Mission Artemis: A Woman Will Land On The Moon By 2024, Says NASA

A woman will land on the moon by the year 2024, so says NASA. This has become possible only due to an increase in the budget of NASA.

President Donald Trump has increased NASA’s budget by whooping $1.6 Billion. This was announced on Monday. Trump had increased the budget “so that we can return to Space in a BIG WAY!” Trump had also tweeted regarding going to the moon by 2014.

"Under my Administration, we are restoring @NASA to greatness and we are going back to the Moon, then Mars."

This increment in the funds given to NASA is on top of the $21 Billion request of NASA so that they are able to hasten the process of going back to the moon.

NASA’s Administrator, Jim Bridenstine had also commented on this mission and the increase in the budget.

Jim Bridenstine tweets on going to the moon. Pic credit - Twitter

He said, “This investment is a down payment on NASA's efforts and will allow us to move forward in design, development and exploration.”

According to Bettina Inclán, NASA Communications Director, only 12 human beings, all Americans and all male have landed on the lunar surface.

Inclán further said, “The last person walked on the moon in 1972. No woman has ever walked on a lunar surface.”

On Monday, NASA had announced that the President of the United States of America had challenged the agency. The challenge was to be able to land at the South Pole of the moon by 2024. Notably the year 2024 would be Donald Trump’s last year in the office if he is re-elected.

In the 12 month of 2017 Trump had signed the ‘Space Policy Directive 1.’ This had called NASA to send humans to the moon for the first time since the year 1972. It had called for a ‘long term exploration and use’, and missions to other planets.

The space agency has revealed the new mission’s name. It is called “Artemis.” Notably, Artemis is the Greek goddess of the moon, and is Apollo’s twin sister. The Apollo 11 mission in the year 1969 had been successful in landing the first humans on the lunar surface.

Furthermore, during a press call, Bridenstine had said, “Fifty years after Apollo, the Artemis program will carry the next man and first woman to the moon.”

In a statement released by NASA, they had said, “To land American astronauts on the Moon by 2024, we are working through the acquisition approach for the various projects.”

NASA said, "Our efforts will include new work at NASA centres to provide the key technologies and scientific payloads needed for the lunar surface, adding to efforts already underway across the country."

This world renowned space agency is hoping that further exploration of the moon will help their country establish a strategic presence in space and form international partnerships. Around $651 Million will be used to support the Orion Space Craft and the rocket which Boeing is creating for the mission for the moon. This is called the Space Launch System. NASA has already spent at least $11.9 Million on the same.

Along with amazing research NASA is trying to inspire a new generation of scientists. The very fact that by 2024, a woman will be in space and will land on the moon is a step towards gender equality.

Read also - ISRO Pitches For Woman Astronaut In First Manned Space Mission

Kavya Shah is an intern at SheThePeople.Tv