The Proprietor Review

Lunar landing

Well would a tariff  opportunity speed things up … Tic…

The Artemis program is currently underway, with several missions planned to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon as a stepping stone for human missions to Mars. Here’s an update on its progress and the outlook for a Mars landing:
Artemis Program Status:
The Artemis program is organized into a series of increasingly complex missions. Here’s the current status of the initial missions:
* Artemis I: This uncrewed test flight successfully orbited the Moon and returned to Earth in November 2022, serving as the first integrated test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
* Artemis II: This mission will be the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, sending a crew of four astronauts around the Moon. It is currently targeted for launch no earlier than April 2026.
* Artemis III: This mission aims to land astronauts on the Moon’s South Pole region. It is currently scheduled for mid-2027. This mission will use the SpaceX Starship Human Landing System (HLS) to transport two astronauts to the lunar surface.
* Artemis IV: This mission is planned for late 2028 and will involve docking with the Lunar Gateway, a small space station that will orbit the Moon. Astronauts will transfer through the Gateway to the HLS for their descent to the lunar surface.
* Artemis V: Planned for March 2030, this mission will also dock with the Gateway and is expected to involve a longer stay on the lunar surface, contributing to the establishment of a permanent lunar habitat.
When to Expect a Landing on Mars:
The Artemis program’s long-term goal is to prepare for human expeditions to Mars. While there isn’t a specific date set, NASA’s planning indicates that a crewed mission to Mars could plausibly happen in the mid to late 2030s.
* Some sources mention a potential three-year crewed expedition to Mars with a return planned between 2035 and 2038. The duration of the stay on Mars could vary from 90 to 500 Earth days, depending on favorable return windows.
It’s important to note that the timeline for Mars missions is more fluid and depends on the success of the Artemis lunar missions, the development of necessary technologies, and continued funding. The experience gained from establishing a sustained presence on the Moon, including testing technologies and understanding the challenges of long-duration deep space missions, is crucial for the eventual human exploration of Mars.

Good luck, we will not hold our breath…