The historic achievement of Apollo 11 in 1969 not only gave the United States a significant advantage in the ongoing competition with the Soviet Union (USSR), but also marked an unprecedented milestone in successfully landing humans on the Moon. Despite the passage of more than 50 years, this extraordinary achievement remains incomparable and unrepeatable. As exploration continues to push boundaries, reveal new frontiers, and expand our knowledge of the unknown, it becomes increasingly perplexing to wonder why we haven't ventured back to the Moon in all this time.
In this article we are going to analyze what are the reasons for why hasn't the moon returned.
What is the reason behind our failure to revisit the Moon?
To better understand the question at hand, we sought the expertise of Dr. Alejandro Farah Simón, a distinguished member of both the Astronomy Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the University Space Program (PEU). The following is his response transmitted to National Geographic en Español.
As the closest celestial body to Earth, The Moon has the distinction of being the only natural satellite of our planet and the fifth largest in the Solar System. However, even with their proximity, the enormous distances of outer space remain a formidable obstacle to human exploration missions.
At its closest distance, The satellite is 360.000 kilometers from Earth. The researcher highlights two challenges that technology must face: the pull of our planet's gravity and the complexity involved in navigating to a place that requires an understanding of orbital mechanics to predict the position of the celestial body upon arrival.
Dr. Alejandro Farah Simón explains that for a spacecraft to successfully leave Earth and reach the Moon, must reach a speed of 7,8 kilometers per second. If this speed is not reached, the Earth's gravitational attraction would prevent the detachment. Additionally, ensuring the safety and well-being of the crew presents another set of challenges. It is not only about providing food, air and water, but it is also crucial to protect astronauts from solar radiation, vibrations and unexpected changes of direction.
Without a doubt, the extensive coverage of requirements and meticulous preparation of resources to address mission challenges contribute significantly to the exorbitant costs and involve a substantial workforce in the project.
What did it take to get to the Moon?
According to the expert, The Apollo 11 mission involved the collaboration of approximately 400.000 people and required an astonishing investment of 20 billion dollars. These figures highlight the immense importance of the moon landing as a notable achievement in the fields of science and technology. The expert further states that due to the extensive organization and financial backing required for such an effort, it is unlikely that similar projects could be undertaken with the desired frequency.
What is the goal of an upcoming expedition to the moon? Basically, the next lunar mission aims to engage in space mining and establish a base beyond Earth. In addition, there is a particular isotope known as helium-3, which is abundant on the Moon but scarce on our planet. Returning to the Moon presents a valuable opportunity to harvest this gas, which has the potential to sustain our civilization for thousands of years through nuclear fusion.
Reasons why we have not returned to the Moon
Lack of motives and financing
Man's arrival on the Moon was strongly influenced by the historical context. In response to political tensions with the Soviet Union, the United States made the decision to embark on a manned mission to our celestial neighbor. National Geographic highlights that without this intense rivalry, it would have been an arduous task for Americans bring together nearly 400.000 people and allocate in a period of 14 years what today would be equivalent to approximately 106.000 million euros.
Beginning in 1960, there was a significant increase in the amount of money allocated to the American space program, eventually reaching an unprecedented high of 5,3% of the national budget in 1965. However, over time, there was a decrease in the enthusiasm and support for the American space program.
Loss of interest
As time went by, the political fervor surrounding the 'Space Race' waned, which caused the premature termination of the program despite the initial plan to carry out 20 missions. The end of the Cold War influenced this decision. After demonstrating American supremacy in science, the cost of sustaining space programs became too onerous to justify.
There is no more funding
During the 1980s, President Nixon significantly reduced funding for NASA, and despite Reagan's attempts to resurrect space missions, faced limitations in obtaining additional funds.
President Bush attempted to start a new initiative aimed at propelling NASA toward the Moon and Mars, but faced opposition from Congress.
Challenger space shuttle accident
Tragically, the space shuttle Challenger disappeared just 73 seconds after liftoff on January 28, 1986. This catastrophic event resulted in the loss of all seven brave crew members: Francis Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik and Christa McAuliffe.
As a result of the accident, flights were suspended for thirty-two months. In response, Ronald Reagan established the Rogers Commission, a special committee charged with investigating the incident. The commission concluded that NASA's organizational culture and decision-making process influenced the accident. It was discovered that since 1977, NASA officials were aware of a critical flaw in the design of Morton Thiokol's solid rocket booster, specifically related to the O-rings. However, this issue was not addressed effectively.
Scientific difficulties
Approximately 17% of the American population had the privilege of witnessing the launch live. Several scientific challenges were encountered during the process. While significant advances in scientific progress have been made in recent times, it is crucial to recognize the dangers inherent in space. The moment one ventures beyond the Earth's atmosphere, Crews constantly face the dangers of vacuum, temperature fluctuations, and radiation exposure.
Additionally, it is important to note that the Moon poses significant challenges for human exploration. Its rugged terrain, marked by craters and rocky surfaces, presents obstacles that complicate safe landings. It is worth considering that, in preparation for the historic manned moon landing, the United States government invested large financial resources, worth billions of dollars, in the development and deployment of satellites to meticulously map the lunar surface and identify locations. suitable for the Apollo.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the reasons why we have not returned to the Moon.