In a document published on its site on May 17, NASA unveiled its plans for the future of space exploration, listing scientific and technological objectives to be achieved in the coming years. The goal: to pave the way for a possible landing of astronauts on Mars.
Although it has yet to launch its first Artemis lunar mission, NASA Meanwhile the arrival orchestration beginsAstronaut Mars. The human exploration of the Red Planet is considered a key milestone in the future of space exploration, according to the eccentric billionaire. Elon Musk Confirmation of the arrival of the first Martian settlers Before 2030. To this end, the US space agency has published May 17, 2022 A document detailed in 50 points will accomplish the goals of launching the rush to Mars. The list is divided into different parts: the design of transportation and accommodation systems, the creation of space infrastructure or even the scientific and technological objectives that will be accomplished during the mission. the moon or March.
Preparing to colonize Mars
With this document, NASA raises its ambitions To sustain human presence in space, and more specifically on the Moon and Mars. The list includes several points related to the creation and establishment of transportation networks between Earth and space bases. A relay could be deployed to allow large quantities of material to be transferred to the moon, necessary to form a permanent outpost. NASA wants to predict some of the problems that might be encountered by astronauts 300,000 kilometers from Earth. Point n° 8 (TH-8) emphasizes the need to design a system capable of monitoring the health of astronauts to be able to provide rapid medical assistance if emergency evacuation to Earth is not possible.
Regarding establishment of such infrastructure, Ambitions of the American space agency Worthy of a science fiction series expansion. NASA wants to build one electrical network On the moon, able to providestrength to one” industrial scale”. The administration wants to take more measures addressing the Mars portion of the document: establishing a permanent communications network with Earth and allowing an electrical network.Autonomy of a manned mission to the Red Planet.
The report explains that one of the priorities of such a mission is to conduct scientific experiments on the surface of Mars and the Moon. Astronauts have to carry it this way Geological survey, makes it possible to study the evolution of our natural satellites and the Red Planet. Future explorers will also look for signs of volcanic or seismic activity, when samples are returned to Earth to undergo more extensive analysis.
Artemis, step before Mars
The chances of seeing a human crew land on Mars before 2030 are diminishing. NASA’s original goal, by 2027, is to complete the Artemis program. The second, launched in 2018 under Donald Trump’s administration, should allow the United States to land astronauts on the moon fifty years after the program ended. Apollo. Initially, the Artemis III manned mission was scheduled to launch in 2024. But this date has already been pushed back to 2025 due to numerous delays by NASA. The first mission of the Artemis program, which will test its capabilities New rocket Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule, should be launched about eight months late in the summer of 2022. If NASA succeeds in meeting this new deadline, it is difficult to predict, but the date of arrival of humans on Mars may go beyond 2030.
Meanwhile, two Curiosity Rovers and Perseverance Continue wandering the deserts of the Red Planet. They provide new ones regularly Images and data from Mars. An opportunity for researchers to learn more about the history of the planet, its past habitability and possible signs of life, when water was present on its surface 3 billion years ago.
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