NASA announces that humanity will “see things that have never been seen before”

 

Joseph Acabá, the new chief astronaut of the American space agency, this ambitious project will show humanity things never seen before.

NASA's Artemis program promises to be a milestone in the history of space exploration. According to Joseph Acabá, the new chief astronaut of the US space agency, this ambitious project will show humanity things never seen before . In an exclusive interview with EFE, Acabá shared his excitement and enthusiasm for the Artemis missions, highlighting their historical importance and the impact they will have on the imagination of future generations.

The Dream of Returning to the Moon and Beyond

Artemis is the program that will take NASA back to the Moon after nearly five decades since the last landing on Apollo 17 in 1972. But this time, the goal is not limited to one-off visits. Artemis has the ambition to establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface, laying the groundwork for future exploration of Mars and beyond.

The Artemis 1 Mission: A Promising Start

The program's first mission, Artemis 1, has already taken its first steps. In December 2022, the Orion spacecraft completed a 25-day journey in orbit around the Moon, demonstrating NASA's ability to conduct long-duration missions in deep space.

Although Artemis 1 was unmanned, its success lays the groundwork for future manned missions. Acabá noted that in the next two months the three American astronauts who will be part of the crew of Artemis 2, scheduled for 2024, will be announced. A fourth crew member will be provided by the Canadian space agency.

Diversity in the spotlight

One of Artemis’ key goals is to promote diversity in space exploration. For the Artemis 3 mission, which plans to be the first to carry astronauts to the lunar surface since Apollo 17, NASA is seeking to assemble a diverse crew that includes the first woman and the first person of color to walk on the Moon.

Acabá, who is of Puerto Rican origin, is aware of the importance of representation and the inspiration that these missions can generate in future generations. “Personally, my interest in space began when I watched the Apollo missions with my grandparents, and I hope that when young students see the Artemis missions, it sparks their imagination,” the astronaut said.

Beyond the Moon: Mars and the Future of Space Exploration

While the Moon is Artemis’ first target, the program has a much broader vision. Acabá emphasized that the Artemis missions “will be bigger than anything we’ve seen before,” and will eventually serve as a springboard to take humanity to Mars and beyond.

Exploring Mars has been a long-held dream for NASA and the scientific community at large. With Artemis, the space agency hopes to gain the knowledge and experience needed to eventually send manned missions to the Red Planet.

The Commercialization of Space: A New Era

Another of NASA’s responsibilities under Artemis is to facilitate the “commercialization of space.” With private companies such as SpaceX and Boeing playing an increasingly important role in the aerospace industry, Acabá stressed the importance of making space accessible to all.

“The goal is to make space accessible to everyone,” said the astronaut, acknowledging the growing role of the private sector in space exploration. This collaboration between NASA and private aerospace companies promises to open up new opportunities and advances in the field of space exploration.

An Unparalleled Experience

For Acabá, who has logged 306 days in space since being selected by NASA in 2004, space exploration has been one of the greatest experiences of his life. The astronaut has participated in three space missions, including one aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 2009 and two missions to the International Space Station in 2012 and 2018.

With his vast experience and knowledge, Acabá is ready to take on his new role as chief astronaut and guide future space explorers on the exciting Artemis missions.

An Exciting Future for Space Exploration

As the Artemis program progresses, the excitement and anticipation surrounding the missions continues to grow. Acabá and his team of astronauts are ready to face the challenges ahead, with the promise of showing humanity things that have never been seen before.

From establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon to the eventual exploration of Mars, the Artemis program promises to open new horizons and take space exploration to new heights. Humanity is about to witness an exciting new chapter in the history of cosmos exploration.