In one way or another, the human being will return to the Moon. The big question is: when? There are also those who say we should ignore our satellite and aim directly for Mars, but we have spent almost half a century without visiting deep space. Returning to the Moon not only symbolizes the restoration of an old bond with space exploration, but also will stimulate interest in scientific and commercial developments on its surface. In mid-December, NASA explained how they will return, but beyond the enthusiasm, several doubts remain...
It's not going to be easy, of that we are convinced. Technical factors are fundamental, but a mission like the return to the Moon also faces other challenges. Political. Economic.. What one government says can be erased by the next with a stroke of a pen. Add to that skeptics, cynics. People declaring that NASA is a waste of money.
But perhaps it's not impossible. The Artemis program has very well-defined parameters: "The first woman and the next man" on the Moon, by the year 2024. Apollo carried out all its missions between 1968 and 1972. Can Artemis take astronauts back to deep space in a similar period? The game of debates and budgets has already begun, but NASA needs the general public, and its main strategy is to teach everything about Artemis.
(Editor's note: The available subtitles are in English, but there is an automatic translation option)
The Three Essential Components
Artemis depends on three essential components: the Orion capsule to carry astronauts, the SLS launch vehicle which will surpass the legendary Saturn V, and the Gateway platform following a halo orbit around the Moon. Here we find one of the most important differences: While the Apollo missions faced the void 'alone', the idea is for Artemis to take advantage of a certain abundance of preinstalled hardware. Placing boots on the Moon is one thing, but turning those visits into a permanent and sustainable presence requires another level of effort.
https://old.neoteo.com/caca-en-la-luna-los-excrementos-de-los-astronautas/The Road Ahead
The video looks great, it's very well explained, and I think NASA has hit the mark with this format. Now... we need everything else. The Orion capsule is still in testing and has never gone to space. The SLS only lives in renders, and Gateway keeps accumulating criticism. It's not going to be easy.
