THE OBJECTIVE

Apollo - The primary aim of the Apollo missions, particularly Apollo 11, was to achieve the monumental feat of landing humans on the Moon and safely returning them to Earth. Additionally, the astronauts were tasked with collecting lunar samples for Earth-based analysis.

The initial Apollo missions captured global attention, with over 600 million viewers witnessing Apollo 11's launch and landing, a staggering 17% of the world’s population at the time. However, by the final Apollo mission in 1972, interest had dwindled, with only half a million people watching its launch. This decline in enthusiasm, coupled with the financial burden of the Vietnam War, led to the cancellation of Apollo 18, 19, and 20, redirecting resources to the Skylab space station.

Artemis - The Artemis program's aspirations are multifaceted. Beyond simply returning humans to the Moon, it aims to establish a permanent human settlement by 2028, paving the way for a crewed mission to Mars in the 2030s. Artemis also seeks to deploy the Lunar Gateway, which will serve as critical infrastructure for future lunar and Martian missions.

Once fully operational, the Gateway will facilitate supply missions and serve as a staging area for deep space travelers. The essential power and propulsion systems for the Gateway are set to launch by December 2022, with operational support from the Command and Service spacecraft in lunar orbit.

THE TEAM

Apollo - Each of the seven Apollo missions to the Moon carried three astronauts: two for the lunar landing and one to pilot the command module in orbit. The astronaut corps mainly consisted of military personnel or test pilots, many of whom had prior experience in the Mercury and Gemini programs.

Among the 12 astronauts who walked on the Moon, only one, Harrison Schmitt, was a scientist. The crews were exclusively composed of Caucasian American males, marking a significant gap in representation, as no woman or person of color had yet set foot on the lunar surface.

Artemis - The next generation of spacecraft is designed to accommodate four astronauts on their lunar missions. With extensive experience in long-duration spaceflight aboard the International Space Station, Artemis astronauts are likely to bring valuable insights into living and working in space.

NASA has emphasized its commitment to diversity, indicating plans to include a woman in the Artemis 3 mission crew, with future missions potentially featuring all-female teams.

THE INNOVATIONS

To effectively place a new generation of astronauts on the lunar surface, NASA and its private partners are diligently developing new technologies and protocols to ensure efficient and safe travel. The Gateway is envisioned to enhance the safety and simplicity of space travel to the Moon and Mars.

In April 2019, NASA selected 12 projects for Artemis aimed at monitoring astronaut health during lunar missions. The agency subsequently approved 142 new technology proposals that will support the return of humans to the Moon.

“Many of these projects have direct applications for Artemis and future exploration efforts. For instance, technology that allows solar panels to deploy like Venetian blinds can serve as a power source for crewed missions on the Moon and Mars,” NASA states.

THE TARGET

While Apollo missions targeted areas of the Moon believed to be relatively safe, Artemis aims for the lunar south pole, where water is suspected to exist in shadowed craters. Though this area presents more risks, it is vital for advancing human spaceflight, as the discovery of water ice could enable future colonization.

Nations and private entities globally are competing to explore the Moon's south pole. China, for example, has announced intentions to establish a permanent lunar base in the coming decades.

Lunar ice can be converted into drinking water and breathable oxygen, and the extracted hydrogen and oxygen can be used as rocket fuel. Accessible sources of water will significantly ease the colonization of other celestial bodies in the Solar System.

THE STRATEGY

Apollo - The Apollo program faced initial tragedy when three astronauts died in a fire during a spacecraft test. Once NASA identified the causes of the Apollo 1 incident, every subsequent mission was utilized to refine procedures for landing on the Moon by the end of the 1960s, in alignment with John F. Kennedy's vision.

Docking techniques, essential for connecting the lander with the command module, were perfected in later Apollo missions, culminating in Apollo 11's historic landing.

Apollo 8, launched on December 21, 1968, marked the first crewed spacecraft to leave low-Earth orbit, carrying Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders around the Moon. Just over six months later, Armstrong and Aldrin would walk on its surface.

Artemis - Similar to Apollo, the Artemis program will gradually build the skills necessary for each mission. Artemis 1 will be an automated test flight, assessing systems for human crews, with the Orion spacecraft launching aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) for the first time from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

In November 2019, the final RS-25 engine was attached to the SLS, preparing it for launch. These engines are the same design utilized in the Space Shuttle program.

The SLS will generate 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, propelling the six-million-pound vehicle into space. This marks the first time NASA has built a launch vehicle capable of sending humans beyond low Earth orbit since the Saturn V.

Following launch, the SLS will face its peak aerodynamic stress within the first 90 seconds. The boosters will detach, service module panels will be discarded, and the core engines will shut down as the core stage separates from the spacecraft.

After its voyage to the Moon, Orion will come within 100 km (62 miles) of the lunar surface. Using a gravitational assist from the Moon, the spacecraft will enter a retrograde orbit 70,000 km (40,000 miles) away.

“Orion will perform a close flyby, coming within 60 miles of the lunar surface, using a precisely timed engine firing in conjunction with the Moon’s gravity to return to Earth,” NASA explains.

THE FUTURE OF ARTEMIS

After Artemis 1's automated flight, Artemis 2 is scheduled for 2022, testing the launch system with a human crew and deploying rovers on the Moon to search for water and essential resources for future colonization.

