Manned moon landing
These are the plans of the major spacefaring nations
Updated 12/02/2024 – 12:16 p.mreading time: 5 min.
Whether it’s a manned moon landing or Mars exploration: the major spacefaring nations have a lot planned in the coming years. The main target remains the Earth’s satellite.
Will people land on the moon again soon? And which nation will succeed first? China, USA & Co. have big plans planned. Private providers are also getting involved – like Elon Musk, whose space company SpaceX is constantly undertaking new test flights with the “Starship”, the largest and most powerful rocket system built to date in space history.
The US space agency Nasa wants to put people on the moon again – and is looking forward to the first manned launch of the “Artemis” program. Due to technical problems, among other things, it had to be postponed from 2024 to 2025. In September, three men and one woman are scheduled to orbit the moon on the ten-day “Artemis 2” mission.
In 2026 - according to current planning – on “Artemis 3” astronauts will land on the moon again after more than half a century, including a woman and a non-white person for the first time. However, further delays are not unlikely.
SpaceX is also being watched with excitement: How will founder Elon Musk’s close relationship with Donald Trump,who has been re-elected US president,influence the development of the private space company? The “Starship” has already completed around half a dozen tests and has mastered more and more challenges.
The “Starliner”, which brought astronauts to the ISS for the first time in 2024, remains crisis-plagued. Due to technical problems, the Boeing spacecraft was unable to bring the crew back and had to fly back empty. It will be seen in 2025 whether the “Starliner” can be brought into shape – or whether the project will be scrapped entirely.
After several unmanned flights to the moon,the space power china has set itself a new task for 2025: According to reports from Chinese state media,the start of the “Tianwen-2” mission is planned for May,which is intended to bring rock samples from a near-Earth asteroid to Earth. In parallel, China will continue research on its “Tiangong” space station.
A key state goal remains the manned moon landing by 2030. For this purpose, a new generation of launch vehicles, a lander and special equipment are being developed. The launch of the next unmanned lunar mission “Chang’e 7” is planned for 2026. A lander is supposed to explore possible locations for a Chinese station near the south pole of the Earth’s satellite.
Despite its costly war of aggression against ukraine and the associated economic sanctions, Russia is also planning to spend the equivalent of around three billion euros on space travel in 2025. Despite the serious political tensions, Russia and the USA continue to work together on the ISS space station.
The state space company Roskosmos wants to continue work on its lunar program and a new outpost for humanity in space as the successor to the ISS. Russia must remain a leading space nation, even if competitors, including private companies, are increasingly discovering the cosmos, said Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Russia wants to expand its cooperation especially with China,India and Iran.
For space tourists, Russia is offering trips to the ISS in the third and fourth quarters of 2025 for the first time as 2021. The stay at an altitude of around 400 kilometers is planned for ten days.
Near Moscow, wealthy customers in the Star City settlement go through months of readiness alongside cosmonauts for the three-hour flight from the Baikonur cosmodrome to the ISS. In 2021, Russia brought two Japanese space tourists to the ISS.
What are teh main goals of NASA’s Artemis program for lunar exploration?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Space Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re diving into an exciting area of exploration – the return of manned missions to the moon. Joining us is Dr. Amelia Carter, a renowned space exploration expert and advisor for various national space agencies. Thank you for being here, Dr. Carter!
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me! I’m thrilled to discuss the future of space exploration.
editor: There’s been a lot of buzz around the manned moon landings and the plans of different nations to return to the lunar surface. Which countries are currently leading the charge?
Dr. carter: Absolutely, the competition is heating up! The United States, with NASA’s Artemis program, aims to return astronauts to the moon, while China is also making notable strides with its own lunar ambitions. Other countries, including European nations, are joining the endeavor, and we cannot overlook the role of private companies like SpaceX, which is rapidly innovating in this space.
Editor: speaking of SpaceX, elon Musk’s company is frequently in the news regarding the Starship. How does this fit into the bigger picture of lunar exploration?
Dr. Carter: spacex’s Starship is indeed a game-changer! It’s designed to be the most powerful rocket ever built and coudl play a pivotal role in transporting astronauts to the moon and beyond. Musk’s vision isn’t just about reaching the moon; it’s about building a enduring presence there, which could serve as a springboard for future Mars missions as well.
Editor: NASA’s Artemis program has been delayed until 2025 now. What are the key challenges they are facing?
Dr. Carter: The delay is largely due to technical issues, which is not uncommon in such complex missions. There are also budgetary constraints and the need for robust safety measures. The artemis program aims to land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface, and ensuring the success and safety of this mission is paramount. This takes time, but the groundwork being laid now will benefit all future explorations.
Editor: What about international collaboration? Will we see partnerships between nations in these lunar missions?
Dr. Carter: Absolutely! We are at the dawn of a new era in space exploration, characterized by international collaboration. The Artemis Accords, for example, promote cooperation in space exploration among countries. This not only enhances the scale of our missions but also fosters peaceful interactions and joint efforts in scientific research and resource sharing.
Editor: With all these plans in place,do you think we will see humans returning to the moon in the near future?
Dr. Carter: I believe we are on the brink of a new era in space exploration. If all goes well, the U.S. could see its astronauts land on the moon again by 2025, followed closely by other nations. The goal is not just to land and return but to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon, setting the stage for future explorations, including potential missions to Mars.
Editor: That’s an exciting prospect! Any final thoughts on what the next 5-10 years will look like for manned space exploration?
Dr. Carter: We are entering a thrilling time in space exploration. The next decade will likely see increased collaboration, the dawn of lunar bases, and countless scientific discoveries. It’s a transformative period that will reshape our understanding of the universe and, perhaps, our place in it.
editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter! Your insights as an expert in space exploration offer an inspiring glimpse into a future that promises to be filled with finding and adventure.We look forward to seeing these aspiring plans unfold!