While our friends from Florida, Bill & Julie Mars, were visiting Houston, and our family, we all went to the Space Center. Even though we have been there before, I am finally getting around to putting a blog together to highlight the exhibits. Unfortunately, the day we chose to go was cold and rainy, so we did not walk through the outdoor exhibits.
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| Lunar Module |
The Lunar Module contributed to the success of the Apollo Program. NASA tested each component of the Apollo spacecraft in a simulated space environment so its design and operation was fully verified when missions launched toward the Moon.
It flew Apollo missions with a crew of two astronauts on board -- it just wasn't in space. Its flights took place in a huge chamber at Johnson Space Center capable of simulating the vacuum and temperature that would be experienced during an Apollo mission to the Moon. Successful results of the module testing cleared the way for manned missions to the lunar surface. It continued to be used during training of Apollo astronauts in Lunar Module operations.
It was designed to separate from the Command Module, land on the Moon, and return to the Command Module. On the lunar surface, astronauts used the module as their habitat. To depart from the Moon for return to Earth, the module's lower and upper stages disconnected. The lower portion, or descent stage, served as a launch pad for the upper module, called the ascent stage.
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| Little Joe II |
A rocket similar to this one-stage rocket, nicknamed Little Joe II, was used from 1963 to 1966 to test the Apollo/Saturn V Launch Escape System (LES). The LES was designed to propel the crew capsule to safety in the event of a rocket failure during launch.
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| Mercury Capsule |
Mercury capsules were small, one-man spacecraft. The Mercury Redstone rocket was designed to propel these capsules and the first American astronauts into space during Project Mercury. The Mercury Redstone rocket launched six suborbital Mercury flights in 1960 to 1961. Two of these flights were unmanned tests, one flight carried Ham, the chimpanzee. Two Mercury Redstone flights made history when they took the first and second Americans into space.
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| F-1 Engine |
Power for the rocket: a cluster of five engines like this one powered the first stage of the Saturn V rocket. The "V" in the name Saturn V is the Roman numeral 5 which correlates to the five powerful engines. F-1 engines provided the power to lift the Saturn V rocket for Apollo test flights, manned flights to the Moon, and the launch of the Skylab space station. These engines lifted the Saturn V to an altitude of about 38 miles and about 6,000 miles per hour.
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| F-1 Engines |
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| Saturn V Rocket |
The Saturn V Rocket is one of three surviving vehicles built to launch American astronauts to the moon during the Apollo program of the 1960s and early 1970s. One of the largest and most significant artifacts in the collection of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, the Saturn V has been displayed near the entrance to the NASA Johnson Space Center since 1977.
NASA built the Saturn V rocket to send astronauts to the Moon. A heavy lift vehicle, the Saturn V could lift the equivalent of about 10 school busses into Earth orbit. The Saturn V launched manned Apollo Program missions from 1968 to 1972. It was also used in 1973 to launch Skylab, the first American space station.
To carry three astronauts to the Moon, the Saturn V carried massive amounts of fuel. Most of the weight of the rocket was fuel. The Moon rockets had three main components, technically called stages. Each stage burned its engines until it was out of fuel and then separated from the rocket to decrease the weight that had to be lifted. The engines on the next stage fired, and the rocket continued into space. Only the relatively small command module which carried the crew, returned to Earth.
Apollo 16 (April 16-27, 1972) was the fifth mission to land men on the Moon and return them to Earth. It was also the second flight of the Lunar Roving Vehicle. Apollo 16 landed in a highlands area, a region not yet explored on the moon. Astronauts collected samples, took photographs, and conducted experiments that included the first use of an ultraviolet camera/ spectrograph on the moon.
Apollo 17 (December 7-19, 1972) was the last Apollo mission to land men on the Moon. It carried the only trained geologist to walk on the lunar surface. Compared to previous Apollo missions, Apollo 17 astronauts traversed the greatest distance using the Lunar Roving Vehicle and returned the greatest amount of rock and soil samples.
Earth Reliant; Now to the Mid-2020s. International Space Station operation through 2024, commercial development of low-Earth orbit. Development of deep space systems life support and human health.
