Artemis: Goddess of our Hunt for the Moon
Space may be the final frontier, but, as with many areas of unexplored territory, it can be difficult to know where to start. For the United States, that journey into the unknown began with Explorer 1, our first satellite and a follow up to the Russian Sputnik. Launched in 1958, Explorer 1 orbited the Earth for two years and sent back radiation data for the first few months of its time in space. These early satellite programs and the escalation of the space race ultimately led up to the highest goal imaginable at the time: putting a man on the moon.
The Apollo Program (1963-1972) was devised as a concentrated effort to send humans to the moon. As we all know, Apollo 11 successfully landed on the moon in 1969. Several more successful missions would follow, and our view of what is possible in the world of space travel has never been the same. However, trying to build on that progress since then has been a bit more challenging.
NASA has always had an interest in returning to the moon in a more permanent way. It is not only a close location for scientific exploration in the grand scheme of space, but it can also become a good intermediate location between the Earth and other interesting places to explore. Building a lunar base could be the next step toward sending a human to Mars. Unfortunately, NASA’s two previous attempts to return to the moon have failed, usually due to funding or political issues. These types of projects generally outlast the administration that starts them, and it can make them difficult to finish. NASA’s latest attempt is the Artemis Program. In Greek mythology, Artemis is the goddess of the moon and the hunt, as well as the twin sister of Apollo. Symbolically, we are clear for takeoff. Realistically, we may have a chance this time. There are two major changes in space research that have taken place since the original Apollo missions: international cooperation and the rise of the commercial space industry.
The Apollo Program was born of a desire to prove our technological superiority over other countries, and even then barely half the country supported the cost it took to be the first country to land humans on the moon. Today, countries all over the world are far more cooperative when it comes to space exploration efforts. The best example of this is the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS was launched in 1998 as a collaborative effort between the United States, Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency, and Russia. It is orbiting over our heads right now, proof that the scientists of the world can come together to do research into the great unknown.
Commercial space has become a major industry in recent years. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, etc. dominate the news with exciting rocket tests, potential designs, and bold promises to take us to new and exciting places. Meanwhile, companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin have been long-standing participants in helping to design important components for NASA’s space efforts. The combination of cooperation and contributions from commercial industry may be enough to help Artemis succeed where others have failed.
Since the Apollo program, we have also learned more about how to keep astronauts safe. Interviews of the surviving members made it possible to create over one hundred recommendations for how to improve technology for future missions (Scheuring, et al). This information can aid the design of long-term lunar structures and more advanced manned spacecraft. A big part of establishing a permanent base on the moon would include In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), which involves using extensive material from the moon to create useful resources (Sanders, et al). This prevents us from having to bring more foreign materials from Earth. Learning how to better work with the moon’s materials has prepared us for the upcoming Artemis missions.
Artemis is important beyond just establishing a permanent lunar presence. One goal of Artemis is that a woman will finally walk on the moon. While we have had female astronauts throughout the years, the Apollo program consisted entirely of male astronauts. It is more than time for women to share in this great accomplishment of our entire society. This program will be a significant step forward both for science and equality.
The moon, Mars, and beyond offer an endless trove of scientific knowledge. While we may generally find ourselves thinking about problems on the ground level, support for these programs could become a rallying point for people around the world. We as a society can move forward together. Other countries can gain easy access to the moon. Women will finally be allowed to participate in these groundbreaking missions. Even if it may seem like there are more pressing issues, the matter of international cooperation is not one to be taken lightly. These types of scientific breakthroughs are good for everyone. As a woman, an aerospace engineer, and a citizen of the planet Earth, I am excited for 2024 when Artemis guides us into the future.
Works Cited:
G. B. Sanders, W. E. Larson, K. R. Sacksteder, and C. A. Mclemore, “NASA In-Situ Resource Utilization Project - Development & Implementation,” AIAA SPACE 2008 Conference & Exposition, San Diego, CA, USA, September 9-11, 2008. [Online]. Available: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/6.2008-7853. [Accessed Oct. 10, 2019].
R. A. Scheuring, J. A. Jones, J. D. Novak, J. D. Polk, D. B. Gillis, J. Schmid, J. M. Duncan, and J. R. Davis, “The Apollo Medical Operations Project: Recommendations to improve crew health and performance for future exploration missions and lunar surface operations,” Acta Astronautica, vol. 63, no. 7-10, October-November 2008. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576508000040. [Accessed Oct. 10, 2019].
