by Natasha Lin
What is Artemis Program
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work, eat, and live on the moon? NASA is not only aiming for broader exploration but settlement. Named after a Greek mythological figure, this ongoing project was established to begin another journey to the moon. The last person to step foot on the lunar surface was fifty years ago during the Apollo 17 mission. With this new era of space discovery and technological advancement, NASA has proposed a bold vision where astronauts will be able to further conduct their studies by living in a lunar base camp and mobile home. This mission delivers economic opportunities, discovery, architectural solutions, and inspiration for generations to come.
From the Moon to Mars
Lunar exploration has been studied for many years by a wide variety of engineers and scientists. This United States-led program allows them to gain a clearer perspective of the atmospheric and geological conditions on another cosmic surface. The moon is just one step of the way, in which NASA hopes to continue on Mars and create milestones in the history of space exploration. By sending astronauts to the south poles of our moon, scientists believe the data collected will allow more thorough analysis, especially through the hands of a human rather than a rover. So far, the Moon is the only other surface besides Earth that humans have landed on because of its near proximity to our planet. The Moon lacks the ability to sustain life yet contains remnants of water ice which scientists hope to further study to create a greater timeline of our solar system’s history. This ice is also a major part of the Artemis program, for it could be harvested and utilized towards the sustainability of human explorers. By designing technologies that are functional and effective on the Moon, it enables NASA to develop stronger, more efficient vehicles, machinery, and telecommunications systems for future missions, such as for the pursuit of Mars.
Journey to the Moon
Sending humans to stay on the Moon proves to be a costly, cooperative task, consisting of several projects and spacecraft to ensure the progression and safety of the Artemis program. The most notable technological elements being used in this mission are the Orion, the SLS rocket, the Gateway, the HLS, and the Artemis Base Camp. The Space Launch System, also known as the SLS, is the primary launch vehicle intended to launch both uncrewed and crewed flights for the first three lunar missions. Located at the head of the SLS rocket, the exploration vehicle, Orion is equipped with primary propulsion engines, solar panels, and an automated docking system. Orion’s main purpose is to carry astronauts into lunar orbit. Then, the astronauts will be transferred to Gateway, a telecommunication hub, designed to revolve around the Moon. The Gateway enables service between international partners and also acts as a short-term residence for passing astronauts. The Human Landing System, also known as the HLS, will be utilized as a source of transportation from the Gateway and ultimately land them on the lunar surface. Lastly, the Artemis Base Camp consists of mobile homes, research laboratories, and a wide variety of facilities, providing a workable and safe environment.
SLS rocket and Orion
Source: NASA
The Missions
The current endeavors include Artemis I, Artemis II, and Artemis III. Artemis I will render as an uncrewed test flight for the SLS rocket and Orion. With the mission crew monitoring from the ground systems, the first performance of the spacecraft will secure the flight patterns of the rocket before sending astronauts into space. Artemis II is planned to be the first crewed mission for this program, boarding a Canadian astronaut and making Canada the second country to place a human being on the moon. Taking place in 2023, the whole crew will consist of four astronauts through the duration of about ten days, entering the Moon’s gravitational forces and returning back to Earth. Artemis III, intended to embark in 2024, will definitely be NASA’s most daring part of the Artemis program, for it makes history by putting the first woman to ever walk on the moon. Artemis III is the landing of the crew on the lunar surface, using the HLS. The more ongoing missions have not been confirmed yet.
Making History
The Artemis Program is a new chapter of discovery for humanity, demonstrating new capabilities, partnerships, and technology. Through these coming years, we will see NASA break barriers to space exploration, especially with the elements of Artemis being initiated. By sending the first woman to the moon and creating several ventures for future opportunities, it is no doubt that the wonders of space discovery will pass on generations ahead. It is NASA’s plan to reach the moon once again, but this time, they are planning to stay.
Sources
Canadian Space Agency. (n.d.). The Artemis missions: humanity's return to the Moon. Government of Canada. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/moon-exploration/artemis-missions.asp
NASA. (n.d.). The Artemis Accords. NASA Artemis Accords. https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html
NASA. (n.d.). NASA Artemis. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/
Wikipedia. (2019, May 14). Artemis program. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program