A return to the moon
The last time humans were on the moon was in December of 1972 - the Apollo 17 mission. The last "formal" words Eugene Cernan, the Apollo 17 commander, said as he left were:
SEV: NASA's new crew exploration vehicle in lunar orbit. Artist's concept by John Frassanito and Associates.
As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come - but we believe not too long into the future - I'd like to just [say] what I believe history will record. That America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus- Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17.
It appears the time has come for a return to the moon. President Bush set several goals for NASA and the space program in a speech on January 14, 2004 including returning the space shuttle to flight, completing the International Space Station, returning to the moon, and continuing on to Mars. A manned mission to the moon is planed for 2018.
To get to the moon NASA will soon begin developing a new spaceship based on what they have learned from both the Apollo and Space Shuttle craft. The goal of the new spacecraft is that it be affordable, reliable, versatile, and safe.
Rockets: An engineering concept shows NASA's new heavy lift vehicle (left)and crew launch vehicle. Credit: NASA
Proposed features of the new spacecraft include a larger crew capacity, versatility to be a craft used not only for visiting the Moon but also the International Space Station and future missions to Mars. Solar panels will provide power, and liquid methane will be used in their engines - a nod to the future when astronauts can convert the resources available on Mars into methane fuel. Past Apollo missions were restricted to landing on the moon's equator due to limitations on the amount of fuel brought down to the surface to be used to escape the moon's gravity. The new ship will carry enough fuel to be able to land anywhere on the lunar surface. The new spacecraft will also be reusable - up to 10 missions per ship.
The new ship would work this way. One heavy-lift rocket carries the lunar lander and a "departure stage" needed to leave Earth's orbit. The crew launches separately on another rocket, then docks with the lander and departure stage and heads for the moon. About three days later, the crew goes into lunar orbit. All four astronauts then climb into the lander, leaving the capsule to wait for them in orbit. After landing and exploring the surface, the crew takes off from the surface in a portion of the lander, docks with the capsule and travels back to Earth. After a de-orbit engine burn, the service module is jettisoned, exposing the heat shield for the first time in the mission. Parachutes deploy, the heat shield is dropped and the capsule sets down on dry land.
The long term plan is to develop an outpost on the moon that can be used as a base for future missions to Mars. With a goal of two lunar missions a year, an outpost on the moon should come together quickly. NASA is considering the lunar south pole as a location for the outpost because of concentrations of hydrogen thought to be in the form of water ice, and an abundance of sunlight to provide power.
I find a return to the moon and news of the new multi-use spacecraft to be very exciting - what do you think?
(Oh, and the actual "last words" said on the lunar surface by the Apollo 17 commader were,"Okay, Jack. Let's get this mother outta here".)
Email
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Science Buzz and all related activities
Add a new comment