Shooting for the Moon
By Avani Sharan
Team Cosmofluencer
Moon Exploration has always been a stepping stone in the field of space exploration. Humans have gone far and wide in exploring our planet’s this natural satellite. Moon also called Luna or Selena, is a source of fascination for many; from age old astronomers to the young amatuer astronomers of todays era, there is no living being who hasn’t been curious about the MOON.
Starting with spacecrafts to the moon, to plans of building a colony and launch base there someday – our technology has grow exponentially with curiosity and development being the driving forces.
What is Moon Exploration?
Moon Exploration, by definition refers to the investigation and scientific study of the moon using the robotic or manned mission to the research aid.
In this blog we will explore the lunar missions by various space agencies and learn what’s in store for future lunar explorations.
The Early Ages
The moon explorations began with the robotic missions by U.S.S.R. The Soviet Union initiated lunar exploration with the Luna program, starting with Luna 1 in 1959, which was the first spacecraft to fly by the Moon. The program achieved several milestones, including the first soft landing (Luna 9 in 1966) and returning lunar samples to Earth (Luna 16 in 1970).
In response to the Soviet achievements, the United States launched the Apollo program in the early 1960s, after NASA was founded in 1958. This ambitious project aimed to land humans on the Moon before the end of the decade.
Apollo 8 was the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in December 1968, followed by the historic Apollo 11. This first human landing took place in 1969, when the Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong touched down on the lunar surface, leaving scientific instruments upon the mission’s completion and returning lunar samples to Earth.
Over the next few years, five more crewed missions successfully landed on the Moon, concluding with Apollo 17 in December 1972.
End of the 20th Century Era
After a short hiatus, lunar exploration resumed in the 1990s with the U.S. and Europe (ESA) carrying our lunar missions .
NASA announced its plans to send U.S. astronauts back to the surface of the Moon with the Artemis missions in 2017. Japan deployed its first lunar orbiter, Hiten in 1990 and in 2013, China’s Chang’e 3 touched down on the Moon — the first soft lunar landing in 37 years. This movement gained steam in the 2000s as China and India launched their first robotic missions to the Moon.
The Current Missions and The Changing Times
The 21st century has witnessed a renewed interest in the Moon. Several nations and private companies are now actively pursuing lunar exploration.
Let’s take a look at the prominent missions to look forward to.
1. NASA’s Artemis Program
NASA’s Artemis program, in collaboration with international partners, aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence for the times to come.
- Artemis I (2022): An uncrewed test of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft.
- Artemis II (2024): A crewed lunar flyby.
- Artemis III (2025): The first human landing since 1972, including the first woman and person of color on the Moon.
- Artemis Base Camp: A long-term lunar habitat near the Moon’s South Pole.
2. China’s Chang’e Program
China’s Chang’e program has achieved major milestones, including:
- Chang’e 4 (2019): The first landing on the far side of the Moon.
- Chang’e 5 (2020): The first lunar sample return since the 1970s.
- Future Plans: Establishing a lunar research station with Russia and sending taikonauts to the Moon by the 2030s.
3. India’s Chandrayaan Missions
India’s space agency, ISRO, has been a rising power in lunar exploration.
- Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, mapped the Moon’s surface and discovered water molecules. This discovery sent shock waves in the field of lunar observations and paved way for many theories
- Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, included an orbiter, lander, and rover. While the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-2 crashed during landing, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter remains operational and continues to study the Moon from its orbit till date.
- Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon’s south pole in 2023, making India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
- The upcoming Chandrayaan mission will carry a 250 kg rover to conduct detailed studies of the Moon’s surface and composition. This mission is part of a broader collaboration with Japan, enhancing India’s lunar exploration capabilities.
Lunar Missions from the Private Space
Private companies are increasingly involved in moon race, partnering with NASA to deliver payloads, conduct research, and potentially pave the way for a lunar economy.
- SpaceX: Developing the Starship for NASA’s Artemis missions and potential lunar tourism.
- Blue Origin: Working on the Blue Moon lander.
- Intuitive Machines: Developing lunar landers for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS).
In 2020, NASA initiated the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) project to encourage affordable and rapid delivery of science payloads to the Moon. Hence giving ride to the companies such as SpaceX, Astrobiotics, IM, Firefly, etc. with lot of achievements in 2024 and another ton of missions planned for the years to come.
Futuristic Lunar Explorations
The future of lunar exploration looks promising, with ambitious goals:
- Lunar Economy: Mining lunar resources such as water ice for fuel production.
- International Collaboration: The Lunar Gateway, a planned space station orbiting the Moon, will support long-term missions.
- Permanent Moon Bases: NASA’s Artemis Base Camp, China-Russia’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), and private habitats could pave the way for sustained human presence.
- Deep Space Exploration: The Moon will serve as a stepping stone for Mars and beyond.
Conclusion
From the first robotic missions to human landings and the current lunar renaissance, the exploration of the Moon has been a real testament to human ingenuity and ambition. With global collaboration, technological advancements, and commercial investments, the Moon is set to become a hub for scientific discovery and a launchpad for interplanetary exploration. The next decades promise an exciting new chapter in humanity’s journey beyond Earth.
References
1. The New Golden Age of Moon Exploration | Astronomy.com
2. Moon Exploration | NASA
3. Exploration of the Moon | Wikipedia
4. List of missions to the Moon | Wikipedia
5. Moon Exploration | Britannica