Vice President Kamala Harris announced an important update regarding NASA’s Artemis program on Wednesday. In addition to international astronaut flights around the Moon, one of them will have the opportunity to walk on the lunar surface. This milestone will make the international astronaut a part of an exclusive group that has only consisted of 12 members thus far.
During a meeting of the White House National Space Council in Washington, DC, Vice President Harris emphasized the importance of allies and partners in the Artemis program. She said, “Today, recognizing the significant role that allies and partners play in the Artemis program, I am proud to announce that alongside American astronauts, we intend to send an international astronaut to the surface of the Moon by the end of this decade.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also participated in the meeting.
Moon landing missions under the Artemis program will accommodate four astronauts, but not all of them will have the opportunity to walk on the Moon. Only two astronauts will descend to the lunar surface, while the other two will orbit around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft or the Gateway, a small space station.
NASA is committed to providing opportunities for astronaut flights from various international space agencies, including the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). These opportunities will be available on the Gateway and Artemis II missions. The Artemis II mission is set to launch in November 2024 and will be the first time humans orbit the Moon since the end of the Apollo program. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who introduced Vice President Harris, will be a member of the Artemis II mission crew.
While the first Moon landing mission, Artemis III, is not scheduled until the end of 2025, the development of SpaceX’s spacecraft, which will serve as the lander for Artemis III, is closely monitored by NASA. Specific crew assignments for each mission will be determined closer to launch when mission parameters and crew criteria are defined. NASA’s involvement in international collaboration under the Artemis program underscores the importance of shared expertise and joint efforts in space exploration.
FAQ:
1. Who announced the possibility of international astronauts landing on the Moon?
The announcement regarding the possibility of international astronauts landing on the Moon was made by Vice President Kamala Harris.
2. Which space agencies will have the opportunity to send astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis program?
NASA has committed to providing opportunities for astronaut flights from various international space agencies, including the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
3. When is the first Moon landing mission under the Artemis program planned?
The first Moon landing mission, Artemis III, is not scheduled until the end of 2025.
Definitions:
– Artemis program: NASA’s program aiming to return humans to the Moon and further space exploration.
– Moon: Earth’s natural satellite.
– NASA: The United States’ national space agency.
Source:
– NASA – https://www.nasa.gov/
The source of the article is from the blog radardovalemg.com