NASA has released a video explaining their mission to return to the Moon in a “wholly different manner” from 50 years ago. The footage details how NASA will develop a capsule, Orion, to “support humans through deep space”. Meanwhile the Space Launch System (SLS), a powerful rocket, will act as the “catalyst” for deep space missions.
Referring to SLS, NASA said: “This system is capable of being the catalyst for deep space missions. We need a capsule that can support humans from launch, through deep space and return safely back to Earth. For this we’ve built Orion.”
NASA then further explained: “We’re currently developing an entirely new approach to landing on the Moon. Using our commercial partners to deliver science instruments and robotics to the surface, we are paving the way for human missions in 2024.
“Our charge is to go quickly and stay, to press our collective efforts forward with a fervour that will see us return to the Moon in a manner that is wholly different than 50 years ago.
“We want lunar landers that are reusable, that can land anywhere on the lunar surface. The simplest way to do so is to give them a platform in orbit around the Moon from which to transition.
“An orbiting platform to host deep-space experiments and be a waypoint for human capsules. We call this lunar outpost ‘gateway’. The beauty of the gateway is that it can be moved between orbits, it will balance between Earth and Moon’s gravity in a position ideal for launching even deeper space missions.
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“In 2009 we learned that the Moon contains millions of tonnes of water ice, this ice can be extracted and purified for water, and it can be separated in oxygen for breathing or hydrogen for rocket fuel.
“The Moon is quite uniquely suited to prepare us and to propel us to Mars and beyond.”
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine is positive preparations for NASA’s Artemis programme will extend humanity’s reach into space.
On August 16, Mr Bridenstine visited NASA facilities in Louisiana and Alabama, where the space agency is developing its Space Launch System (SLS). NASA touts the SLS as the world’s most powerful rocket once completed.
The launch vehicle will one day ferry astronauts to the Moon, Mars and further out into the solar system.
Mr Bridenstine said: “Our SLS, Orion, and human landing system progress are important to accelerating our return to the Moon. As is the development of the first phase of the Gateway.
“As you may know, we awarded a contract to Maxar Technologies to design, develop, launch and demonstrate the power and propulsion system by 2022, which is managed out of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio.
“We are also working to develop another module of the Gateway, the habitation and logistics outpost – HALO – which NASA Johnson will work with a commercial partner to design and develop.
“Following feedback from industry on our draft human lander solicitation, which closed earlier this month, we are targeting a formal request for lander proposals by the end of summer, and targeting awards by the end of this year to design, develop and demonstrate this system.”
NASA’S Artemis will start with robotic exploration of the lunar surface, followed by a human landing in 2024.
By the year 2028, NASA wants to cement its presence on the Moon, around the lunar orb’s south pole.
NASA is targeting the year 2020 for the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission, followed by Artemis 2 in 2022.
