ch 8-3 lunar exploration

What was the first spacecraft achievement involving the Moon?

• The Soviet Union sent the first spacecraft to fly past the Moon in January 1959.

When did the first spacecraft land on the Moon?

• A Soviet spacecraft made the first (crash) landing on the Moon in September 1959.

When were the first photographs of the Moon's far side obtained?

• A Soviet spacecraft returned the first images of the Moon's far side in October 1959.

Which country achieved the first spacecraft flyby of the Moon?

• The Soviet Union, in January 1959.

Neil Armstrong

• “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

• first man on moon and walk on the moon during Apollo 11 in July 1969

how many people have walked the moon?

• twelve people

who was the last to walk on the moon?

• Eugene Cernan in 1972

• 50 years since we last been on the moon

Artemis I

• uncrewed moon-orbting mission (successfully orbited around the moon)

• launched Nov 2022

• mission duration 25 days

• first in a series of missions

  • increasing complex to help us with further exploration of the moon and mars

artemis II

• successful spaceflight mission April 1-10 2026

• crewed mission included Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hanse, first person of colour Victor Glover, and first woman Christina Koch

• Mission duration 10 days

• Tested systems that will eventually return humans to the lunar surface

• Free-return trajectory around the Moon and back to Earth

what does the free-return trajectory around the moon back to Earth during Artemis II mission mean?

• space craft travels away from Earth and gravity of second object (moon) sends it back to Earth without propulsion

What scientific observations will Artemis II perform around the Moon?

• it will survey lunar geology, photograph surface features, study volcanic and tectonic regions, observe meteoroid impacts, and monitor the deep-space environment.

Why will Artemis II study features such as the Orientale Basin (3.8 Ga) and lunar craters?

• To learn more about the Moon's geological history and impact processes.

What types of lunar activity will Artemis II investigate?

• Geological features, volcanic and tectonic processes, meteoroid impacts, and conditions in deep space.

what geological features was observed

• 3,8 Ga oriental Basin

• Pierazzo crater (dark line of melted rock)

• Ohm crater (bright rays)

Artemis II volcanic and tectonic analysis

• observations of Aristarchus Plateau

during the fly by of Artemis II…

• the crew saw 5 distinctive flashes on the lunars far side caused by meteorites on Earth surface

orions capsule

• capsule that astronauts were in also monitored radiation levels in deep space and crew tested the impact of the lack of a magnetic field on the human body