The next time that you gaze up at the Moon, consider just how incredible it is that humans have set foot on its surface. It may be our nearest neighbor, but it's quite a bit farther away than most think. In fact, when the Moon is at its farthest from Earth (a point in its orbit called "apogee"), you could take all the other planets in our solar system and line them up end to end in the space between—and still have room for Pluto!
This amazing fact makes lunar missions like NASA's ongoing Artemis program all the more impressive. The Artemis program will land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface in the next few years. Artemis I, the first in a series of increasingly complex missions, returned to Earth in December 2022 after a successful test flight. It involved sending an uncrewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon.
Preparation for future human exploration of the lunar surface is an exciting yet daunting task. It requires years of planning, preparation, and training. The spacecraft and the selected astronauts will be faced with an unforgiving space environment that exposes them to radiation, microgravity, extreme temperatures and the unbreathable vacuum of space. In addition, astronauts will perform a range of experiments in this hostile environment.
K-12 students, teachers, and space buffs of all ages are invited to explore this exciting mission with the LabXchange cluster Artemis I: Mission to the Moon. This cluster, which is made up of over 100 interactive digital resources from NASA and LabXchange collaborators including MinuteEarth, Veritasium, and Young Scientists Journal, explores various aspects of the journey to the Moon and covers everything from the engineering of the Orion spacecraft to the training of a new generation of astronauts.
To make the learning material as accessible as possible, the cluster is organized into smaller learning sequences called pathways, which allow for a deeper dive into any particular topic of interest. Find out what it takes to build a spacecraft that will make it to the Moon and back in the Artemis I: Engineering pathway, learn about the dangers that humans face while exploring space in the Biological Hazards of Space pathway, or discover how scientists are experimenting with growing food in lunar soil in the Lunar Surface: Science on the Moon pathway. These are just a few examples of the many pathways that you can explore in this expansive cluster.
Learn more about the learning pathways that make up the Artemis I: Mission to the Moon cluster:
The Moon is the closest celestial body to Earth. Through regular observations of the Moon, one can gain insight into its phases, topography, and other features. Whether using a telescope or studying photographs, learning about the Moon's orbit can be a great way to deepen one's knowledge of astronomy and space science. Explore concepts like lunar phases, tidal locking, libration, and motion synchronous rotation.
Artemis I is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will eventually result in human exploration of the Moon and Mars. This pathway will take you through some of the engineering marvels that make this mission possible.
The Artemis I mission will enable NASA’s next era of space exploration, and therefore requires a lot of careful thought and planning. This pathway takes you through the meticulous design process of the Artemis I mission.
Becoming an astronaut could be one of the most exciting yet difficult careers on Earth. From exposure to the hostile space environment to conducting tasks in challenging places, astronauts need extensive training before being launched beyond the Earth's atmosphere. This pathway summarizes some of the challenges and considerations faced by astronauts training for the Artemis program.
The Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, is the focus of NASA's Artemis program. This pathway highlights the various characteristics of the Moon, including its size, distance from Earth, composition, and unique features, like ice at its South Pole. Through videos, podcasts, and educational resources, the NASA Artemis program aims to increase public understanding of the Moon and its role in humanity's future in space.
Orion is an integral part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to conduct more complex missions to explore the lunar surface and lay the groundwork for sending astronauts to Mars. This pathway compares the Apollo and Orion spacecraft and discusses various lunar landing sites for suitability as a potential human base camp.
The exploration of the Moon is a global endeavor that necessitates investment from many nations. This pathway highlights the Apollo program, a previous lunar mission, and discusses NASA's efforts to design human landers that will transport astronauts to the Moon, with long-term goals of global lunar access and a reusable landing system.
Space is a place of great exploration. However, it is threatening to humans and our biology. This pathway takes a deeper dive into the biological challenges faced by the human body in space, and the research being done to minimize the effects of these challenges.
Ionizing radiation has dire effects on all materials and biological organisms in space. This means that any spacecraft or human has to be well-prepared and protected from exposure to radiation while on their journey beyond the Earth's atmosphere. In this pathway, learn about the biological effects of space radiation and the research being conducted as part of the Artemis I mission to protect astronauts.
Discover various aspects of the lunar surface and the potential for future human exploration and habitation on the Moon. Topics include the geology of the surface, the challenges of growing food in a lunar environment, and the scientific significance of impact craters.
Want to learn more about space? Previously released clusters about NASA's space exploration include Space Biology, Mission to Mars, and Exploring the Universe with James Webb.
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