Just like in 1969, when man first set foot on the moon, we are approaching a tipping point… NASA On Wednesday, November 16, plans to launch the “Artemis 1” (“Artemida 1”) mission – the first of three currently planned lunar missions with the more powerful “Space Launch System” or SLS rocket, informs the president of the Latvian Space Industry Association (LAIK) Paul Irbin. Moreover, some of the innovations, thinking about long-term lunar missions, are also developed by Latvian companies.
The content will continue after the announcement
Advertising
Artemis 1 is part of the larger Artemis program, implemented by NASA in collaboration with three partner agencies: the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The Orion spacecraft, also part of this mission, was instead produced by Airbus Defense & Space.
“The goal of the program is much broader than it was 53 years ago. At that time it was a rivalry, a show of dominance and of course also a scientific breakthrough. Currently, the goal is not just to land on the Moon, but stay there – use this satellite of Earth as a first step for further deep space exploration, as a stepping stone to Mars,” Irbin explains.
Not for nothing also in the international “ActinSpace” hackathon, for which technology enthusiasts can apply until November 16 of this year (if you want to participate, Click here), one of the working groups is directly related to the Moon and beyond in space “Fly to the Moon and beyond: Dream big, innovate even bigger”. In Latvia, together with 34 other countries and 66 cities, the 24-hour hackathon, organized with the support of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), will take place from 19 to 20 November.
True, one could say that we have enough challenges here on Earth. It will be said that the money invested in space exploration could be invested in solving human problems here. Going to space is also an investment in local economies, including Latvia’s, according to LAIK representatives.
Approaching the “ActinSpace” hackathon, Latvian Space Industry Association has collected the most important reasons why going to the moon is important and necessary.
The beginning of long-duration space missions
NASA’s goal is to achieve a sustainable human presence on the Moon. If Apollo astronauts were on Earth’s satellite for only a couple of days on each mission, now the goal is to stay there for several weeks. In the long run, that means better understanding how to prepare more efficiently for the journey to Mars and back, which could take several years.
At the same time, this mission to the Moon will also help to understand the intensity and health effects of radiation in deep space. “The International Space Station is in low Earth orbit, where the Earth’s magnetic field partially protects it from radiation. This will not be the case on the Moon. Therefore, with the Artemis I mission, several experiments are planned to study the effects of radiation on living organisms and evaluate the effectiveness of vests that need to be protected from radiation,” says Irbin.
Furthermore, to avoid excess weight and save costs, NASA wants to study how to use the resources available on the surface of the Moon. Especially frozen water: data show that water can be found on the Moon, even even In the sunlit part. It is possible that by separating its hydrogen and oxygen atoms, it could be converted into rocket fuel.
Testing of new equipment
On the moon, NASA also wants to test for the first time the technologies that will continue to develop on Mars, because solving any problems on the moon will be easier than on the red planet, which will take much longer to reach.
First, NASA plans to test the new spacesuits to go into outer space. True, it could happen around 2025, when people will also go to the moon.
The “Artemis I” mission has no humans at the moment, as the SLS launch system and Orion capsule are undergoing testing. Secondly, vehicles should also be checked, both those with and without air pressure in the cabin, as well as the living environment. Finally, permanent access to a sustainable energy source must be addressed, for which NASA is currently developing a mobile nuclear reactor.
Creating a starting point
The main pillar of the “Artemis” program is the construction of a space station orbiting the Moon. It will be called “Lunar Gateway” and will be the starting point for missions to Mars.
“All the necessary equipment can be sent there, and then the crew will stick together for a longer journey,” Lunar Gateway program manager Sean Fuller told AFP. He equated it to visiting a gas station before a long journey: we fill up, buy other necessary goods, check the technical condition of the vehicle, then drive off.