Proving Ground; 2018 - 2030. Regular crewed missions and spacewalks in cislunar space. Verify deep space habitation and conduct a yearlong mission to validate readiness for Mars. Demonstrate integrated human and robotic operations by redirecting and sampling an asteroid boulder.
Earth Independent; Now -- 2030's and Beyond. Science missions pave the way to Mars. Demonstrate entry, descent, and landing and in-situ resource use. Conduct robotic roundtrip demonstration with sample return in the late 2020s. Send humans to orbit Mars in the early 2030s.
The space shuttle Atlantis was photographed by the Mir-19 crew while docked to Russia's Mir Space Station on July 4, 1995.
Astronaut John "Danny" Olivas, STS-117 mission specialist, repairs thermal blanket damage that occurred during space shuttle Atlantis' climb to orbit in June 2007.
NASA's space shuttle fleet began setting records with its first launch on April 12, 1981, and continued to set high marks of achievement and endurance through 30 years of missions. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavor, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly; launched, recovered and repaired satellites; conducted cutting-edge research and had a significant role in building the largest structure in space, the International Space Station. The final space shuttle mission, STS-135, ended July 11, 2011, when Atlantis rolled to a stop at its home port, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (We visited the Kennedy Space Center in 2019; you can visit that blog post here.)
The space shuttle Atlantis launches for the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station on July 8, 2011, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, in the final mission of the Space Shuttle Program.
Space Shuttle Discovery stands ready for launch on mission STS-103 on December 19, 1999.
Space Shuttle Columbia is shown on approach to Edwards Air Force Base in California to compete STS-2, November 14, 1981.
The below tool was one of several everyday garden pruning shears modified for use in space during STS-51A (Nov. 8-16, 1984). The shears were needed by astronauts Dale Gardner and Joseph Allen during an EVA to capture and store a malfunctioning satellite for return to Earth. Gardner used a pair of the modified shears to remove the satellite's graphite antenna, allowing the shuttle payload bay doors to close over the satellite.
Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson, mission specialist for SY+TS-114 (July 26 to Aug. 9, 2005), casts a shadow across the thermal protection tiles on the underside of Space Shuttle Discovery.
NASA Astronaut Steve Lindsey, commander of STS-133 (Dec. 19-27, 2011), has several checklists available on the flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day three activities.
During STS-4 (June 27 to July 4, 1982), the shuttle's forward flight deck contains a number of documents, including check lists and cue cards. Virtually every operation on a shuttle mission had a printed checklist to go with it. At times the flight deck could become inundated with them.
Living and working in space: The crews of the shuttle were an integral part of the system and critical to the success of each mission. Crews of up to seven would conduct specific mission objectives in a timespan of typically a seven to ten day period. The orbiter not only functioned as their spacecraft but also as their home away from home. The shuttle was equipped with a small galley, toilet and sleep restraint technology to provide the crew members the essentials to sustain themselves over the duration of their mission.
STS-114, August 3, 2005: Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson participates in the mission's third EVA while anchored to a foot restraint on the International Space Station's Canadarm2.
The robotic arm on the space shuttle orbiters was capable of heavy lifting as well as a very delicate touch. It was used in space to deploy, move, and capture satellites and other payloads. The robotic arm was also instrumental in assembling the International Space Station. The robotic arm was called Canadarm in tribute to the Canadian Space Agency, the agency that built the arm in partnership with NASA.
That device in the background covered in golf foil is the satellite motor cradle. This cradle flew in space in May 1992 aboard STS-49, the first flight of Space Shuttle Endeavor. It is the cradle for a satellite motor like the one displayed here (black cylinder). The motor was used to relaunch the Intelsat VI satellite which had failed to reach the correct orbit. The task of the STS-49 crew was to capture the satellite and attach the motor to it to boost the satellite into its intended orbit.
Several attempts by the scheduled pair of astronauts failed to capture the satellite. It was finally captured by a team of three astronauts. This was the only time during the Space Shuttle Program three astronauts performed a spacewalk at the same time. It was the longest spacewalk at the time: 8 hours and 29 minutes.
These are some pictures from our first visit in 2011:
After leaving the mock up of the shuttle and all the information in that, we made our way to a demonstration of the James Webb Telescope.
