Why does humanity want to return to the Moon?

In December 1972 the astronauts of the Apollo 17 mission left their footprints on the Moon for the last time. Since then no human has set foot on its surface. Now the American space agency NASA wants to send people there again with the programme Artemis.

The first mission, Artemis 1, orbited the Moon without a crew in 2022 and then landed safely in the Pacific Ocean. The programme first plans a flight with four astronauts around the Moon, and then a landing near the south pole. However, the programme was postponed several times because of technical problems and high costs.

Artemis is not only an American project. The European Space Agency is building the service module for the capsule Orion, which supplies electricity, water and oxygen for the crew. Canada and Japan also take part, and in return their astronauts receive seats on future missions. In addition, more than 50 states have signed the so-called Artemis Accords for the peaceful exploration of space.

At the same time, China is pursuing its own ambitious lunar programme. In 2019 the Chinese probe Chang'e 4 was the first to land on the far side of the Moon. Five years later, the mission Chang'e 6 brought rock samples from there to Earth. Beijing plans to send its own astronauts to the Moon by 2030, and later to build a research station together with Russia. Many experts therefore speak of a new race in space, similar to the one from the time of the Cold War.

But why does everyone want to go to the south pole of all places? In the deep craters at the pole eternal darkness reigns, so temperatures drop below minus 200 degrees. Scientists believe that large quantities of frozen water lie in these craters. This ice could provide the astronauts with drinking water and oxygen to breathe. Rocket fuel can also be produced from the water, because it consists of hydrogen and oxygen. In this way, the Moon could become a kind of petrol station in space.

The long-term goal, however, is not the Moon, but Mars. On the Moon space agencies want to test new technologies before people set off on a journey that lasts for months. Whether and when people will actually reach Mars is still an open question.