Exploration missions continue on Moon's dark south pole

By Aleyna Cil

ANKARA (AA) - Fifty-four years after man first landed on the Moon, lunar missions are accelerating with new discoveries in its shadowed regions.

Out of the 70 space agencies worldwide, only a few possess the necessary capabilities for lunar missions, including launch capabilities, lunar landing, rover development, and crewed flights.

Here are the recent developments regarding lunar missions planned until 2030:

- NASA

Back in 1969, NASA made history with the Apollo 11 mission, during which Neil Armstrong famously said: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

NASA concluded its last crewed lunar mission with Apollo 17 in December 1972 but now prepares for a return to the Moon with the Artemis program.

The first stage of the program, Artemis I, was completed in December 2022. It involved the Orion spacecraft completing a lunar orbit and a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, while also testing the launch system during a 25-day mission.

The Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission with the Orion spacecraft, has been postponed to November 2024. During this mission, four astronauts will undertake a 10-day journey covering 10,300 kilometers (6,400 miles) to the Moon but will not land on its surface. Instead, they will return to Earth.

Artemis III, the subsequent mission, will have two astronauts remaining on the main spacecraft to control systems while the rest of the crew will land on the Moon using a vehicle produced by SpaceX for NASA.

They will collect photographs, videos, and samples during their six-and-a-half-day stay on the lunar surface before returning to the main spacecraft and ultimately Earth, having traveled a total of 40,000 kilometers.

Artemis III, the mission during which humanity will explore the extremely cold lunar South Pole for the first time, is not expected to take place until 2025.

NASA emphasizes that the Orion spacecraft's crew, including the first woman and first person of color, will serve as an inspiration for future generations.

NASA's other lunar project, VIPER, aimed at exploring lunar ice and other potential resources, is expected to be launched to the lunar surface in late 2024.

- European Space Agency

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Heracles mission aims to enable astronauts to conduct scientific studies using remotely unmanned exploration vehicles from a lunar Gateway starting in 2028.

The high-performance commercial communications system Lunar Pathfinder, designed for use by space agencies in lunar missions, will serve in lunar orbit.

With the International Habitat (I-Hab) project, ESA will provide fixed living space for astronauts, and fuel for unmanned exploration vehicles with the European System for Fuel, Infrastructure and Telecommunications (ESPRIT).

ESA is working to ensure the continuity and efficiency of lunar missions by developing the In situ resource utilization (ISRU) to support and facilitate human missions, instead of relying solely on resources transported from Earth.

- Russia

Russia is set to launch its first lunar space mission, Luna-25, in modern times on Aug. 11, this year.

The Lunar Gateway project, designed as a partnership between ESA and Russian space agency Roscosmos, were terminated unilaterally by ESA after the Ukraine-Russia war last year.

However, Roscosmos has expressed its commitment to continue using the International Space Station and remains open to cooperation with other space agencies, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

- China

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) plans to explore the lunar South Pole and its natural resources through the China Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP), involving Chang'e 6, Chang'e 7, and Chang'e 8 unmanned exploration missions until 2030.

In addition to the Chang'e missions, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) plans to send astronauts to the Moon before 2030.

The construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which will be used for exploration missions to other planets in the solar system and deep space, is expected to be completed before 2050.

- India

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission was successfully launched on July 14.

Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled to enter the lunar transfer trajectory, aiming for a soft landing on the lunar surface on Aug. 23.

If successful, India's mission will make it the fourth country, after the US, the former Soviet Union, and China, to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.

With ambitious plans from various space agencies, the future of lunar exploration promises groundbreaking discoveries and potential advancements for all of humanity.​​​​​​​