There was a lovey lady who talked about the telescope and told us all about the telescope.
Webb can also observe objects in the Solar System at an angle of more than 85° from the Sun and having an apparent angular rate of motion less than 0.03 arc seconds per second. This includes Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, their satellites, and comets, asteroids and minor planets at or beyond the orbit of Mars. Webb has the near-IR and mid-IR sensitivity to be able to observe virtually all known Kuiper Belt Objects. In addition, it can observe opportunistic and unplanned targets within 48 hours of a decision to do so, such as supernovae and gamma ray bursts.
Where is the James Webb telescope right now? It's currently in the constellation of Orion, about 1,663,529 kilometers (1,033,669 miles) from Earth, equivalent to 0.011120 Astronomical Units. Light takes 5.5489 seconds to travel from James Webb Space Telescope and arrive to us.
When Apollo 11 astronauts stepped on the Moon July 20, 1969, they were the first to walk on another world. Astronauts on the six missions that landed on the Moon returned to Earth with scientific data and Lunar samples. They conducted experiments on the surface of the Moon to learn about soil mechanics, meteoroids, seismic activity, heat flow, magnetic field, and solar wind. Those investigations led to an important increase in our knowledge of the Moon.
Astronauts drove the Rover on the Moon during the last three Apollo missions -- Apollo 15, 16, and 17. The rovers were reliable, safe, and flexible tools that greatly expanded the range of exploration and facilitated scientific discoveries about the history of the Moon.
This diorama is missing stars in the sky because Apollo astronauts did not see stars from the Moon's surface. The Apollo missions were planned to land on the Moon during the two-week-long lunar days. Just as stars are not visible on Earth during the day, they are not visible from the surface of the Moon during Lunar days.
Apollo astronauts brought back to Earth almost 850 pounds of Moon rocks and soil samples from the Moon. Six Apollo missions landed on the Moon from 1969 to 1972, each returning with samples from their landing locations. The lunar samples contain important clues about how the Earth and Moon were formed; the history of the Sun; and insights into the early days of our solar system.
In addition to Moon rocks and soil, astronauts brought back to Earth lunar soil core samples. Astronauts drilled hollow tubes up to 10 feet below the surface of the Moon to get a cylindrical sample section of lunar soil.
This Moon rock was brought to Earth by the Apollo 17 crew who visited the Moon in December 1972. The sample was collected from the Valley of Taurus-Littrow, an area similar to the Grand Canyon, located on the edge of the Sea of Serenity in the upper right quadrant of the Moon as viewed from the Earth. One of eight lunar rocks in the world available to be touched by the public, this Moon rock is 3.8 billion years old.
On the Moon, rocks and soil are not exposed to water or oxygen which are common on Earth. Any contact with Earth's atmosphere could contaminate Moon samples and cause oxidation (rust). The samples are stored in pure nitrogen, which is a non-reactive gas that keeps the samples clean and the information they contain unchanged.
Some of NASA's current efforts are focused on returning to the Moon on the way to Mars. Missions to the Moon provide a way to test and refine technology and procedures needed for human exploration of Mars.
Getting astronauts to the Martian surface and returning them safely to Earth is an extremely difficult engineering challenge. NASA is charting a step by step course with more and more challenging missions as humans travel farther from Earth.
The Rover Curiosity has measured radiation on the way to and on the surface of Mars. This data will help us plan how to protect astronauts who will explore Mars.
Engineers at NASA Johnson Space Center developed a prototype for a tough, reliable and multipurpose Surface Exploration Vehicle (SEV). Astronauts may explore miles beyond their landing site on Mars in a similar rover. The SEV builds on lessons learned from Apollo rovers and also uses knowledge gained with robots on Mars.
The safest, quickest, and most cost-effective path between Earth and Mars is when they line up so the trip is shortest. The shortest trip for astronauts to Mars is about six months. They will be on the surface of Mars for up to two years before the planets line up again for the six-month journey back to Earth. Astronauts may be on a mission to Mars for about three years. The best way to pack for this journey is to plan ahead.
Earth's magnetic field deflects cosmic radiation keeping us safe. NASA engineers test radiation shield materials to keep astronauts safe on future Mars missions away from Earth's protective bubble. Earth's magnetic field protects us and other organisms living here. Outside Earth's natural shield, speeding cosmic particles threaten astronauts travelling in space. Cosmic rays can hurt human cells, causing cataracts, cancer, damage the nervous system, reduce immunity and increase the risk of cancer.
Where is the James Webb telescope right now? It's currently in the constellation of Orion, about 1,663,529 kilometers (1,033,669 miles) from Earth, equivalent to 0.011120 Astronomical Units. Light takes 5.5489 seconds to travel from James Webb Space Telescope and arrive to us.
March 18, 2025. I found this website that tells what the James Webb telescope is viewing right now. It just snapped direct image of worlds many light-years away.
After the demonstration of the telescope, we made our way to the rest of the exhibits.
Next stop was the exhibit about why we chose to go to the Moon.
Amidst rising Soviet tensions in the heat of the Space Race, President John F. Kennedy gave the American people hope with one simple goal: to put a man on the Moon before the end of the decade. Addressing a captivated crowd of 35,000 at Rice University in Houston, Texas, President Kennedy stood behind the lectern and delivered a speech that would become a pivotal moment in the U.S. space program. President Kennedy's rallying cry to "go to the moon" still drives our efforts today as we work toward the next step in our journey to explore outer space.
When Apollo 11 astronauts stepped on the Moon July 20, 1969, they were the first to walk on another world. Astronauts on the six missions that landed on the Moon returned to Earth with scientific data and Lunar samples. They conducted experiments on the surface of the Moon to learn about soil mechanics, meteoroids, seismic activity, heat flow, magnetic field, and solar wind. Those investigations led to an important increase in our knowledge of the Moon.
Apollo missions accelerated the pace of technology development. Landing humans on the Moon altered our view of humans in the Universe. Through tangible technology and less tangible impacts, the achievements of the Apollo Program flow through generations to inspire and unite us.
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| Lunar Rover |
Astronauts drove the Rover on the Moon during the last three Apollo missions -- Apollo 15, 16, and 17. The rovers were reliable, safe, and flexible tools that greatly expanded the range of exploration and facilitated scientific discoveries about the history of the Moon.
Tires on the lunar rover were made of a wire mesh for durability in the extreme temperatures and lack of pressure on the Moon. The zinc-coated steel mesh attached to an aluminum wheel hub. Titanium chevrons provided traction and kept the wheels from sinking into the soft lunar soil.
Each of the rovers weighed about 460 pounds -- the equivalent of about 77 pounds on the Moon. They had battery power to travel 55 miles, but the actual distance traveled was restricted to six miles from the Lunar Module so in case of a malfunction, the astronauts could safely walk back to the Lunar Module.
This diorama is missing stars in the sky because Apollo astronauts did not see stars from the Moon's surface. The Apollo missions were planned to land on the Moon during the two-week-long lunar days. Just as stars are not visible on Earth during the day, they are not visible from the surface of the Moon during Lunar days.
Future explorers who may live on the Moon in a Lunar base for long periods will be able to see stars when the Sun sets for approximately two weeks out of every month. The Moon rotates on its own axis more slowly than the Earth, which causes the relatively longer Lunar days.
Apollo astronauts brought back to Earth almost 850 pounds of Moon rocks and soil samples from the Moon. Six Apollo missions landed on the Moon from 1969 to 1972, each returning with samples from their landing locations. The lunar samples contain important clues about how the Earth and Moon were formed; the history of the Sun; and insights into the early days of our solar system.
Most of this information, which includes important parts of the story about our planet, cannot be learned by studying rocks on Earth because the geologic record has been erased by weather and geologic activity. On the Moon, the history is preserved by the lack of weather and the lack of an atmosphere.
Lunar soil has slowly built up layer by layer over millions of years as meteorite impacts gradually crushed rocks into bits. Each layer was exposed to the Sun before it was buried. As scientists study core samples, evidence about the Sun and the history of the Moon is revealed. The oldest layers at the bottom of some cores are about 500 million years old. Layers closer to the surface are younger.
When a section of core sample is ready for analysis, the soil is extracted into a horizontal container. The soil is examined bit by bit, and it takes four to six months to analyze just one core section. One strip from each core sample is retained as a permanent record.
