Bringing Light to the Dark Side of the Moon

Five, four, three, two, one—liftoff! The Artemis mission is officially on track to the Moon. Four astronauts, each equipped with efficient skills and resources, will be tested in one of the most remarkable space programs of the 21st century. They are adequately trained for the week to come and are ready to work under the unique constraints and potential challenges of time spent on the South Pole. The crew—a physicist, commander/pilot, geologist, and mechanic, respectively—is characteristically suited for this mission. Each is negotiable, wise, inventive, integrative, and creative yet pragmatic. They are devoid of self-interest and approach the tasks at hand with a servant’s spirit. Though specialists, they still understand the others’ tasks and systems, such as to cover for one another in the case of an emergency. They excel in out-of-the-box thinking that yields greater results during experimentation and research. Among their necessary supplies and tools is a 3D printer. Rather than carry additional maintenance cargo, the astronauts use it to fix and conserve other technologies that would otherwise be terminated or deemed unfit for usage. Repairing tools enables them to fully focus on their experiments and research. Additionally, once it has fulfilled its purpose, it can be left on the Moon to access during later trips. The crew’s primary interest is searching for potential evidence of water ice trapped beneath the lunar surface that could be utilized for various scientific purposes. For example, mining oxygen from these reserves could serve as a fuel replacement during a pitstop en route to Mars—a tangible possibility already considered for future space travel. The new information obtained from the Artemis mission significantly impacts progress on Earth as well as future excursions. Bringing light to the dark side of the Moon comparably enlightens us and propels us towards a brighter future.