In 2010, in a speech at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, then-US President Barack Obama directed NASA to change its main target, the Moon, to focus on human exploration missions.
Its fair to say: Weve been there before. There is plenty of space to explore and more to learn as we explore, the former US president said in his 2010 speech.
However, the Moon is still the focus of NASA's current discovery goals. With the Artemis program, born during former President Donald Trump's term and backed by the Biden administration, NASA has real motivation and political support from both parties for an effort to bring humans into the most ambitious universe in decades.
It began with the launch of the giant SLS lunar rocket and the Orion spacecraft on November 16, 2022, a mission without any crew members on board. The Artemis I mission will pave the way for further flights with the presence of astronauts, first revolving around the moon, then landing on the surface of Earth's satellites.
Why is it still the Moon?
Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA's science mission directorate, gave the answer, it all started with the presence of water.
Its important to realize that were returning to a moon other than the one we went to during the Apollo mission, Zurbuchen said in an interview. At that time, it was a dry moon. But now, our understanding of the Moon is very different, he shared.
Therefore, NASA has established a long-term presence on the Moon as the center of its future space ambitions. It will allow humans to practice sustainable lifestyles in space. At the same time, researchers can exploit the significant scientific value of the Moon to learn more about how the Earth is formed. And, perhaps, it will also serve as a stepping stone for research on Mars and other deep space destinations for many years to come.
How important is water on the Moon?
Water is not only the key to maintaining human life, but its components, hydrogen and oxygen, can also be used as fuel to push missiles, turning the moon into a gas station in space. That could be important for long-term space missions, allowing ships to fuel on the Moon rather than transporting all their fuel from Earth.
In addition, because the Moon's pull of attraction is only 1/6 of the Earth's, it is a relatively easy stepping stone to other locations in the solar system.
The Moon also has a story: The formation of the Sun and Earth systems. As an atmospheric object, the Moon is actually a time capsule. The steps of the astronauts on the Apollo mission are still intact, not affected by weather or wind. The same thing happened to the scars that have existed for billions of years were blown away by satellites and comets, which formed the initial formation of the solar system.
It is not about finding life, but certainly about the journey to life. The moon can tell us a lot about the solar system, such as the processes that created the planets and left scars on their surfaces. A part of our history is right there, hanging on our heads, and it is clear that we can travel there, said Zurbuchen.