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| Moon rock |
This Moon rock was brought to Earth by the Apollo 17 crew who visited the Moon in December 1972. The sample was collected from the Valley of Taurus-Littrow, an area similar to the Grand Canyon, located on the edge of the Sea of Serenity in the upper right quadrant of the Moon as viewed from the Earth. One of eight lunar rocks in the world available to be touched by the public, this Moon rock is 3.8 billion years old.
On the Moon, rocks and soil are not exposed to water or oxygen which are common on Earth. Any contact with Earth's atmosphere could contaminate Moon samples and cause oxidation (rust). The samples are stored in pure nitrogen, which is a non-reactive gas that keeps the samples clean and the information they contain unchanged.
Moon rocks reveal geology of the Moon. Scientists can observe and study the mineral crystals inside lunar rocks by cutting sections so thin, light can pass through them. These slices are technically called thin sections. Putting a thin section under a double polarized filters under a microscope causes the crystals to bend light in a particular way. The colors that appear under the double polarized filters tell experts what minerals are present inside the rock.
During our visit in 2011, they had some big moon rocks that I think look much better than the ones during our 2025 visit.
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| Salt Moon Rock |
The first three lunar landings were within 70 miles of the Moon's equator. The Apollo 15 mission (July 26 to August 7, 1971) was over 450 miles north of the lunar equator in an area called the Hadley-Apennine Mountains -- a mountain range higher than the Himalayas. This rock is a basalt from this mountainous area, and is a medium-coarse grained igneous rock. An igneous rock is one that has formed by the cooling of molten lava. This sample's mineral content includes brown pyroxene, yellow olivine and white plagioclase. The rock's texture shows that it similar to the lavas on Earth that erupt from Hawaiian and Icelandic volcanoes.
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| Breccia Moon Rock |
Dave Scott and James Irwin were the first astronauts to use the electric-powered lunar rover to explore the Moon during Apollo 15 and collect numerous lunar samples -- including this one. The two men spent 67 hours on the Moon and traveled to three different geological sites. This particular rock is a breccia, which formed when meteorites hit the Moon's surface about 4 billion years ago. The high pressures and temperatures that resulted from the meteorite impacts literally remelted, crushed and mixed the layers of the original lunar crust and welded the existing rocks and soils together to create breccias. This Moon rock contains glass fragments and rock minerals consisting of pyroxene, with smaller amounts of plagioclase and olivine.
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| Breccia Moon Rock |
Astronauts Young and Duke (Apollo 16 April 16-27, 1972) gathered an enormous collection of lunar material on three different Moon walks. They spent more than 71 hours on the lunar surface, and this is one sample they brought back. It was formed when meteorites impacted the Moon billions of years ago. It is made mostly of plagioclase, but also has olivine and pyroxene in it.
Lunar soil is unique ~~ The geology of the Moon is different from the geology of the Earth. Because it does not have an atmosphere, there is no weather and no erosion on the Moon. The lack of atmosphere exposes the surface of the Moon to meteorite impacts. Over billions of years, the Moon has been bombarded by meteorite impacts -- some small, and others large and violent. Lunar soil is especially unique because it contains no water or organic material. The discovery of a rock called anorthosite on the Moon indicates the Moon was once the site of very complex geological processes including volcanism.
For some reason we did not visit the training facility today. There are three tram tours offered, two are included in general admission: the astronaut training facility and Abbey Rocket Park. The only one that cost extra was the Mission Control Tour. Since we did not go see the training facility, I am putting in the pictures that I took from our 2011 visit:
NASA is Leading the Journey to Mars
NASA is developing the technology today that will be needed to send humans to Mars in the next couple decades.
Some of NASA's current efforts are focused on returning to the Moon on the way to Mars. Missions to the Moon provide a way to test and refine technology and procedures needed for human exploration of Mars.
Getting astronauts to the Martian surface and returning them safely to Earth is an extremely difficult engineering challenge. NASA is charting a step by step course with more and more challenging missions as humans travel farther from Earth.
The Rover Curiosity has measured radiation on the way to and on the surface of Mars. This data will help us plan how to protect astronauts who will explore Mars.
