NASA announced updates of its Artemis program which plans to return to the moon in 2024 where the first woman ever will walk on the moon.
This will be the first time NASA will put a human being on the moon since 1972, the last of the Apollo missions. The plan to for a lunar return was initially announced 18 months ago includes international commercial interests as well.
NASA said on Monday that its new rocket, the Space Launch System, as well as its Orion spacecraft, are expecting a test launch this fall. NASA is also eyeing future manned-missions to Mars.
“With bipartisan support from Congress, our 21st century push to the Moon is well within America’s reach,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a release. “As we’ve solidified more of our exploration plans in recent months, we’ve continued to refine our budget and architecture. We’re going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new a generation of explorers. As we build up a sustainable presence, we’re also building momentum toward those first human steps on the Red Planet.”
In 2021, the rockets are expected to make a test-run around the moon before returning back to Earth. A manned crew will be launched in 2023. NASA said it will begin “commercial delivery services” to the moon in 2021, where twice a year will send technology to the moon.
The 2024 mission to the moon will land at the moon’s southern pole – a 240,000 mile trip, the agency said.