When will we see space travel to the moon?
Space travel to the Moon is expected to progress significantly in the coming years, with NASA and other space agencies planning crewed lunar missions. Here are the key missions on the horizon:
1. NASA’s Artemis Program: NASA is leading efforts to return humans to the Moon through its Artemis program. After the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission, Artemis II is scheduled for late 2024 and will carry astronauts on a trip around the Moon. The big milestone, Artemis III, planned for 2025 or 2026, aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface, marking the first crewed Moon landing since Apollo in 1972.
2. Commercial and International Missions: Space agencies like Roscosmos and the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) also have plans to conduct lunar missions. CNSA has proposed a Moon landing around 2030, while private companies, such as SpaceX, have lunar ambitions through partnerships with programs like Artemis and independent missions.
3. Lunar Gateway Station: NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada) are developing a lunar space station called Gateway. This outpost, planned for late this decade, will serve as a base for astronauts and a stepping stone for deeper space exploration, with regular travel to and from the Moon.
These missions lay the foundation for potential lunar tourism and bases, possibly making lunar travel more accessible within the next couple of decades.
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