NASA engineers and scientists are working today to develop the know-how astronauts will use in the future to live and work on Mars, and safely return to Earth. NASA is preparing in stages for human exploration of Mars, each step testing and validating new technology.
NASA is already on Mars. A fleet of probes and rovers has studied Mars for more than 40 years. The significant data these robots have discovered about the Martian environment helps us understand the challenges we may face and identify resources we may use on our neighboring planet.
The International Space Station is a stepping stone. NASA's path for the human exploration of Mars begins in low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station. With continuous mission support from NASA and its global partners, the space station is the only microgravity laboratory where technology vital to deep space exploration can be developed and tested. Advanced life support and communications systems are tested and improved on the space station. Long-duration expeditions in microgravity improve our understanding of how the human body changes in space and how to keep astronauts healthy in space.
Lessons learned on the International Space Station and missions to the Moon will prepare NASA to send astronauts to the neighborhood of Mars, including the two Martian moons and eventually to the surface of Mars. A mission to Mars and back home will take years. The spacecraft, life support, communication, and science systems will need to be self-reliant.
Green Thumbs on the Red Planet:
The surface of Mars receives about half the sunlight the Earth does, so artificial light may be needed for crops. To reduce the amount of power needed for lighting, NASA is studying Light Emitting Diodes (LED) which use less power. LEDs are adjustable to provide only the amount of light and wavelengths specific to plant species at specific growth stages. Overall, LEDs use about 60% less energy than traditional plant lighting systems.
Plants use carbon dioxide and water to grow. The atmosphere on Mars is made of carbon dioxide. Water is available through recycling and could be extracted from the soil on Mars. The soil on Mars contains the nutrients plants need. It also contains elements that are toxic to humans, so they will be filtered out. Fertilizers may be added to the Martian soil. NASA is developing a simulant of Martian soil to better understand how it can be used to grow plants.
Fruits and vegetables that may be eaten when picked, like strawberries, radishes, bell peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, fresh herbs, green onions, cabbages, and spinach are good candidates for a Martian farm. It is likely that algae may be part of the diet on Mars.
Space farming will progress from experiments to a reality as humans explore deeper into space. Plants will have a key role in life support for extended missions. They will provide food and oxygen, and also a pastime for astronauts. Advances in space farming will bring innovations to agriculture and food safety on Earth.
Astronauts grew plants in the microgravity of low Earth orbit, but scientists are working to find out how the one-third gravity of Mars might affect crops. NASA biologists are studying how plants survive under lower pressures than on Earth. Studies on plants indicate they function with as little as a tenth of an atmosphere. A low-pressure greenhouse on Mars would save on supplies and hardware.
The next step is a return to the Moon:
Men first visited the Moon in the Apollo program. NASA's new human mission program is Artemis, named after Apollo's twin sister in ancient Greek Mythology. With the Artemis program, the first woman and the next man will land on the Moon. NASA will use new technology to explore more of the lunar surface. New crewed missions to the Moon include the Gateway, an outpost orbiting the Moon. Gateway will provide vital support for continuing, long-term missions to the lunar surface. It will serve as a model for future missions to Mars.
NASA wants to explore the Solar System for the benefit of Earth. For scientists and engineers, Mars is an exciting destination because it is our closest planetary neighbor and getting there will lead to advanced technology and scientific discoveries.
Mars formed and evolved in a similar way to Earth, and scientists believe we can learn more about our own planet's history and future by studying Mars. Many scientists wonder if past conditions on Mars were suitable for life to develop.
NASA and its partners have been exploring Mars with orbiters, landers, and rovers and making new discoveries for 40 years. Now, NASA is preparing to send human and robotic explorers to investigate:
>Was Mars home to microbial life? Is it today?
>Could Mars be a safe home for humans one day?
>What can Mars teach us about life in the cosmos or how life began on Earth?
>What can we learn from Mars about Earth's past, present, and future?
The path to Mars offers difficulties to overcome and breakthroughs to make. Human space exploration leads to economic progress and improvements to our daily lives. Space exploration increases our scientific knowledge, encourages inventions and leads to discovery of new resources.
