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Going back to the moon aims to advance science, technology and industry.
Summary
NASA's Artemis program plans crewed lunar missions beginning with Artemis II, a 10-day flyby carrying four astronauts including Canada's Jeremy Hansen, and Artemis III aims for a south-pole lunar landing around 2028.
Content
Human missions to the moon ended with Apollo 17 in December 1972. The article notes it has been 53 years since humans went anywhere near the moon. NASA's Artemis program is intended to return people to lunar orbit and to the surface in coming years. Other nations and private companies are also developing plans for sustained activity on the lunar surface.
Key facts:
- Apollo's final crewed lunar mission was in December 1972 and later human lunar missions were paused.
- Artemis II is slated as a 10-day crewed lunar flyby that will carry four astronauts, including Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
- Artemis III is planned for around 2028 and aims to land near the moon's south pole, a previously unexplored crewed landing region.
- The Artemis program involves many international partners (reported as 61 countries) and other nations have announced moon plans, with China and India aiming for crewed lunar missions in coming decades.
- Governments and private companies are planning longer-term lunar activity, including proposals to extract resources such as water and helium‑3.
- Past lunar-era programs are credited in the article with producing technology spin-offs, including advances in computing, water purification, cordless tools, and Canadarm-derived applications in surgery.
Summary:
The article presents the renewed focus on the moon as a platform for scientific research, engineering development and potential industrial activity, including resource proposals and new jobs. Artemis II is the next scheduled mission to test hardware and experiments in lunar orbit, followed by a proposed south-pole landing with Artemis III around 2028. Observers and experts quoted in the article describe technology spin-offs and industry interest as part of the broader case for returning to the moon.