In 2023, NASA will augment the lunar Gateway's power and propulsion system with a cabin, which will be launched on a private spacecraft rather than an SLS rocket. The following year, the Human Landing System will be launched in phases to the Moon for assembly in lunar orbit, connecting to the Lunar Gateway and preparing for crewed missions.

“NASA’s Space Launch System will transport Orion and its crew to lunar orbit, where they will dock with the Gateway. The crew will check the Gateway cabin and Human Landing System before boarding the lander to descend to the Moon,” NASA explains.

When Artemis 3 launches (currently set for 2024), it will mark a historic return of humans to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years, including the first woman to step onto the Moon's surface.

NASA plans to conduct one lunar mission annually over the next four years, beginning with Artemis 4 in 2025 and culminating with Artemis 7 in 2028. The agency aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028, with aspirations to land people on Mars during the 2030s.

THE SPACECRAFT

Apollo - The Apollo command module, crafted by North American Rockwell, transported two astronauts to the Moon on each successful mission. With a height of 3.2 meters (10 feet 7 inches) and a width of 3.9 meters (12 feet 10 inches), this 5,900-kilogram (13,000-pound) spacecraft was based on earlier capsules used in the Mercury and Gemini missions.

After landing, astronauts transferred to the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) for their lunar descent. Upon returning, they launched from the lunar surface in the upper portion of the LEM, leaving the base behind. They would then rendezvous with the command module before returning to Earth, where the LEM was discarded, and the command module re-entered the atmosphere, eventually splashing down in the ocean for recovery.

Artemis - The Orion spacecraft, initially part of the now-defunct Constellation program, has already demonstrated resilience. After its cancellation in 2011, Orion was repurposed to launch aboard the SLS rocket for Artemis missions.

Orion can accommodate up to six astronauts, doubling the capacity of the Apollo command module. The spacecraft consists of a capsule and a service module, measuring eight meters (26 feet) long and 5 meters (16.5 feet) wide, offering nearly nine cubic meters (316 cubic feet) of living space, a 50% increase compared to Apollo.

Having previously flown on December 5, 2014, aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket, Orion successfully completed its mission, landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Space travel poses inherent risks, and NASA is committed to safety. Like Apollo, Artemis incorporates a launch abort system, equipped with escape rockets to ensure crew safety during ascent.

THE ROCKET

Apollo - The Saturn V rocket was a monumental engineering achievement. Less than 70 years after the Wright brothers' first flight, this rocket enabled a dozen astronauts to reach the Moon.

At its inception, the Saturn V was the most powerful rocket ever built. Its inaugural flight occurred on November 4, 1967, with Apollo 4 reaching space.

The Saturn V's engines consumed over 18,000 kg (40,000 pounds) of fuel per second for about two minutes during liftoff, dwarfing the fuel burned by Charles Lindbergh during his historic transatlantic flight.

Originally envisioned as the C-5 rocket in January 1961, the Saturn V's development was spearheaded by Wernher von Braun, who had led German rocket development during World War II. Although NASA typically tested each rocket component separately, the ambitious timeline for landing on the Moon necessitated a launch before thorough testing was complete, resulting in the successful Apollo 4 mission.

Artemis - The SLS will surpass Saturn V to become the most powerful rocket in history, driven by its four RS-25 engines. This rocket will support various configurations for different payloads and destinations.

“The SLS's initial configuration can deliver over 26 metric tons (57,000 pounds) to the Moon, with future upgrades expected to increase that capacity to at least 45 metric tons (99,000 pounds). Standing 322 feet tall, taller than the Statue of Liberty, the SLS will weigh 5.75 million pounds and generate 8.8 million pounds of thrust at launch, 15% more than Saturn V,” NASA reports.

The SLS will be augmented by two next-generation solid rocket boosters, each burning six tons of propellant per second and generating thrust greater than that of 14 Boeing 747 engines at takeoff.

“The core stage of the SLS, powered by four RS-25 engines, stands over 200 feet tall and houses 196,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen,” NASA officials detail.

After its first stage separation, the SLS's upper stage will utilize JX-2 engines, initially designed for the canceled Ares rocket.

Standing at 98 meters (321 feet), the SLS will weigh 2.5 million kilograms (5.5 million pounds) at launch. Its liquid hydrogen tank will hold 733,000 gallons of propellant, enabling the rocket to produce 10 to 20 percent more thrust than the Saturn V's five engines.

THE NAMESAKE

Apollo - In Greek mythology, Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, revered as the god of prophecy, music, poetry, and archery, as well as healing and plagues. Typically depicted as a youthful figure with a bow and arrows, he was worshiped in Delphi and Delos.

Artemis - Apollo's twin sister, Artemis, was the goddess of the Moon and hunting. She was known for aiding women in childbirth while also wielding the power to deliver death with her arrows. Mythology states she helped her mother deliver Apollo shortly after her own birth.

Legend has it that Artemis, challenged by Apollo to an archery contest, accidentally killed Orion, the hunter she had spent much time with.

Artemis, endowed with remarkable skill and adaptability, mirrors the capabilities of the SLS rocket and the team that will support Artemis crews on their journey to the Moon.

It's fitting that the first mission to land a woman on the lunar surface is named after Artemis, a powerful goddess destined to forge an enduring legacy with the Moon.

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