Artemis: The Return To The Moon
The year is 1972. Eugene Cernan has just left the moon. There would never be another lunar mission by NASA. Until now. Starting this year and ending the next decade, NASA plans to send space shuttles to the moon. They also plan to send the first woman on the moon. Their plan is called Artemis®
Artemis is Apollo’s twin sister. She is also the goddess of the moon. The Artemis Program also includes building a lunar colony. They also plan to start the next generation there. NASA also created a new and powerful launching spacecraft called the Space Launch System (SLS). The SLS will launch with the Orion spacecraft and they will descend to the Moon. This first expedition will be called Artemis I. NASA also plans to lead astronauts to a place where no humans have ever gone before, the Moon’s South Pole. As Jim Bridenstine says it, “The American space program is coming back. It’s coming back with a vengeance, we all love Apollo. But in the Artemis program we go to the moon sustainably, and this time we have a very diverse, highly qualified astronaut corps that includes women.” The launching will take place at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. At the moon the astronauts will also find and explore resources that’s needed for long term exploration. They also will figure out the mysteries of the Moon and learn how to sustain life on another celestial body. NASA also wants to do the Artemis Program to inspire the next generation of people. NASA would also like to know the history of the Moon, the Earth, and the Solar System. They also want to establish American leadership on the Moon. All of these can be accomplished through the Artemis Program. In conclusion, the Artemis Program is coming and it’s coming fast.
Bibliography
Dunbar, Brian. “What Is Artemis?” NASA, NASA, 23 July 2019, https://www.nasa.gov/what-is-artemis.