Going Forward to the Moon
As humanity is set to return to the Moon, we take a brief look at the highlights of the Apollo programme, missions of lunar probes and Moon rocks. We then look to the future of the Artemis Programme, which is set to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. We explore the technology behind the programme and the planned outpost orbiting the Moon called ‘Gateway’ that will provide vital support for a sustainable, long-term human return to the lunar surface.
Sources
- Clark, Stephen (1 May 2020). “Hopeful for launch next year, NASA aims to resume SLS operations within weeks”. Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/01/hopeful-for-launch-next-year-nasa-aims-to-resume-sls-operations-within-weeks/
- Report No. IG-20-018: NASA’s Management of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program” (PDF). OIG. NASA. July 16, 2020. https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-20-018.pdf
- NASA Publishes Artemis Plan to Land First Woman, Next Man on Moon in 2024 (21 September 2020) https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-publishes-artemis-plan-to-land-first-woman-next-man-on-moon-in-2024/
- Lunar Gateway of NASA’s Artemis Program https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/l/lunar-gateway
- NASA (2 May 2018). “Gateway Memorandum for the Record” (PDF). nasa.gov. NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2019. https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/gateway_domestic_and_international_benefits-memo.pdf
- Europe will help build NASA’s moon-orbiting Gateway space station https://www.space.com/europe-help-build-gateway-moon-space-station
- Bergin, Chris (July 10, 2012). “NASA ESD set key Orion requirement based on Lunar missions”. NASASpaceFlight.com. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/07/nasa-esd-key-orion-requirement-lunar-missions/
- Harbaugh, Jennifer (9 July 2018). “The Great Escape: SLS Provides Power for Missions to the Moon”. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/to-the-moon.html