Which of the following missions have the objective to ensure the retur...
The Artemis program is a robotic and human Moon exploration program led by the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) along with three partner agencies: European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The Artemis program intends to re-establish a human presence on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
Which of the following missions have the objective to ensure the retur...
The correct answer is option 'C' - Artemis mission.
Artemis is a NASA-led mission that aims to send astronauts back to the Moon, including the first woman and the next man, by the year 2024. It is part of a broader plan to eventually establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon by the 2030s.
Here is a detailed explanation of the Artemis mission:
1. Overview:
- Artemis is named after the Greek goddess of the Moon and is an extension of the Apollo program, which successfully landed astronauts on the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s.
- The mission aims to test new technologies, conduct scientific research, and establish a sustainable lunar presence that will serve as a stepping stone for future human missions to Mars.
- Artemis involves the collaboration of international partners, such as the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as commercial space companies.
2. Objectives:
- The main objective of Artemis is to land astronauts on the lunar surface, specifically near the lunar South Pole, where there are regions of permanent shadow that may contain water ice.
- The mission will also focus on conducting scientific research to better understand the Moon's geology, environment, and resources.
- Artemis aims to demonstrate technologies for sustainable lunar exploration, such as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) to extract and utilize resources found on the Moon, such as water ice, which can be used for life support systems, propellant production, and other applications.
- Another objective is to develop a Lunar Gateway, which will be a small space station in lunar orbit that will serve as a staging point for lunar surface missions.
3. Progress:
- The Artemis program has made significant progress since its announcement in 2019. NASA has been actively working on the development of the Space Launch System (SLS), which will be the most powerful rocket ever built, and the Orion spacecraft, which will carry astronauts to the Moon.
- NASA has also selected commercial partners, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, to develop lunar landers to transport astronauts to and from the lunar surface.
- Several uncrewed missions, such as Artemis I and Artemis II, are planned to test the SLS and Orion spacecraft before the first crewed mission, Artemis III, takes place.
In conclusion, the Artemis mission is focused on ensuring the return of humans to the Moon by 2024, with the goal of establishing a sustainable lunar presence for future exploration.
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