NASA sends astronauts to Moon again; long stay this time
New Delhi : The moon mission begins, yet again! Jim Bridenstine, the chief administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that the space agency is sending astronauts to Moon again and this time they are going to stay there for long time. The bold statement has been made by him through an essay published in a website.
"We are going to the moon with innovative new technologies and systems to explore more locations across the surface than we ever thought possible," Bridenstine wrote. "This time, when we go to the moon, we will stay."
The current announcement of Bridenstine reminds us about the disclosed plans for a Lunar Gateway, which is supposed to be like a secondary space station orbiting the Moon. The Lunar Gateway when built will serve as an outpost with the first ever reusable lunar lander system. Following this, NASA can build an outpost on the Moon where they can mine for resources and, more importantly, refuel ships after Earth launches for longer trips out into our solar system.
Bridenstine also understands that private spaceflight ventures will be absolutely to its success. NASA, he says, is currently partnered with nine different American space companies. The space companies are either working on regularising cargo deliveries to the ISS or on the gateway itself.
Following a build up of capabilities, our goal is to land astronauts on the moon within the next decade," Bridenstine wrote. "Billions of people around the world will watch history being made as astronauts explore more of the surface for longer periods of time than ever before, and help us prepare for missions to Mars and other destinations."
