Editing Space exploration (section)

==Future of space exploration==
{{main|Future of space exploration}}
[[File:Innovative Interstellar Explorer interstellar space probe .jpg|thumb|Concept art for a NASA Vision mission]]
[[File:Rocket launch from Saturn moon.jpg|thumb|Artistic image of a rocket lifting from a Saturn moon]]

=== Breakthrough Starshot ===
{{main|Breakthrough Starshot}}
Breakthrough Starshot is a research and engineering project by the [[Breakthrough Initiatives]] to develop a proof-of-concept fleet of [[light sail]] spacecraft named ''StarChip'',<ref name="CD-20160412">{{cite web |last=Gilster |first=Paul |title=Breakthrough Starshot: Mission to Alpha Centauri |url=http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=35402 |date=12 April 2016 |work=Centauri Dreams |access-date=14 April 2016 }}</ref> to be capable of making the journey to the [[Alpha Centauri]] star system 4.37 [[light-years]] away. It was founded in 2016 by [[Yuri Milner]], [[Stephen Hawking]], and [[Mark Zuckerberg]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/20799/20160414/stephen-hawking-mark-zuckerberg-and-russian-millionaire-yuri-milner-launch-100m-space-project-called-breakthrough-starshot.htm|title=Stephen Hawking, Mark Zuckerberg, Yuri Milner Launch $100M Space Project Called Breakthrough Starshot|last=F|first=Jessica|date=14 April 2016|work=Nature World News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/mark-zuckerberg-joins-100-million-initiative-send-tiny-space-probes-explore-447513|title=Mark Zuckerberg Launches $100 Million Initiative To Send Tiny Space Probes To Explore Stars|last=Lee|first=Seung|date=13 April 2016|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>

=== Asteroids ===
{{main|Exploration of the asteroids}}
An article in the science magazine ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' suggested the use of asteroids as a gateway for space exploration, with the ultimate destination being Mars. In order to make such an approach viable, three requirements need to be fulfilled: first, "a thorough asteroid survey to find thousands of nearby bodies suitable for astronauts to visit"; second, "extending flight duration and distance capability to ever-increasing ranges out to Mars"; and finally, "developing better robotic vehicles and tools to enable astronauts to explore an asteroid regardless of its size, shape or spin". Furthermore, using asteroids would provide astronauts with protection from galactic cosmic rays, with mission crews being able to land on them without great risk to radiation exposure.

=== Artemis program ===
{{main|Artemis program}}
The Artemis program is an ongoing [[List of human spaceflight programs|crewed spaceflight program]] carried out by [[NASA]], U.S. [[Private spaceflight|commercial spaceflight companies]], and international partners such as [[European Space Agency|ESA]],<ref name="Artemis home">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/specials/moontomars/index.html|title=NASA: Moon to Mars|website=NASA|access-date=19 May 2019|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805055135/https://www.nasa.gov/specials/moontomars/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the goal of landing "the first woman and the next man" on the Moon, specifically at the [[lunar south pole]] region. Artemis would be the next step towards the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, laying the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy, and eventually sending humans to [[Mars]].

In 2017, the lunar campaign was authorized by [[NASA#Space Policy Directive 1|Space Policy Directive 1]], using various ongoing spacecraft programs such as [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]], the [[Lunar Gateway]], [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]], and adding an undeveloped crewed lander. The [[Space Launch System]] will serve as the primary launch vehicle for Orion, while commercial launch vehicles are planned for use to launch other elements of the campaign.<ref name="Verge May2019">[https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/17/18627839/nasa-administrator-jim-bridenstine-artemis-moon-program-budget-amendment NASA administrator on new Moon plan: 'We're doing this in a way that's never been done before']. Loren Grush, ''The Verge''. 17 May 2019.</ref> NASA requested $1.6 billion in additional funding for Artemis for fiscal year 2020,<ref name='Harwood CBS'>{{cite news |last=Harwood |first=William |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-moon-mission-budget-administrator-jim-bridenstine/ |title=NASA boss pleads for steady moon mission funding |work=[[CBS News]] |date=17 July 2019 |access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> while the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee requested from NASA a five-year budget profile<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/senate-appropriators-advance-bill-funding-nasa-despite-uncertainties-about-artemis-costs/ |title=Senate appropriators advance bill funding NASA despite uncertainties about Artemis costs|first=Jeff |last=Foust |publisher=[[SpaceNews]] |date=27 September 2019|access-date=February 23, 2023}}</ref> which is needed for evaluation and approval by the U.S. [[United States Congress|Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1618604/nasa-asks-for-1-6-billion-to-fund-artemis-moon-program/|title=Trump wants $1.6 billion for a moon mission and proposes to get it from college aid|last1=Fernholz|first1=Tim|website=Quartz|date=14 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/nasa-reveals-funding-needed-for-moon-program-says-it-will-be-named-artemis/|title=NASA reveals funding needed for Moon program, says it will be named Artemis|last=Berger|first=Eric|date=2019-05-14|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=2019-05-22}}</ref> As of 2024, the first Artemis mission was launched in 2022 with the second mission, a crewed lunar flyby planned for 2025.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WODej84jxg |title=Success and Preparation |language=en |access-date=2024-05-14 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> Construction on the Lunar Gateway is underway with initial capabilities set for the 2025–2027 timeframe.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Zamora |first1=Briana R. |last2=NASA |date=2024-05-13 |title=Forward Progress on Gateway, Humanity's First Lunar Space Station |url=https://scitechdaily.com/forward-progress-on-gateway-humanitys-first-lunar-space-station/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=SciTechDaily |language=en-US}}</ref> The first CLPS lander landed in 2024, marking the first US spacecraft to land since [[Apollo 17]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2024-02-22 |title=Intuitive Machines lands on the moon |url=https://spacenews.com/intuitive-machines-lands-on-the-moon/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref>