Apollo 17 Expedition: When Will Astronauts Step on the Moon Again?
The unique Artemis 2 mission, which lasted six days, successfully completed a flyby of the Moon, but astronauts were unable to become the first to step on its surface since Apollo 17. This raises the question: when can we expect to see new human landings on the Moon after a hiatus of over half a century?
The last mission to land on the lunar surface was Apollo 17, which took place on December 11, 1972. During this historic event, astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt successfully landed their lunar module, Challenger, in the Taurus-Littrow valley, located on the southeastern edge of the Sea of Serenity. This marked a significant moment in the history of space exploration, as humanity has not returned to the Moon since that time.
However, the Artemis II mission had different objectives. NASA did not aim to replicate the path of Apollo 17; instead, it sought to demonstrate that the Space Launch System rocket could safely transport a crew aboard the Orion spacecraft beyond low Earth orbit. Following this, the crew was to return to Earth, gathering critical data for future missions without endangering the astronauts' lives.
Dr. Lori Glaze, acting deputy administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, noted, "At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore further, and achieve the impossible. This is perfectly embodied by our Artemis II astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen." According to her, the Artemis II mission is part of NASA's commitment to return to the Moon's surface, and "this time for the long haul, to establish a lunar base there."
The first results necessary for future landings were obtained even before the spacecraft approached the Moon. The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, and after the rocket's launch, Orion deployed four solar panels. On April 2, the spacecraft executed a maneuver to transition to a trajectory towards the Moon, marking the first time since the Apollo era that humans left low Earth orbit.
During the early stages of the flight, NASA utilized the time to demonstrate rendezvous operations and test manual piloting in deep space. On the fourth day of the mission, astronauts Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen manually controlled Orion for 41 minutes in various engine modes. Engineers deemed it essential to verify how the spacecraft responded to crew commands, as Orion is expected to dock with commercial lunar landers in future Artemis III and Artemis IV missions.
NASA reports indicate that some planned correction maneuvers on the way to the Moon were canceled because Orion was perfectly on course. Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, a former U.S. Navy test pilot, remarked, "Everything is working great, responding very quickly. The camera is also better than the one we used in the simulator."
Following this, the spacecraft executed the flyby around the Moon. According to NASA, Orion passed at an altitude of about 4,067 miles above the surface. The spacecraft followed a free-return trajectory: instead of entering lunar orbit, it used the satellite's gravity to turn back toward Earth. This was the most reliable way to test navigation, timing, engines, and communication in deep space.
During the flyby, the crew photographed and documented craters, lava flows, mountain ranges, and the color differences of the lunar surface for scientists on Earth. They observed the sunrise and sunset of Earth, as well as the solar corona during an eclipse. They recorded flashes on the lunar surface, likely from meteorite impacts.
Astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared his impressions: "I am amazed at what can now be seen with the naked eye from the Moon. It's simply incredible." His colleague Christina Koch also expressed her thoughts: "The darkness around Earth made it even more special. It highlighted how similar we are, as the same thing sustains the life of every person on planet Earth."
Even before April 4, the spacecraft's optical communication system transmitted over 100 gigabytes of data, including high-resolution images. After the flyby, the astronauts sent back over 50 gigabytes of photographs and information specifically related to the lunar approach. Kelsey Young, lead lunar scientist at the Flight Control Center, stated, "While these images are inspiring and, in my view, allow us all to feel a bit of what they felt, they also hide a lot of scientific discoveries. Discussions and scientific conclusions based on these images are just beginning."
Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman did not hide his excitement: "We have waited for this for so long, you can't imagine." However, NASA's work does not end here. "I will breathe a sigh of relief when we pass the entry phase, and everyone is under parachutes," he added, emphasizing the importance of the mission's subsequent stages.