Why did NASA want to return to the moon in 2024?

This week, NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, during which humans landed on the moon for the first time in its history.

But Neil Armstrong's "little step" on the moon was followed by 12 other astronauts on the moon.

Since then, many people around the world have wondered about the date of the return of the US space agency on the moon!

– When will NASA send humans to the moon?

Set the ambitious deadline to send humans back to the moon, from here 2024.

The program called Artemis: Greek goddess of the moon and twin sister of "Apollo" (Greek god).

Read more

– What does the Artemis mission include?

Lunar missions are based on Gateway: a server in lunar orbit.

"Gateway can be placed on a variety of orbits around the moon and supports the development of a reusable human landing system," said William Gerstenmeier, co-director of the exploration and operations at NASA headquarters. Durable, and that's what Gateway provides us. "

The landing vehicle can be managed from the bridge, allowing team members to disembark from the unit on the moon and return after the flight.

– Why does NASA want to send humans back to the moon?

While the US space agency already has several samples of the lunar surface, it hopes that the Artemis missions will allow scientists to examine the surface closely.

"This will teach us to move safely through the lunar soil, known as the regolith., How to build the infrastructure above and preserve the safety of people in the space. "

In the long run, the US agency hopes that its projects on the Moon will help prepare for the next big step forward: Mars missions.

Read more

– What are the challenges NASA is facing?

NASA does not have a rocket ready to transport humans in space and has not developed a lunar landing craft since the end of Apollo in 1972.

As a federal agency, NASA must rely on a US congressional budget, which has not always supported NASA's ambitions in the past.

"There are many types of chess imaginable when one thinks of returning to the moon," said Thomas Zorboshen, NASA's chief scientist.

Source: mirror

Follow RT on