Why is NASA Going Back to the Moon?
Nasa is going back to the Moon as a part of their Artemis 1 mission…But why? Well, they are exploring regions of the Moon that they have never explored before to prepare for future missions to Mars. This mission will be a historic lunar mission, that will be game-changing for the space exploration industry.
Since 1972 NASA has not ventured toward our one and only Moon. But now humanity is preparing for a revolutionary mission to the red planet. The mission is scheduled for launch on August 29. Two days before the launch is the time that NASA has chosen for the rocket to be out and ready for launch.
You might ask, “Why is this mission called Artemis?” Well, it is no surprise that it is named Artemis as this is the twin of Apollo in Greek mythology. And, obviously, Apollo was the name for the previous lunar missions. Similar to some previous Apollo missions, if this mission goes as planned this will be a groundbreaking achievement for humanity. NASA will use this information to develop a precise plan for a Mars mission in the near future.
The capsule used for this mission is Orion. Orion can shelter up to 4 astronauts for about 21 full days. It is going to be using NASA’s SLS megarocket. This is the one and only rocket able to send the Orion spacecraft to the Moon and Mars. Orion is a partially reusable capsule that NASA can use throughout multiple adventures into space. Its first test was on the 4th of December, 2014. This same spacecraft that we’re using to go to the Moon is what is going to carry humans to the surface of the red planet. The spacecraft is in a gumdrop shape with a pointy top and a wide bottom. If you look at the Orion spacecraft and the Apollo spacecraft they’re shaped in a similar form.
Orion Dimensions
Height = 7.3 meters (23.95 feet)
Diameter = 5 meters (16.5 feet)
Weight = 25 kg
The Artemis l mission is going to be an unmanned mission to the moon. Instead, NASA has decided to accompany the commander’s seat with a mannequin dressed in an orange space suit. I am just as excited as you are for this historical mission.
Artemis l is a mission that is going to bring humans one step closer to exploring our neighbouring planet, Mars. For decades humans have wanted to step foot on the red planet, but never could. But now with modern-day technology, it will be achievable in the next few years. All the engineers and workers at NASA have been hard at work for this mission and at the end of August, it all is going to pay off.