How We Are Going to the Moon

There are multiple plans and missions being developed to send humans back to the Moon. Here is an overview of some of the strategies and plans being pursued.

1. NASA's Artemis Program: The Artemis Program by NASA aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. It involves three key components - the Space Launch System (SLS), the Orion spacecraft, and the Lunar Gateway. The SLS will be responsible for launching the Orion spacecraft, which will transport astronauts to lunar orbit. The Lunar Gateway is a small space station that will serve as a staging point for lunar missions.

2. SpaceX's Starship: SpaceX is developing a spacecraft called Starship, which it plans to use for various missions, including crewed missions to the Moon. The Starship is designed to be a fully reusable spacecraft capable of carrying both astronauts and cargo. SpaceX has been conducting test flights of prototypes and intends to make the spacecraft operational in the near future.

3. Lunar Landers: To enable crewed missions to the lunar surface, various companies and organizations are developing lunar landers. NASA has awarded contracts to multiple companies, including Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Dynetics, to design and develop lunar landers for the Artemis program. These landers will be essential for transporting astronauts from the Lunar Gateway to the Moon's surface.

4. International Collaboration: Several countries are also collaborating to send humans back to the Moon. For example, NASA has partnered with international space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to participate in the Artemis program. Together, these agencies contribute technical expertise, resources, and funding to support the mission.

5. Lunar Exploration: Once humans return to the Moon, the focus will be on conducting scientific research, expanding our understanding of the lunar environment, and preparing for future missions, including the potential establishment of a lunar outpost or base.

It's important to note that the specifics of these plans are continually evolving, and unforeseen challenges may arise. However, significant progress is being made towards sending humans back to the Moon, and several missions are currently in development to achieve this goal.