**The Moon is Not Just a Pretty Face: Why We're Heading Back**

The moon fever that swept the world by 1969 had finally subsided, and with it, our interest in establishing a human settlement on the lunar surface seemed to have fizzled out. The Apollo 11 mission's historic landing in 1969 marked the culmination of years of space exploration, but by the time five more missions landed on the moon, the excitement had worn off. However, as NASA looks to the future, it's clear that our love affair with the moon is far from over.

**The Next Stop: Mars**

The moon may be just a stone's throw away from Earth, but its distance is still significant, and sending humans there would require a reliable transportation system. That's why NASA has outlined an ambitious exploration campaign that starts with returning to the moon. The space agency aims to build a lunar orbital platform called Gateway, which will orbit around the moon like a solar-powered space station. This outpost will serve as the last bastion of humanity in space and provide a hub for missions to Mars.

**A Foundation for Mars**

The Gateway is more than just a stopover on our way to the Red Planet; it's a crucial stepping stone in establishing a human presence in space. NASA plans to use the lunar base as a testing ground for new technologies, including lunar landers and communication systems. These advancements will be essential for any mission to Mars, which is estimated to be around 33.9 million miles away from Earth.

**Testing Grounds**

The moon makes sense as a testing ground for several reasons. Firstly, its proximity to Earth means that the risks associated with long-distance travel are minimized. Secondly, the lunar surface provides a unique environment that can help scientists test new technologies and techniques without exposing astronauts to the harsh conditions of deep space. Finally, establishing a human presence on the moon will give NASA valuable experience in managing long-term missions, which is essential for any future mission to Mars.

**The Role of the Gateway**

The Gateway will play a crucial role in supporting NASA's exploration campaign. Initially, it will provide communications between spacecraft and Earth, as well as allow for data transfer back from space using lasers. As the mission progresses, the Gateway will support a crew, enabling astronauts to work in space for extended periods. The addition of an airlock will also enable spacewalks from the lunar surface.

**Lunar Lander Development**

NASA is currently working on developing lunar landers that can transport research payloads and even miners to the moon's surface. These landers will provide a critical component of the Gateway, enabling scientists to conduct research on the lunar surface while minimizing the risk associated with sending humans to Mars.

**The Distance Between Earth and Mars**

For perspective, the distance between Earth and Mars varies depending on their orbits around the sun. At its closest, Mars is about 33.9 million miles away from Earth. This vast distance means that any mission to Mars will require a significant amount of time and resources.

**A Love Affair That Endures**

The moon may not be the romantic partner we initially thought it would be, but our love affair with space exploration endures. From the Apollo 11 mission to the present day, NASA has remained committed to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and achievement. As we look to the future, it's clear that our fascination with the moon is far from over.

**The Future of Space Exploration**

For NASA, the moon represents a critical stepping stone in establishing a human presence in space. While we may not have left our wallet on the moon, the agency has found a new reason to return: the thrill of exploration and the pursuit of scientific discovery. As we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in space, one thing is certain – the moon will remain a vital part of our journey to the stars.

