Editorial: NASA should lead humanity’s return to the Moon
Sending people back to the Moon is crucial to developing the technologies needed to reach destinations such as Mars.It’s half a century since astronauts walked on the Moon, leaving boot prints in the lunar dust and capturing iconic views of Earth.
Scientists are excited. A rich range of scientific questions can be answered through human exploration of the Moon, such as how much water is frozen in the shadowy craters near its poles and how the Earth–Moon system formed in an ancient cosmic collision. But sending astronauts to worlds beyond Earth transcends pure research. Apollo, which put 12 men on the Moon over the course of several years from 1969, boosted’ spacefaring credentials and is one of humanity’s great achievements.
This year, NASA plans to launch its long-awaited deep-space rocket, the Space Launch System. With no crew, it will be the first test flight of the Artemis programme, which aims to put the first woman and the first person of colourArtemis faces formidable stumbling blocks, such as how to build new-generation spacesuits that can protect astronauts in the frigid temperatures of the lunar south pole.
Solving these problems will require large sums of money. Each of the first four Artemis launches, which include three crewed flights, is estimated to cost US$4.1 billion, according to a report from NASA’s office of the inspector general, which puts the total cost of Artemis up until the mid-2020s at $93 billion. Although a huge sum, this is comparable to the Apollo programme, which included six crewed Moon landings and cost $25.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA Is Building Moon Rockets, Maybe for the Last TimeNASA’s costly rocket program could be the last time the agency mounts such an effort, according to some former NASA officials and space industry executives, as private space companies attempt to build cheaper vehicles more quickly
Read more »
Mining the moon to help save life on Earth (op-ed)Moving heavy industry off Earth could help cure some of what ails our planet.
Read more »
References to Thor 4 Villain Gorr the God Butcher Cut from Moon KnightMarvel's MoonKnight cut references to ThorLoveAndThunder villain Gorr the God Butcher, according to the show's writer.
Read more »
Moon Knight Star Comments On MCU Future Of Layla’s Scarlet ScarabMoonKnight star May Calamawy considers where she wants to take her new Marvel hero, Scarlet Scarab, next in the MCU: 'I kind of want to be with all of them.'
Read more »
May's Super Flower Blood Moon Is a Time For New Beginnings and Intense EvolutionMay's super flower blood moon coincides with a total lunar eclipse, making it incredibly powerful. Here's what your zodiac sign can expect.
Read more »
What's the Best Way to Build Landing Pads on the Moon?A new study considers the most cost-effective way to build landing pads on the Moon, which is essential to establishing a sustainable human presence there.
Read more »