Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
NASA, the United States' space agency, is making waves in space exploration with its visionary plan to construct habitable structures on the Moon for humans. This groundbreaking initiative, as reported by The New York Times (NYT), is poised to reshape humanity's presence beyond Earth.
Over fifty years after the historic Apollo 17 mission, where astronauts spent 75 hours on the lunar surface, NASA is aiming for a more extended lunar sojourn, seeking to build a foundation for sustained human activity.
NASA has set an ambitious goal of creating functional lunar structures by 2040. This objective is met with optimism by scientists who believe that the timeline is not only achievable but also crucial for advancing lunar exploration.
NASA's blueprint for lunar housing hinges on the deployment of a cutting-edge 3D printer to the Moon's surface. This printer will employ lunar concrete, synthesised from rock chips and mineral fragments found in the Moon's top layer.
Niki Werkheiser, NASA's director of technology maturation while talking to Fortune, encapsulated the agency's enthusiasm and said, "We're at a pivotal moment, and in some ways, it feels like a dream sequence. In other ways, it feels like it was inevitable that we would get here."
NASA is fostering partnerships with top-tier universities and private companies, leveraging their expertise and resources to bring the lunar housing project to fruition.
Werkheiser expressed confidence in the collaborative spirit and the convergence of talent and technology, stating, "Everyone is ready to take this step together, so if we get our core capabilities developed, there's no reason it's not possible."
Before the lunar construction commences, NASA is rigorously testing the 3D printer, slated for launch to the Moon in February 2024, ensuring it can operate effectively in the harsh lunar environment.
Prior to lunar habitation, NASA must accomplish the Artemis 2 mission, scheduled for launch next year. This mission will follow in the footsteps of Artemis 1, which was an uncrewed mission to test spacecraft systems.
NASA's Artemis 3 mission, expected around 2025 or 2026, will mark a historic moment as humans return to the lunar surface. This endeavour will be made possible with the assistance of SpaceX's Starship, propelling NASA further into the realm of lunar exploration.