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    NASA’s Artemis Program: A New Era in Lunar Exploration

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    NASA-Artemis-program

    NASA’s ambitious Artemis program aims to revolutionize lunar exploration by landing the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2026. Named after the Greek goddess of the moon, Artemis symbolizes a new chapter in space exploration, focusing on establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon.

    Launching Artemis I

    Artemis I, an uncrewed mission, marked the program’s first step. It launched in November last year, traveling over 1.4 million miles around the moon before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. This mission tested the capabilities of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft, essential for future deep-space exploration.

    NASA's Artemis Program
    As the lander made its descent it launched the two drones. LEV-2 rolls about with a camera and sends images to LEV-1 which can leap over the lunar surface. LEV-1 carries broadcast equipment that lets it send the images back to Earth

    Gearing Up for Artemis II

    Next, NASA plans to launch Artemis II, its first crewed mission. This mission, scheduled for next year, will take astronauts around the moon. They will test life support, propulsion, and navigation systems crucial for landing on the moon. Artemis II sets the stage for Artemis III, aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface for exploration and scientific research.

    NASA's Artemis Program
    LEV-2, a baseball-sized drone made by Japanese toy maker Tommy, was launched onto the lunar surface and took the first images of the lander stuck on its nose

    Embracing Diversity

    The Artemis program also celebrates diversity. Victor Glover will become NASA’s first black astronaut to orbit the moon on Artemis II. His selection reflects the progress made in diversifying the astronaut corps. Christina Koch will join him, aiming to be the first woman to orbit the moon. Koch, known for her record-breaking spaceflight and participation in the first all-female spacewalk, highlights NASA’s commitment to gender equality.

    NASA's Artemis Program
    SLIM was supposed to rotate before landing on its side so that it wouldn’t topple over on the steep slopes of the Shioli crater. JAXA now says that one main engine failed, causing the lander to hit the ground faster than expected

    Looking Forward

    The Artemis program is more than a moon mission; it’s a stepping stone to Mars and beyond. By establishing a lunar presence, NASA will test new technologies and conduct research to pave the way for a lunar economy. These missions are crucial for the next giant leap: sending humans to Mars.

    NASA's Artemis Program
    This diagram shows the distance between SLIM’s target landing site and where it actually landed (right). The two blue squares are images taken by SLIM upon approach and the red square shows where SLIM had determined would be the safest place to land before engine failure pushed it off course

    The Artemis program embodies our spirit of discovery, driving our ambition to explore the cosmos in this new era. It revisits a familiar celestial body while simultaneously preparing humanity for deep space exploration in the future.

    NASA's Artemis Program
    Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, was the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the moon and Mars. This graphic explains the various stages of the mission

    For more information on NASA’s future missions and how they’re preparing for the next era of space exploration, visit NASA’s official website.

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