Nasa is building floating space base that will orbit the Moon – and send astronauts to Mars
NASA has announced that it's partnering with the European Space Agency (ESA) to create a floating Moon base for astronauts.
The base will be known as the 'Gateway' and aims to facilitate long Moon expeditions by being a home away from home.
Eventually, the floating base could even help humans reach Mars by being a stop off point.
Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine : "This partnership leverages the outstanding cooperation established by the International Space Station as we push forward to the Moon.
"Gateway will continue to expand NASA’s cooperation with international partners like ESA, ensuring the Artemis program results in the safe and sustainable exploration of the Moon after the initial human lunar landing and beyond."
Longer missions will mean we can explore more of the lunar surface than every before.
Construction on the Gateway could start as early as 2022.
It will essentially be live a version of the International Space Station but orbiting the Moon not Earth.
SpaceX and Maxar Technologies will also be involved in its creation.
The ESA will be providing spacecrafts that will travel to and from the Gateway as well as a refuelling system.
It will also be focusing on communication for the base.
Dan Hartman, Gateway program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said: "The Gateway will enable sustained Artemis operations while also serving as a catalyst for research and demonstrating new technologies, taking advantage of the unique environment in lunar orbit.
"ESA’s impactful contribution will enable longer crew duration stays around the Moon and provide unique capabilities necessary to support its operations."
Nasa's Artemis lunar mission – key facts
Nasa's Artemis lunar mission – key facts
- Nasa has pledged to land man on the Moon in 2024
- The mission, dubbed Artemis, will mark the first time astronauts have set foot on the lunar surface since 1972
- A giant Nasa rocket dubbed the Space Launch System will carry astronauts beyond Earth's atmosphere
- Once at the Moon, two astronauts will descend to the surface from an orbiting craft called the Lunar Gateway
- Nasa has pledged that one of the landing crewa will be female, marking the first time a woman has set foot on the Moon
- The pair would land on the lunar south pole, where vast reserves of frozen water could be tapped for future explorers
- The landing system that brought the astronauts to the surface will then blast back to the orbiting Gateway satellite
- They will board an Orion capsule for the 250,000-mile trip back to Earth
- Nasa has a mountain of technical challenges to overcome before Artemis gets the green light
- It's still not clear if everything will be ready in time for the ambitious 2024 launch date
- Nasa boss Jim Bridenstine has said the Moon will serve as a critical training ground for Mars expeditions, perhaps in the 2030s
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In other news, a huge asteroid nicknamed the 'God of Chaos' is gaining speed as it travels towards Earth, according to wary experts.
Nasa has announced the discovery of water on the Moon's surface.
And, Stargazers are in for a treat this week as there's a chance to see a comet, Uranus at opposition and a 'Blue Moon' on Halloween.
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