Moon or Mars? The US Might Face a Tough Choice for Future Missions
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Summary
The Artemis programme, led by the US, has aimed to put boots on the moon since 2004, with the programme’s name changing with each new president before becoming Artemis in 2014.
The US is set to abandon the programme in favour of colonising Mars, a plan championed by president-elect Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
Mars has 833 times more gravity than the moon, and the optimal departure window for rocket travel to Mars is every 18 months, with the journey taking approximately six months.
Using the moon as a base to travel to Mars is a far more sensible option, as it reduces the energy needed for the trip and would enable rescue missions for any issues encountered.
However, abandoning the Artemis programme would open up the moon for other countries to establish a presence more easily, which could give them an advantage when it comes to future Mars missions.