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The mystery behind the United States' return to the Moon after a 54-year hiatus has been unveiled. NASA's Artemis 2 mission, which saw astronauts orbit the Moon and journey further from Earth than ever before, is not just about scientific discovery but also about strategic objectives and resource utilization.

Setting New Records in Space Exploration

The Artemis 2 crew, comprising Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen, broke the distance record previously set by Apollo 13 in 1970. They traveled an astounding 406,771 kilometers (252,712 miles) from Earth, surpassing the old record by approximately 6,500 kilometers (4,039 miles).

Detailed Lunar Reconnaissance

During their close flyby of the far side of the Moon, the astronauts ventured as close as 6,550 kilometers (4,070 miles) to the lunar surface. They meticulously documented the terrain, capturing detailed images of craters and rocks, and recording their observations. The crew also created sketches and drawings, providing valuable data that will deepen our understanding of the Moon's geology and history.

Strategic Importance of Lunar Resources

The US and its Western allies are increasingly focused on harnessing the Moon's resources. As the Moon is not currently claimed by any nation, the principle of "first come, first served" could grant resource rights to the nation that establishes a presence first. This mission also serves as a crucial testbed for technologies needed for future spacecraft development.

Future Potential: Water Ice and Helium-3

The lunar ice reserves, particularly in the polar regions, are seen as a vital source for water, oxygen, and fuel for future lunar bases. Furthermore, the mission aims to explore the potential of Helium-3, an isotope extremely rare on Earth but potentially valuable as a fuel for future fusion power plants and in cooling systems for quantum computers. The far side of the Moon also presents unique opportunities for astronomical research, with plans for radio telescopes in craters to study the universe with reduced interference from Earth's radio noise.

The New Space Race

Currently, the US and China are the primary contenders in this new "space race," with both nations expressing interest in exploring the Moon's south pole. This competition is expected to intensify in the coming years as both countries pursue their lunar ambitions.

This was reported by the information agency Infohub.kz.