will support astronauts landing on the lunar surface and in the future Missions to Mars It will serve as a base

In 2022, Artemis I conducted the first unmanned test of SLS and Orion.

The test was NASA’s first major step toward returning to the moon. Next First manned test of Artemis II in 2025 is planned to be carried out. In this mission, four astronauts will go as close to the moon as possible and then return to Earth.

As Artemis III The goal is to land a female astronaut on the moon for the first time. During the mission, astronauts will land on the moon’s south pole and conduct research for six and a half days.

Artemis IV and subsequent missions will transport the first modules of the Gateway to lunar orbit and establish a permanent human presence. Missions on the lunar surface establishing a permanent base and aims to provide a base for future missions to Mars.

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