Back to the Moon

Více o knize

In December 2022, it will mark fifty years since humanity's last journey to the Moon, prompting a surge in global plans for a return. NASA aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024 through the Artemis program and establish the Lunar Gateway, a lunar orbiting space station, by 2028 to support a permanent human presence. This Gateway will also serve as a hub for lunar development and a launch site for further exploration of the solar system, including Mars. The European Space Agency (ESA) envisions a permanent human village at the lunar southern pole, while China's National Space Administration is pursuing its own lunar outpost. Private entrepreneurs are eager to mine lunar minerals, produce rocket fuel, and even develop luxury resorts. These initiatives represent a new space race, largely driven by commercial interests rather than scientific exploration. However, the establishment of habitable facilities on the Moon will inevitably enhance scientific opportunities. This book advocates for prioritizing lunar science, particularly lunar astronomy, and emphasizes the importance of building a telescope on the lunar far side to address fundamental questions about humanity's origins and existence.