what’s happening
During the four years from 1969 to 1972, 12 american astronauts walked on the moon. For more than 50 years, no human being in any country has repeated that feat.
The United States hopes to break that record within the next few years with NASA’s new moon mission. artemis.The space agency currently anticipates Artemis IIIIts mission is to return astronauts to the moon’s surface, and it will be ready for launch by the end of 2026. portent of that missionA mission to send humans around the moon is planned for 2025. Both missions were originally scheduled to take place a year ago, but NASA announced earlier this week that the plans would be postponed to allow more time. “Challenge” in developing a spacecraft that carries astronauts on a journey.
The first moon landing was one of the landmark events of the 20th century, but once the goal of simply reaching the moon was achieved, interest in landing people on the moon quickly waned. did. Today, NASA doesn’t just want to reach the moon, it wants to lay the foundations for establishing a “long-term presence” on the moon and eventually use it as a launchpad to send humans to Mars. I hope.
The major changes that have spurred this new and expansive vision for returning to the Moon are: discovery of water They have only been confirmed on the moon in the past few years. In theory, water harnessed from ice patches within deep craters or extracted from lunar soil could not only provide drinking water for long-term settlements, but also provide breathing oxygen if broken into its constituent parts. It may also be possible to provide hydrogen for fuel.
We will go to the moon and stay.NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
Why is there a debate?
Proponents of returning to and eventually staying on the moon have a long list of reasons why the effort is good for the United States and for humanity more broadly. The possibilities include groundbreaking discoveries about the origins of the solar system, new technological advances, the opportunity to mine rare and precious elements for use on Earth, and even the possibility that life on Earth may become unsustainable. It even includes the chance to save humanity from extinction if it becomes.
Some argue that the world is already in the early stages of another great space race, this time involving multiple countries and private companies, and that the United States has an obligation to take the lead once again. In their eyes, America must first successfully establish a human presence on the moon. Otherwise, our rivals, especially China, will have the power to decide what happens there and for what purpose.
But skeptics say the idea that humans will ever be able to live on the moon or other planets is pure fantasy, and there’s no point in spending hundreds of billions of dollars to prove it. There are also concerns that if that dream somehow becomes a reality, the moon could simply become a stage for humanity’s insatiable desire for destruction, greed, and conflict.
what’s next
Whether NASA can meet new deadlines for the Artemis program will depend on the development of its own Orion spacecraft, which will carry astronauts to the moon, and the lunar lander being built by Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX. .
NASA announced that the fourth Artemis mission, which will send humans to the space station in lunar orbit, is “on track” for 2028.
Outlook
The moon will be an important testing ground for our plans to travel deeper into the solar system
“The moon could be the place where colonists step into space before humans set down roots in far-flung places like Mars.” — David Warmflash, valuable science
Moon colonies are pure science fiction
“Humanity has evolved and adapted to conditions on Earth. If you take us away from Earth, we begin to fail physically and psychologically. Risk of cancer from cosmic rays. The problems experienced by the human body in microgravity and microgravity can be major problems in and of themselves. Furthermore, there may not be a viable economic basis for sustaining an existence on another world.” Sarah Scholes scientific american
Exploration of the moon could reveal untold secrets about the solar system
“If you really want to understand the evolutionary origins of the solar system, there is no better place… [than] Moon. ” — David Kling, Lunar Geologist, NPR
We may end up spending huge sums of money doing what we already did 50 years ago
“Part of the problem is that it feels like a redo of ‘Apollo.’ In theory, this is the beginning of a sustained presence on the moon, which is an interesting idea. But the cost and There are questions about whether it is sustainable, given the politics.” — David Grinspoon, astrobiologist, new york times
Humanity should always pursue the incredible
“At its core, space exploration appeals to hope and a bright future. Whether a particular expedition produces an amazing triumph of science or engineering, or even art or culture, NASA is committed to supporting ongoing exploration.” must offer the world something that fundamentally makes our world a little better.” — G. Ryan Faith, space news
America cannot allow its enemies to command space
“The revival of America’s moon program has important implications for national security. The new Cold War between the United States and China has sparked a new space race. …If China intends to militarize space… Then we cannot allow them to surpass us technologically.” — Alexander Hughes, national review
Moon mining may be necessary to maintain quality of life on Earth
“The moon’s rare earth resources are 1,000 times richer than terrestrial reserves. In fact, exploiting the moon is the only long-term solution to living with Earth’s dwindling resources.” — Joseph Silk , Princeton University Press
The pursuit of commerce and competition could undermine an irreplaceable scientific hub
“We are not trying to prevent the construction of moon bases. But there are only a handful of promising sites, some of great scientific value. You have to be very careful about what you do.” — Richard Green, astronomer at the University of Arizona bangor daily news
Advanced robots have eliminated the need for human astronauts
“We’re much more low-maintenance than robots. They’re less susceptible to radiation than we are, and they also don’t need food, water, or life support systems. They’re also expendable, e.g. If your spaceship explodes on landing, no tears will be shed; you will simply send in another crew of bots.” — Graham Phillips sydney morning herald
Don’t simply think that NASA can carry out its grand plans for space travel
“This is a shaky and uncertain beginning to the effort to return humans to the moon for the first time in half a century, and even if it does happen, that return could be very short-lived.” rebecca boyle MIT Technology Review