Lunar missions are set to take place in the future, with NASA's Artemis among the many planning for future ventures, but for now, studies and assessments are done to ensure every factor to account. In Artemis' case, NASA recently revisited an old Moon mission to know about its risks, and this is with Apollo 12's landing back in 1969, as part of its preparation for its future return.
Shaping up Artemis' future venture, modern technologies give astronomers and scientists better tools and information to predict what the next mission will bring.
NASA Artemis Uses Apollo 12's Landing Simulation to Assess
(Photo : NASA Artemis/X)
In a recent revelation by NASA, the company used the Apollo 12's landing simulation to assess what it would bring once the Artemis mission takes place, with the agency using the Pleiades supercomputer for the job. Located at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, the team used its newly developed software tools to learn more about the environmental impact on the lunar surface.
NASA said that landing on the Moon is tricky, and this is because the spacecraft uses its rocket engines to counteract the lunar gravitational pull, especially as it could mean life or death.
Supersonic plumes of hot gas toward the lunar surface blast to keep the spacecraft safe from crashing, especially with Artemis' more powerful rockets compared to Apollo 12's.
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Future Lunar Mission Risks: Revisiting the Past
Through Apollo 12's data and revisiting this past mission, NASA gets more insight into the future of Artemis' landing, especially as the plumes can erode the surface, and may form craters with its more powerful rockets. This, in turn, could cause rapid cratering and render the lander unstable, and unsafe for both the spacecraft and the astronauts.
NASA regarded that Apollo's landers did not create the craters, but not the same can be said for Artemis.
Artemis Moon Mission and the SLS Rocket
NASA's design of the Artemis Moon mission's rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), is by far the largest and strongest there is, and this is to accommodate the ambitious return of humans to the Moon. Earlier in June 2022, NASA completed the tests for the SLS after massive issues and problems it faced, seeing a success that led to its later launch.
Back on November 16, 2022, NASA and the world held on to their seats for the first uncrewed mission to the Moon, featuring Artemis' rocket and the Orion spacecraft. This mission was a success, and its test gave NASA's researchers massive insights into the future of the mission, especially for when the crew takes their place for humanity's return to the lunar surface.
Despite the massive achievements by NASA for the Artemis mission, it is still looking to ensure all possible scenarios and happenings, especially with its data and technology now. Apollo 12's landing simulation gave NASA an idea for the future Artemis mission, now considering the environmental impact of the rocket once it reaches the Moon, alongside the risks it will bring with the SLS and Orion.
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