Sending humans to Mars will be difficult. As NASA and its partners solve the challenges of sending humans to Mars, they will inspire and educate the next generation, and create a better life in the future.
Engineers at NASA Johnson Space Center developed a prototype for a tough, reliable and multipurpose Surface Exploration Vehicle (SEV). Astronauts may explore miles beyond their landing site on Mars in a similar rover. The SEV builds on lessons learned from Apollo rovers and also uses knowledge gained with robots on Mars.
The SEV has a pressurized cabin for long trips and geologic study without the physical effort of wearing a spacesuit. It features suitports for quick and easy exit and entry, keeping the interior clean, and reducing wear and tear on the suits. Suitports also minimize the loss of air inside the cabin. The vehicle's multiple wheels easily drive over difficult terrain. In case of a damaged wheel, the SEV keeps rolling on the remaining functional wheels.
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| A Hohmann Transfer is an orbital operation that transfers a spacecraft from one circular orbit to another |
The safest, quickest, and most cost-effective path between Earth and Mars is when they line up so the trip is shortest. The shortest trip for astronauts to Mars is about six months. They will be on the surface of Mars for up to two years before the planets line up again for the six-month journey back to Earth. Astronauts may be on a mission to Mars for about three years. The best way to pack for this journey is to plan ahead.
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| An outpost around the Moon |
The Gateway will be an outpost orbiting the Moon that provides vital support for sustainable, long-term human missions to the Moon. It will also be a staging point for deep space exploration. The Gateway is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program.
NASA will fly Artemis missions around the Moon to test its deep space exploration systems. Crewed missions will start after an uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft together. NASA aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024 and about once a year thereafter.
The Gateway is part of NASA's deep space exploration plans, along with the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and human landing system that will transport astronauts to the Moon and its surface. Gaining new experiences on and around the Moon will prepare NASA to send the first humans to Mars in the coming years.
NASA's Gateway will be an outpost orbiting the Moon. A critical component of the Artemis program, Gateway will support humans making sustainable, long-term trips to the lunar surface.
After the first few Artemis missions, NASA and its partners will build Gateway, the first space station to orbit around the Moon. To get from Gateway to the Moon, astronauts will take a spacecraft that has legs to land on the lunar surface. Just like the International Space Station, NASA will work with international space agencies and commercial partners to build and operate Gateway.
As NASA and its Artemis partners prepare to send astronauts to the South Pole of the Moon, divers at NASA's giant pool in Houston -- the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory -- are setting the stage for future moonwalk training by simulating lunar lighting conditions at the South Pole.
People around the world are working on Artemis missions to help humanity go back to the Moon, some of which are Engineers, Nutritionists, Trainers, Psychologists, Scientists, Mission control teams, and Communication specialists.
NASA's Orion spacecraft with Earth and the Moon during the Artemis I mission. On this mission, Orion went farther than any spacecraft meant to carry humans has gone before: 268,563 miles away from our home plant.
During the Artemis missions, Orion is the vehicle that will carry the crew to the Moon, sustain the astronauts, and provide safe re-entry to Earth. Orion is bigger and more modern than the Apollo spacecraft that went to the Moon 50 years ago. Getting to the Moon takes longer than going to the International Space Station. From the Station it takes three hours to return to Earth. From the Moon it takes three days.
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| Margaret Hamilton, Director of the Software Engineering Division |
Margaret Hamilton was in charge of the division that developed the software to detect system errors and information recovery in a computer crash which were crucial to Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. She coined the term "Software Engineer" because she felt her team's work was just as much engineering as the other work on the Apollo craft. She is often called the mother of software engineering. The division's stack of code ended up being 5'4" tall when full stacked.
This is the new Artemis II Crew. They are the people taking the next step to go to back to the Moon. These four astronauts will orbit the Moon on the Artemis II mission, scheduled for late 2025. This will be in preparation for the Artemis III mission to land the first humans on the Moon in over 50 years. The Artemis II crew is: NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.
"... when I first looked back at the Earth, standing on the Moon, I cried." ~~ Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
"For when I look at the Moon I do not see a hostile, empty world. I see the radiant body where man has taken his first steps into a frontier that will never end." ~~ David R. Scott
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