2024-01-14 19:50:36
These are the main projects that NASA will carry out in 2024
Orbytal-1 rocket, launched in 2014 (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
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The year 2024 is hereand with this begins a new return to the sun in which NASA has many plans for this year that is beginning. For this reason, NASA was quick to show in a video what are the main events and missions that will be held soon. Now, at Andro4All we want to briefly explain to you What does each of them consist of?what NASA wants to achieve, and what its success would mean for our society.
Key events and missions for NASA in 2024
Commercial trips to the Moon
On January 8, 2024, it took place NASA’s first commercial flight to the Moon. Under the acronym CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services), the first commercial robot was sent to our nearby satellite, the Peregrine probe, the private company Astrobotic Technology. It would be NASA’s first landing on the Moon since 1972, more than 50 years ago, although other countries, such as India, have carried out missions on the Moon.
With this mission, in addition, to continue deepening the CLPS project to take humans to the Moon on commercial tripsit also seeks to collect data to improve the result of future lunar expeditions that will be held soon, such as the crucial Artemis missions.
Development of the VIPER rover
El VIPER (Volatiles Explorating Polar Exploration Rover) es a space rover under construction which is scheduled to be sent to the moon in 2024. It is still in development, but work is underway to have it sent to our bright satellite this year. In fact, NASA itself has given many details regarding this rover that is being created in its laboratories.
PRIME-1 (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1), lunar ice extraction
The VIPER will have a very important mission when it is sent to the moonsince it will be in charge of obtaining resources and minerals from the Moon to analyze them and obtain key information regarding large questions that still have no answerslike how long has water existed on our satellite, and many others aspects regarding its composition and origin.
Nowadays the Great Impact theory is taken as the most plausible hypothesis, but we will be able to know much more exact details regarding the Moon’s past thanks to the PRIME-1 mission that is being prepared.
The Moon will be the protagonist in many of NASA’s projects in 2024
Artemis missions still standing
After what the first Artemis missionwith an unmanned spacecraft, was a resounding success for NASA, they kept this project going, whose next phase, Artemis IIis set to take place in November 2023. In addition, various details are also being worked on around Artemis III, the subsequent mission that will be completed in the future.
Artemis II will be tested the manned trip to the Moon in real conditions to complete this objective fully on the Artemis III, a mission in which the active exploration of the south pole of the Moon.
Human beings reached the Moon for the first time in 1969 | Image: Unsplash
Biological simulation of human organs during space travel
There are many doubts around the impact What intense space travel can have in human organsespecially with the trips with astronauts that are being planned so much in direction to the Moon as to Mars. Space radiation, the stress of ships leaving the atmosphere and other phenomena might affect organs in unknown ways, and that is why we seek to investigate it precisely.
To do this, simulations will be carried out with “organs” designed from 3D fabrics who will study the impact that exposure to space has on them. These 3D fabrics will have microchips that will monitor and simulate evolution of these bodies to prevent future risks in manned space incursions.
Development of the spacesuits that will be used on Artemis III
As planned by NASA, the Artemis III mission, which would represent the culmination of the goal of explore the south pole of the Moon, will be a new step for humanity, entering a territory where humans have never been. Therefore, the design of space suits is also crucial to guarantee that their wearers can enjoy a safe stay.
The stays at the south pole of the Moon imply exhaustive development for the Artemis III suit
Development of Human Landing Systems (HLS) or Human Launch Systems
Another of the essential processes to carry out the mission is the launch technology development. It is usually one of the most critical investigations, where the slightest error can imply the failure of the mission before leave the Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, the development of HLS involves maximum care so that the launches of future missions proceed normally.
NASA is one of the main symbols of human space exploration.
Gateway, the first lunar orbital station
Although the International Space Station has allowed all types of tests and experiments to be carried out, NASA’s goal is to create the Gateway Space Stationa new space station that, orbiting the moonmay have important uses in future missions.
This project is still in an initial phase, so no major advances are expected in the short term in this project. However, it is expected that On January 31, NASA will communicate details more specific regarding Gateway.
Lunar vehicles to explore the south pole of the Moon
The Moon may only be a third the diameter of the Earth, but still, on Artemis III, have the right vehicles It will be important to cover a greater distance when human exploration of the Moon’s south pole is carried out. For that reason, the development of these vehicles is another of the cornerstones of this ambitious mission.
Research on the International Space Station (ISS)
As has occurred in recent years, the International Space Station will continue to be a stage for carry out all kinds of tests and experiments of a scientific nature. Thanks to its location in the Earth’s exosphere, far from the gravitational force, tests can be carried out that are impossible to do under natural conditions on Earth. Therefore, the ISS will remain in 2024 as a valuable research center.
The International Space Station will continue to be the protagonist in 2024 missions
NASA commercial takeoffs
For this 2024, with commercial flights already in operationThey will be carried out two trips to the International Space Station from the hand of SpaceX and its Crew Dragon. The first of these takeoffs, Crew 8, will take place on February 8while the second, Crew 9, is planned to take place On August 9.
Boeing commercial flight to the ISS
SpaceX is not the only private company interested in sending to the International Space Station in 2024, since Boeing plansfollowing a 2023 with many logistical problems, which next April the company’s first trip takes place. If there are no more delays, this would be the Boeing’s first trip to the ISS.
NISAR mission between NASA and ISRO
ISRO, Indian space agencyhas joined NASA on a mission that, aiming at Earthwill involve implementing SAR radar systems that allow us to monitor the ecosystems of our planet with greater precision. Analysis of the Earth at an ecological level has always been of interest to agencies, and with this collaboration, these powerful radars will allow collect a large amount of information.
NASA focuses on both space and Earth missions
Observation of the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem)
Although NASA is known for wanting to know and investigate the universe, it also strives to focus its advances and create projects for the Earth. PACE, or the monitoring of ocean ecosystems, aerosols, clouds and planktonis responsible for monitoring the health of the land at an ecological level in these four areas.
Quesst Mission: a supersonic and ultra-quiet plane
NASA is also involved in the development of a supersonic aircraft and hopes to test it in 2024. This supersonic plane, capable of reaching speeds of 1,400 kilometers per hourstands out for having been developed with the objective that, in addition to reaching supersonic speed, it is silent in its wake. This plane, the X-59, is the protagonist of the Quesst mission.
NASA’s supersonic and ultra-quiet plane will be tested in 2024
The Europa Clipper will launch towards Jupiter’s moon Europa
The Europa Clipper mission It is also planned to take place in 2024. In this project, NASA will launch the Clipper probe towards Europe, but they do not refer to the continent of Earth, but to one of Jupiter’s moons. It will be a very long journey, billions of kilometers, and it will seek signs of life under its underground waters.
Europa, Jupiter’s moon, hides large oceans of water beneath its surface
Total Eclipse in North America
Next April 8 one of the most notable astronomical phenomena in recent years will take place, as a total solar eclipse will occur that will be visible in the United States, Mexico and Canada, mostly. If the eclipse occurred a few hours earlier (which it will not happen), it might also be visible in Spain, but night will arrive earlier and it will not be possible to see the eclipsed stars on the old continent.
Sequence of a solar eclipse from Oregon in 2017
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