We're going back to the moon! The Artemis missions by Meredith Jacques

 

We're going back to the moon!  The Artemis missions 

by Meredith Jacques

https://slate.com/technology/2022/08/artemis-passengers-nasa-moon.html

After years of neglect, the moon is starting to finally get some attention again.  It has been decades since the US has sent shuttles to the moon.  The last time we sent humans to the moon was the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.  We have been focused more on the ISS and Mars in the meantime.  All of that is about to change.  A new series of missions, called Artemis, will lead us into a new frontier of exploration, to the moon and beyond!

The first mission, Artemis 1, will not yet transport human passengers.  This mission is testing for the new launching system they will be using for these missions.   A stuffed Snoopy will be on board as an indicator of when the shuttle has reached zero gravity.  Three mannequins will also be on board, two of which simulate female bodies.  Radiation detectors will be attached to the mannequins to determine the amount of radiation future live astronauts could be exposed to on these missions.

NASA hopes to be able to send humans in the next few years.  And this time around, there will be more diversity on board.  New spacesuits have been designed that are modular so that they can fit a wider range of sizes.  Now women will have more access to spacewalks.  The suits are designed to be more flexible as well, which is important because there are plans to actually build a base on the moon!

What do you think is the ultimate purpose for these missions--why would we want to go back to the moon?

Would you want to go on one of these missions?  Why or why not?

Is it worth it do do missions like this, or should we be focusing research time and money elsewhere?