No Human has set foot on Earth’s Moon since December 1972. In the decades since, science and technology have advanced dramatically.
The Saturn V rocket that first took humanity to the lunar surface flew with computers less powerful than a modern pocket calculator, and the scientific measuring equipment used by Apollo astronatus, while cutting-edge at the time, were limited by todays standards. A return to the Moon will allow scientists to collect more precise data about both the lunar and terrestrial history.
The Moon formed more than four billion years ago, most likely as the result of a violent collision between the early Earth and high-velocity debris left over from the formation of the Solar System. By collecting new surface samples and measurements, scientists can refine models about the formation of the Earth and the solar system itself. Apollo missions revealed that the geology of the Moon and Earth is closely related, and that the Moon was once covered by a global magma ocean.
Samples of the basaltic mantle indicate that at least some lunar samples were at one point part of Earth’s mantle, supporting the large collision theory. A modern scientific expedition equipped with more advanced analytical instruments will allow researchers to determine useful information about the formation of Moon and Earth. This information could potentially be useful for analysing Earth’s geological history and inform research regarding the geology of other astronomical bodies.
The next scheduled mission is expected to launch during the coming months of this year, but the timeline can change drastically due to the complexity of human spaceflight. Because the Orion spacecraft launches from Florida, mission planners must wait for the Moon to be in the right orbital position before launch.
This mission, named Artemis II, is to be a crewed orbit around the Moon. This will mark the first time in more than 50 years that any human has seen the far side of the Moon with their own eyes. Artemis II will take about 10 days and carry a crew of four, including American Naval aviator Reid Wiseman serving as commander, American Naval aviator Victor Glover serving as pilot, American Engineer Christina Koch, and Canadian aviator Jeremy Hansen, both serving as mission specialists. The Orion spacecraft is mounted atop the Space Launch System (SLS), which uses systems and parts derived from the successful space shuttle program, thereby increasing reliability and lowering risk.
The first launch putting boots on the Moon will likely be Artemis III, and though a date is yet to be decided, humans will land near the south pole of the Moon. This is an area of the lunar surface which has been studied little. Therefore, science conducted in this region is likely to be invaluable, potentially leading to fascinating discoveries about Earth, Moon, and the larger Solar System as a whole. The south pole of the Moon has permanently shadowed craters where water ice may exist. Because water is an essential chemicals for life and could also be used to produce fuel and breathable oxygen, confirming the existence of these sources would prove invaluable. Moreover, expanding knowledge about the Moon could lead to a semi-permanent base on the lunar surface, cheaper space travel, and space travel to Mars.
Returning humans to the Moon represents one of the most complex and expensive engineering challenges ever attempted. Despite this, the science pays off. Past investments in space exploration, where we have strapped people to missiles and launched them into space, have produced important advancement in satellite navigation, global communication, weather prediction, and disaster response. Technologies such as memory foam, infrared thermometers, and composite materials used in automotive and aerospace industries also emerged from space-related research. All of these advancements that millions of people use daily could not be possible without the enormous cost and work put into space exploration.
Humans fundamentally want to challenge themselves, explore, grow, and learn. It is our very nature to ask “why?”, and then spend time, money, energy, and resources finding out. Just asking “why” has led to invaluable discoveries in every scientific field imaginable. To write off Artemis as a waste of money or to argue in favour of simply sending a probe instead of humans is to miss something. It is missing the ingenuity that has propelled humanity to the stars and beyond, that has brought us so far and continues to be the bedrock of discovery. The very idea that humans should not dedicate time and resources to exploration is insulting to us as a species.
Going to the Moon is an undeniable achievement, and continuing to explore will allow us to continue to achieve. Artemis is both scientifically and culturally significant.
