Nasa outlines moon mission goals as China’s Chang’e 5 lunar probe prepares for return to Earth
- US astronauts, including the first woman, will travel to the moon in 2024
- Nasa report comes as Chinese lunar probe prepares to return to Earth
The US space agency Nasa published a voluminous report outlining the scientific priorities for the Artemis III astronauts it intends to send to the Moon in 2024.
One of the goals will be to bring back a total of 85kg (187 pounds) of lunar samples, both from the surface and subsurface, more than the average 64kg brought back by Apollo mission members between 1969 and 1972.
“The moon holds vast scientific potential and astronauts are going to help us enable that science,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for Nasa’s Science Mission Directorate.
“This report helps outline a path forward toward the compelling science we can now contemplate doing on the lunar surface in conjunction with human explorers,” Zurbuchen said.
The Artemis I mission, expected to take place before the end of 2021, will involve a test of the Space Launch System and an unmanned Orion spacecraft.
Artemis II will see a crewed test flight sent into orbit in 2023 but will not involve an actual landing on the moon.