Why The US Is Struggling To Return To The Moon

Landing on the moon is a complex challenge, and recent attempts by American companies have shown just how difficult it can be. This year, two lunar landing missions failed, highlighting the hurdles that still exist in returning to the moon.

Key Takeaways

• Recent lunar landing attempts by American companies have failed.
• NASA is focusing on developing reliable lunar landing technologies.
• The cost of sending humans to the moon is currently prohibitive.
• New technologies and strategies are being developed to improve lunar landings.

Landing on the moon is not easy. Just this year, the first two American lunar landing attempts since Apollo 17 in 1972 failed. First, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander couldn’t reach the moon due to a propellant leak. Then, Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander tipped over during its final descent after hitting a rock. Despite this unfortunate collision, IM-2 still managed to return valuable data back to Earth, but losing a $120 million lunar lander was a significant setback.

NASA needs to relearn how to land on the moon and develop the technologies needed to do it reliably. So, why is landing on the moon so difficult, even with decades of technological advancements?

Firefly’s Blue Ghost mission is the next lunar landing attempt scheduled to launch soon. I visited their Austin, Texas headquarters to learn how they are preparing for success and making lunar landings easier for future missions.

The Challenges of Lunar Landings

In the past, communication was a major issue. During the Apollo missions, astronauts had a command module to relay messages to Earth. Today, there’s no command module, and sending humans on early exploratory missions doesn’t make financial sense.

NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, a $2.6 billion fund, aims to support private companies like Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic, and Firefly. Each mission receives around $100 million in funding. However, it costs about $1 million per kilogram to reach the moon. For example, the two space suits worn by Apollo 11 astronauts weighed 160 kilograms. Launching humans, along with the life support needed to keep them alive, is not feasible within NASA’s current budget.

The Importance of Testing

About 50% of all moon landings across all space-faring nations fail. This is an unacceptable safety margin for human missions. These missions are crucial for developing the expertise needed to land on the moon reliably, even without skilled human pilots. They also help test and develop the technologies needed for future crewed missions, like NASA’s Artemis program.

Technology has improved some aspects of lunar landings. For instance, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has created a detailed 3D map of the moon, allowing for better navigation. This map helps avoid unexpected obstacles, unlike during the Apollo 11 landing when Neil Armstrong had to make multiple course corrections due to unforeseen boulders and craters.

Innovations in Lunar Navigation

Will Coogan, Firefly’s Chief Engineer for Blue Ghost, explained their vision navigation system. It uses two cameras: one pointed straight down and another pointed straight ahead. This setup helps the lander navigate the lunar surface accurately. The cameras compare what they see to the known map of the moon, allowing for precise navigation.

However, as the lander descends, it faces challenges. At lower altitudes, dust from the thrusters can obscure the view, similar to what happened during Apollo 11. Below a certain altitude, the visual navigation system may not work effectively, requiring the lander to rely on other systems.

The Role of Communication

One major improvement needed is in communication and navigation systems. The U.S. and Europe currently lack the capabilities that China has developed, such as a lunar relay satellite that provides consistent communication with the far side of the moon. Blue Ghost aims to evaluate using global navigation system signals from American and European satellites for better navigation.

NASA plans to build a network of nodes and satellites for future moon missions called Luna Net. This system will provide critical navigation information, similar to a lighthouse guiding ships to shore.

Conclusion

Despite the setbacks, it’s important to remember that Apollo hardware faced its share of failures before achieving success. The current CLPS missions are a modern reincarnation of the early Apollo program, but at a fraction of the cost. As we look to the future, these missions will gradually build up the technology and infrastructure needed to make moon landings safer and more reliable.

In the end, the journey back to the moon is not just about landing; it’s about learning, innovating, and preparing for the next giant leap for mankind.