In less than a month, NASA will blast rocket ship Artemis I into space to bring Americans back to the Moon - the first after over 50 years since the Apollo missions and from there to Mars.
As part of the preparations, NASA scientists are into practicing rover operations for two weeks now on the rugged terrain near the Grand Canyon.
The training focuses on pressurized rover operations jointly conducted by Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) and the United States Geological Survey.
These rover operations on rugged terrain to find ways to improve the current technology are key elements to the Artemis mission, scientists said.
Simulating Moon Missions
Using the rover built over a decade ago, Desert RATS members are simulating Moon missions by living and working in the rover over the harsh Grand Canyon terrain.
NASA scientists and their counterparts at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency continue to gather data on the rover's design, driving modes, timeline constraints, and cabin design to serve as the basis for the future design of pressurized rovers.
The overall concept is to start testing on Earth, to the Moon, and to use the Moon as the platform for the Mars mission, Barbara Janoiko, Desert RATS mission manager, said.
This Earth-based training for Artemis, Janoiko said, will further the understanding of how to explore the lunar surface and, eventually, Mars.
Why Moon Again?
For many, there is nothing left to prove for another lunar mission after the Apollo missions. But NASA will return to the Moon again as part of the trajectory to send a manned mission to Mars.
NASA said the Artemis mission would achieve at least four milestones, namely:
- On the lunar surface, NASA will demonstrate new technologies, capabilities, and business approaches needed for future exploration, including Mars
- To study the Moon in detail about the origin of Earth, the Moon itself, and the solar system
- With other countries, including China, sending lunar missions, NASA sees the need to establish American leadership as well as a strategic presence on the Moon
- To help broaden US commercial and international partnerships
New Rocket
The new rocket, the Space Launch System, will be launched from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It will send astronauts, including the first woman and person of color, to the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft.
Astronauts aboard Orion will dock at the Gateway, the multi-purpose outpost orbiting around the Moon. From the Gateway, the astronauts will move to the human landing system bringing them to the lunar surface.
After the Moon expedition, the astronauts will return to the Gateway, and safely return to Earth.
Artemis Mission Timeline
For the next 10 years, in 2022, NASA will send a suite of science experiments to the Moon.
NASA plans to fly two missions around the Moon, testing the deep space exploration system.
The Artemis will consist of two missions. First is Artemis I, the unmanned mission to assess the viability of SLS and Orio. And the second mission, Artemis II to test the first SLS and Orion with its crew.
The Goal
The strategic goal is Mars with Artemis' mission to explore the Moon's surface and human explorers and robots.
Astronauts will explore the south pole of the Moon. While in the southern region, the explorers will find water and other resources vital for long-term exploration. They will also investigate the unexplored lunar region hoping to discover more about the Earth and the universe.
NASA expects the astronauts to learn how to live and work on another celestial body before launching them to Mars.
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