**A Word from Claire Riley**

I'd like to say that I've watched this space, but unfortunately, it's all garbage... just kidding! NASA has room in its plans for both the moon and Mars. When the first parts of the Gateway launch in 2022, the Luna gateway will provide communications between spacecraft and Earth. It'll also allow NASA to transfer large packets of data back from space with lasers because, well, lasers are awesome!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: entonight the moon we landed there in 1969 and we're heading back but a lot can change in four decades how do we get there is the flag still upright and what exactly happened to the lunar module after Stanley Kubrick stopped filming the moon landing I'm Claire Reilly welcome to watch this space farm the scene at Studios in Sydney this is your guide to everything on earth you need to know about space and tonight moon 2.0 ever since the united states america the hell out of the lunar surface in 1969 we have been fascinated with stomping on that giant sky rock once more after all who wouldn't want to take another giant leap for mankind and follow in the footsteps of two guys and then buzz and Armstrong I mean Buzz you literally can't make this stuff up let's recap the moon was big in the 60s for a generation obsessed with science and innovation it was something to strive for something to spur on innovation and of course a way to prove to the Soviets that America could own the sky starting in 1959 the Soviet Union and the United States were neck-and-neck in a race to reach the moon the Soviets did a flyby so the u.s. did a flyby they had a booster malfunction we had a launch pad explosion they sent a dog to space and instead of saying hey guys maybe this is escalating we sent a shoot during the 60s while the jocks were cheering on the Packers and the hippies were protesting Vietnam those quiet nerds at NASA and the Soviet space program sent more than 40 missions to the moon by 1969 the entire world had moon fever the only cure take two men and send them to the lunar surface but just like a kid trying to steal his brothers ice cream by the time we got the moon we didn't really want it anymore after the Apollo 11 landing in 69 the u.s. sent five more crude landings to the moon officially bringing ancestral arts back for the last time by Christmas 1972 ah memories but I love affair with the moon isn't over yet after all that time we're heading back and no it's not because Armstrong left his wallet behind it's because we want to get to Mars and the best way to get there is to go to the moon first it's all part of space policy directive one signed by US President Donald Trump late in 2017 which aims to get humans back into space and further into the solar system we will not only anti-flag and leave our footprint we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars and perhaps someday to many worlds beyond to do that NASA has outlined an ambitious exploration campaign including multiple missions into space first stop the moon then Mars then stop for snacks at Jupiter then until morning the exploration campaign has some big goals including sending humans on long term missions orbiting around the moon sending robots to the moon surface and then eventually getting humans back on the lunar surface - to do all that NASA is going to build a lunar orbital platform gateway it's a mouthful but think of it as a solar powered space station that will orbit around the moon like the last outpost of humanity in a space Western after we've built this Stargate or more accurately moon gate NASA will have a base to conduct missions and get humans back to the moon I know what you're going to say is this about the Moon or Mars is this Ryan Gosling or Matt Damon situation but you can relax viewers nASA has room in its plans for both those space hunks NASA is moving to Mars in stages when the first parts of the station launch in 2022 the Luna gateway will provide communications between spacecraft to the moon and back to earth it'll also allow NASA to transfer large packets of data back from space with lasers because lasers are awesome from 2024 the Gateway could support a crew letting astronauts work in space for long stretches at a time and with the addition of an airlock in the future crew could also do spacewalks from there the space sky is the limit NASA is currently working to develop lunar landers to run missions to the surface of the Moon for research and even prospecting because if Armageddon taught us anything it's that sending miners into space always ends well all that research crew support and communications capability is really going to help us long term as we start to plan missions to Mars after all the last time we landed on anything in space Atari had this really cool new game called pong so yeah the tech wasn't so great but we still have a long way to go before we get to Mars quite literally the distance from Earth to the moon is about a quarter of a million miles the distance between Earth and Mars on a good day thirty three point nine million miles those first Martian astronauts are going to have a lot of time to catch up on their emails but for NASA the moon makes sense we can test out new tech set up comms and work on our astronauts space legs before we take the long haul to the Red Planet it's kind of like pitching a tent in the backyard before you go on a big camping trip sure you're closer to home and the conditions are a bit different and your system won't tell you that she's hidden the tent pegs and then later tell you that she forgot to bring them so you have to hike to the next campsite oh but your dad's already left and you're on Mars and it's getting dark and you don't have a tent and I haven't forgotten Janet but the moon is the next best thing so we're still going to Mars we're just gonna pop by the moon on the way after all it probably misses us after all these years that time we paid it a visit all right that's it for this week's edition I've watched this space if you've enjoyed our program then hit the like button on your remote and subscribe to get more space updates as they happen I'm Claire Riley for CNET good night moon and Godspeed umm what would I say they sent a rat to the moon we said a cat to the moon they sent a dog don't use any of this cuz this is all garbage unlike your