NASA has issued a major update on its plans for a permanent human presence on the Moon, with the space agency’s chief saying the ‘grand return’ to lunar exploration is getting ever closer
NASA has unveiled a major update on its plans to establish a permanent human base on the Moon. This significant announcement comes in the wake of last month’s triumphant Artemis II mission, which saw a four-person crew venture further into space than anyone before them.
NASA head Jared Isaacman stated that the “grand return” to lunar exploration is drawing ever nearer. He noted that the space agency will be “figuring out what works and what doesn’t” as the Moon base is as “beautiful as it is hostile”.
Mr Isaacman elaborated: “In sunlight, the surface can heat to over 250C. In darkness, it can drop well below -200C,” Isaacman says. “In the permanently shaded craters, [there are] areas of great interest that have been untouched by sunlight for millions, even billions of years…
“There is no atmosphere to moderate these extremes, no protection from radiation and solar particle events, and the surface is exposed to meteorite impacts, including the kind of light flashes the Artemis II crew observed from orbit.”, reports the Express.
The first phase of the mission has “already started”, according to programme executive Carlos Garcia-Galan, with the subsequent phase focusing on permanent habitation.
He revealed: “From now through 2029, we’re going to work to make sure that getting to the lunar surface is a high-reliability endeavour.
“Many assets can deliver that. We’re also going to test an experiment [in] the science of survival.”
NASA has also unveiled a “Moon base” website, which will serve as the central point for all communications and updates about the mission to establish a permanent base on the lunar surface.
The public can anticipate receiving updates with “impressive detail”, according to Mr Issacman, as the intention is to “take the world along with us” to the Moon.
The mission will also make it easier for scientists to make their way to Mars when the possibility arises.
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