NASA outlines priorities for upcoming mission to Moon

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — In a new report, NASA has identified the agency’s science priorities for the upcoming Artemis 3 mission, which will launch the first woman and next man to the moon in 2024.

During a teleconference on Monday, the team prioritized investigations that will help NASA understand the risk and potential resources of the Moon’s south pole.

“Now we’re at a point where the next big leap in understanding is going to require us to get back to the surface,” said Sarah Noble, lunar program scientist for NASA’s science mission directorate.

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Among other things, the Artemis 3 Science Definition Team Report calls for:

• Interpreting the impact of the Earth-Moon system
• Conducting experimental science in the lunar environment
• Investigating and mitigating exploration risks.

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It’s the most specific of details that have yet to be worked out.

“We still need to select a site where we’re going to land and set the daily activities for the crew,” said Ken Bowersox, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.

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