last camping trip literally one job I haven't spoken to her in 12 years it's fine 33 point 9 million miles do you have any idea how many times you can watch the Martian on that I barely made it through once just kidding Matt Damon I love youtonight the moon we landed there in 1969 and we're heading back but a lot can change in four decades how do we get there is the flag still upright and what exactly happened to the lunar module after Stanley Kubrick stopped filming the moon landing I'm Claire Reilly welcome to watch this space farm the scene at Studios in Sydney this is your guide to everything on earth you need to know about space and tonight moon 2.0 ever since the united states america the hell out of the lunar surface in 1969 we have been fascinated with stomping on that giant sky rock once more after all who wouldn't want to take another giant leap for mankind and follow in the footsteps of two guys and then buzz and Armstrong I mean Buzz you literally can't make this stuff up let's recap the moon was big in the 60s for a generation obsessed with science and innovation it was something to strive for something to spur on innovation and of course a way to prove to the Soviets that America could own the sky starting in 1959 the Soviet Union and the United States were neck-and-neck in a race to reach the moon the Soviets did a flyby so the u.s. did a flyby they had a booster malfunction we had a launch pad explosion they sent a dog to space and instead of saying hey guys maybe this is escalating we sent a shoot during the 60s while the jocks were cheering on the Packers and the hippies were protesting Vietnam those quiet nerds at NASA and the Soviet space program sent more than 40 missions to the moon by 1969 the entire world had moon fever the only cure take two men and send them to the lunar surface but just like a kid trying to steal his brothers ice cream by the time we got the moon we didn't really want it anymore after the Apollo 11 landing in 69 the u.s. sent five more crude landings to the moon officially bringing ancestral arts back for the last time by Christmas 1972 ah memories but I love affair with the moon isn't over yet after all that time we're heading back and no it's not because Armstrong left his wallet behind it's because we want to get to Mars and the best way to get there is to go to the moon first it's all part of space policy directive one signed by US President Donald Trump late in 2017 which aims to get humans back into space and further into the solar system we will not only anti-flag and leave our footprint we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars and perhaps someday to many worlds beyond to do that NASA has outlined an ambitious exploration campaign including multiple missions into space first stop the moon then Mars then stop for snacks at Jupiter then until morning the exploration campaign has some big goals including sending humans on long term missions orbiting around the moon sending robots to the moon surface and then eventually getting humans back on the lunar surface - to do all that NASA is going to build a lunar orbital platform gateway it's a mouthful but think of it as a solar powered space station that will orbit around the moon like the last outpost of humanity in a space Western after we've built this Stargate or more accurately moon gate NASA will have a base to conduct missions and get humans back to the moon I know what you're going to say is this about the Moon or Mars is this Ryan Gosling or Matt Damon situation but you can relax viewers nASA has room in its plans for both those space hunks NASA is moving to Mars in stages when the first parts of the station launch in 2022 the Luna gateway will provide communications between spacecraft to the moon and back to earth it'll also allow NASA to transfer large packets of data back from space with lasers because lasers are awesome from 2024 the Gateway could support a crew letting astronauts work in space for long stretches at a time and with the addition of an airlock in the future crew could also do spacewalks from there the space sky is the limit NASA is currently working to develop lunar landers to run missions to the surface of the Moon for research and even prospecting because if Armageddon taught us anything it's that sending miners into space always ends well all that research crew support and communications capability is really going to help us long term as we start to plan missions to Mars after all the last time we landed on anything in space Atari had this really cool new game called pong so yeah the tech wasn't so great but we still have a long way to go before we get to Mars quite literally the distance from Earth to the moon is about a quarter of a million miles the distance between Earth and Mars on a good day thirty three point nine million miles those first Martian astronauts are going to have a lot of time to catch up on their emails but for NASA the moon makes sense we can test out new tech set up comms and work on our astronauts space legs before we take the long haul to the Red Planet it's kind of like pitching a tent in the backyard before you go on a big camping trip sure you're closer to home and the conditions are a bit different and your system won't tell you that she's hidden the tent pegs and then later tell you that she forgot to bring them so you have to hike to the next campsite oh but your dad's already left and you're on Mars and it's getting dark and you don't have a tent and I haven't forgotten Janet but the moon is the next best thing so we're still going to Mars we're just gonna pop by the moon on the way after all it probably misses us after all these years that time we paid it a visit all right that's it for this week's edition I've watched this space if you've enjoyed our program then hit the like button on your remote and subscribe to get more space updates as they happen I'm Claire Riley for CNET good night moon and Godspeed umm what would I say they sent a rat to the moon we said a cat to the moon they sent a dog don't use any of this cuz this is all garbage unlike your last camping trip literally one job I haven't spoken to her in 12 years it's fine 33 point 9 million miles do you have any idea how many times you can watch the Martian on that I barely made it through once just kidding Matt Damon I love you\n"