Why are we returning to the moon?

The end of summer has been announced, and with it the beginning of a new stage in the exploration of the solar system. NASA, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, among other things, is kicking off the Artemis program with a launch (delayed until at least September 2) of the first mission. What does it consist of and what consequences will it have in the coming years and in the more distant future?

The Artemis program consists of the Orion capsule, the vehicle that will carry the astronauts, and the new Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle that powers it. In addition, it includes the European Service Module (ESM), which provides water, power and propulsion for the Orion and is therefore essential to the mission. The original goal of Artemis is to send humans to the Moon more than 50 years after the last landing, which took place in 1972.

Mission Missile: SLS

The SLS launch vehicle is the most powerful rocket ever developed by NASA. Its power is 15% higher than the mythical Saturn V rockets that sent Apollo astronauts to the moon in the 60s and 70s. During its first flight, the rocket is destined to become a major player in human space exploration for decades to come.

The Orion spacecraft is designed for six astronauts.

As for the Orion capsule, it will not be manned for this flight, but will contain three dummies that will serve as a test lab for the effects the astronauts will have to experience on the next flight. In any case, it is designed to carry up to six astronauts. In addition, the ship’s heat shield will be shown to resist abrupt and rapid re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

The third important element is the ESM developed by Airbus for the European Space Agency. Its function is multifaceted: the movement of Orion from the Earth, as well as the production of energy, air and water. Therefore, it is an essential element for the habitability of the ship.

Artemis, I will go around our satellite and test the technology and procedures. His return is scheduled for October 10, when he splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.

NASA and other government agencies have a tentative schedule for the next missions. Thus, Artemis II will carry four astronauts on board in 2024, but it will not land on the Moon either. It won’t be until a year from now: Artemis III’s voyage will enable a new lunar landing that will include the first woman and the first non-Caucasian human in history to leave footprints in the lunar regolith. like Neil Armstrong in 1969. The next one will be for Gateway, a complex similar to the International Space Station, albeit located close to the Moon, that will serve as a transit station, but that won’t be until 2027. In this case, NASA scheduled launches before Artemis XI.

Moon, siren song?

Our satellite can be considered an excellent research site. It contains the geological record of its formation, and therefore of the tumultuous evolution of our own planet. It also has the potential to host a wide range of scientific instruments such as giant radio telescopes.

But in principle, it could also be used both to extract the helium isotope needed for fusion (that is, as fuel for future nuclear power plants, which are now under development), and as a bridge for missions to Mars and nearby asteroids. . which contain a huge amount of strategic minerals.

However, the viability and profitability of commercial exploitation has yet to be demonstrated and legal hurdles to be overcome. International treaties are exhaustive: space belongs to all mankind, and no country can claim ownership of any celestial body.

Korea, India and Israel join the mission to the moon

Be that as it may, the US and other Western countries are not the only ones involved in this new space epic. Various countries, including Korea, India and Israel, have launched missions to our satellite with varying success and are competing in this new geostrategic race.

China has an ambitious program with its Chang’e probes, which have already managed to send samples back to Earth, and has announced its intention to build a habitable station at the South Pole, where there is ample water, in the next decade. Russia, after announcing the termination of cooperation with the International Space Station, intends to expand its own space program. In addition, the role of large corporations and the private sector has not yet been resolved.

Therefore, the possibility of returning to the Moon and using it as a way station to other bodies in the solar system is already a reality.

Humanity has two paths: a “cold war” in space, where the interests of nations or blocs dominate, or the path of international cooperation, open to all, but where knowledge and the good of man prevail. It’s time to decide which way to go.

David Barrado Navasquez, Professor of Astrophysical Research at the Center for Astrobiology (INTA-CSIC)

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original.

We recommend you METADATA, an RPP tech podcast. News, analytics, reviews, recommendations and everything you need to know about the world of technology. To hear better, #StayHome.