On July 20, 1969, humankind first set foot on the Moon. Neil Armstrong was the pioneer. More than half a century later, NASA is deep into its Artemis program, aiming to send four more astronauts, including the first woman, back to the lunar satellite. Among them is Noelia Martínez Rey, a scientist from Lugo, Spain, who plays a critical role in optimizing the spacecraft’s communication systems for the ambitious mission.
Martínez Rey, a doctor in Astrophysics and a researcher at the Australian National University, is working from Canberra, Australia. Her focus is on ensuring the Artemis mission’s communication systems are ready to maintain contact with the Orion spacecraft and its crew. “There has been some delay in the mission, as always happens with NASA, but it is estimated that the space trip will be made in 2026,” she noted.
Sharpening Our View of the Cosmos
While her work on the Artemis mission is critical, Martínez Rey is also deeply involved in advancing astronomical observation. Her research aims to capture the clearest possible images of space. She investigates how to correct visual distortions in telescopes and enhance their power and precision.
To achieve this, she collaborates with the Subaru telescope in Hawaii. There, she works on creating “artificial stars” by projecting a beam of light to simulate a star 90 kilometers away. This allows her to compare how telescopes should capture the light versus what they actually perceive. Her goal is to devise instruments that improve image definition, explaining that the twinkling we see isn’t real; stars emit constant light, but the Earth’s atmosphere creates the effect.
Noelia Martínez investigates how to improve the image that telescopes capture from space.
Hundreds of astronomers eagerly await Martínez Rey’s discoveries, as they directly impact our ability to see space with greater clarity. “I see the application of my research, what they do with what I get, and that encourages me to continue,” she shared.
The tangible utility of her research is a powerful motivator, especially in a field where funding is competitive. Martínez Rey recently secured three years of research funding from the Australian government for a new R&D line.
Freedom to Explore
The Australian National University offers a supportive environment for her work, with available funding and the freedom to build her research team. A key factor in her decision to move to Australia was the opportunity to dedicate half of her workday to her own research lines.
She lives in Australia and works with astrophysical teams globally.
This professional flexibility underscores the high regard she holds within her field. While all her work aims for clearer cosmic views, her personal research allows for more experimental, potentially groundbreaking techniques.
This success fuels further research and funding, creating a positive cycle. Martínez Rey is content in Australia and has no immediate plans to relocate.
Returning Home to Lugo
Despite her global endeavors, Martínez Rey cherishes her trips to Lugo, Spain. During a recent visit, she balanced vacation with professional exploration, including a visit to the quantum research center at the University of Vigo. She expressed interest in future collaborations, such as hosting researchers in Australia or undertaking research stays in Vigo.
In Lugo, she prioritizes rest and time with family, enjoying the pleasures of her hometown that she misses abroad. “I have eaten scallops and barnacles and you can’t imagine how good they tasted,” she said, a nod to her appreciation for Galician cuisine over the fare in Australia.
From her visits to Lugo, she brings back olive oil and chocolate.
Her luggage often includes staples not readily available in Canberra, like olive oil, homemade honey, and traditional Spanish chocolate bars.
These treats likely won’t last long, ensuring a reason to return. The 26-hour journey from Australia to Madrid makes any European destination feel accessible. “Three hours by plane from anywhere in Europe is nothing,” she explained, often using work visits to the continent as an opportunity for brief trips home, sometimes just for a day.
Her family has visited her in Australia, confirming her successful adaptation and integration into her life there.
The Road to Mars
The Artemis program, a joint effort led by NASA and involving the European Space Agency, ultimately sets its sights on Mars.
The program unfolds in phases. Artemis I involved an uncrewed flight to test the spacecraft’s capabilities. Artemis II will be a crewed mission, with four astronauts orbiting the Moon to prepare for landing. The Artemis III mission will mark humanity’s return to the lunar surface, featuring the first woman, Christina Hammock Koch, and the first African American man, Victor Glover, alongside Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen.
The next mission to the Moon aims to advance the journey to Mars.
Future missions, Artemis IV and beyond, plan to establish a lunar orbiting space station called Gateway. This will facilitate a sustained human presence on the Moon and serve as a crucial stepping stone for missions to Mars.
A History of Moonwalkers
Twelve individuals have walked on the Moon. The first were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969, during Apollo 11. They were followed by Charles Conrad and Alan Bean (Apollo 12), Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14), David Scott and James Irwin (Apollo 15), John Young and Charles Duke (Apollo 16), and Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17) in 1972. No human has walked on the Moon since.
