NASA’s ambitious plan to return humans to the moon by 2024 has been met with lukewarm enthusiasm by the American public, according to a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center. The poll found that most Americans want NASA to focus on monitoring potentially deadly asteroids and climate change, rather than landing on the moon or sending humans to Mars.
“The public sees NASA’s top priorities as being monitoring key parts of Earth’s climate system and monitoring asteroids and other objects that could potentially collide with Earth,” the Pew Research Center said in a report.
The poll, which surveyed 2,541 U.S. adults in March 2023, revealed that only 23% of Americans think returning to the moon should be a top priority for NASA, while 63% think it should be a low priority or not a priority at all. Similarly, only 27% of Americans think sending humans to Mars should be a top priority for NASA, while 60% think it should be a low priority or not a priority at all.
On the other hand, 63% of Americans think monitoring asteroids and other objects that could hit Earth should be a top priority for NASA, while only 9% think it should be a low priority or not a priority at all. Additionally, 62% of Americans think monitoring Earth’s climate system should be a top priority for NASA, while only 11% think it should be a low priority or not a priority at all.
NASA’s Artemis program aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024, as a stepping stone for future exploration of Mars and beyond. The program has received bipartisan support from Congress and the White House, as well as from some experts and astronauts who argue that returning to the moon is necessary for scientific and technological advancement, as well as for inspiring future generations and fostering international cooperation.
“We’re going back to the moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement.
However, the program also faces many challenges and uncertainties, such as budget constraints, technical difficulties, schedule delays, and public skepticism. Some critics contend that the moon is a low priority and a distraction from more urgent and relevant issues, such as protecting Earth from asteroid impacts, studying the effects of climate change, and improving national security.
One of the ways that NASA is trying to address these challenges is by developing a nuclear-powered rocket called the Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) system, which could enable faster and more efficient missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond. The NTP system uses a nuclear reactor to heat up liquid hydrogen and expel it through a nozzle, creating thrust. The system could potentially double the speed of conventional rockets and reduce the travel time to Mars from six months to three months.
“Nuclear propulsion is a game-changer. It would allow us to get to Mars in half the time,” Jeff Sheehy, chief engineer of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, said in an interview with MSN.
NASA hopes to test the NTP system in space by 2025, but it still needs to overcome some technical and regulatory hurdles before it can do so. The agency also needs to convince the public that the system is safe and reliable, especially in light of the historical accidents and controversies involving nuclear power.
Another way that NASA is trying to address these challenges is by studying the first sample obtained from an asteroid, which is expected to arrive on Earth in 2023 from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The spacecraft successfully collected about 60 grams of dust and rocks from the surface of asteroid Bennu in October 2020, and is currently on its way back home. The sample could provide valuable insights into the origin and evolution of the solar system, as well as the potential resources and hazards of asteroids.
NASA has revealed a new laboratory where it will study the sample in detail using state-of-the-art instruments and techniques. The laboratory is located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and is part of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division. The laboratory features a clean room environment, a curation glovebox, an analytical laboratory, and a storage vault. The laboratory will also allow scientists from around the world to access and analyze the sample remotely.
While NASA continues to pursue its moon mission and other space exploration goals, it also faces competition from other countries and private companies that are making their own advances in spaceflight. For example, China recently landed its Zhurong rover on Mars, becoming only the second country after the U.S. to do so. Russia also successfully docked its Nauka module to the International Space Station (ISS), despite some technical glitches that caused it to fire its thrusters unexpectedly and briefly tilt the station. Meanwhile, Boeing launched its Starliner capsule for a second attempt to reach the ISS, after a failed test flight in 2019.
The month of July witnessed some spectacular spaceflight images, such as the launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, the landing of China’s Zhurong rover on Mars, and the docking of Russia’s Nauka module to the ISS. These images show the diversity and complexity of space activities, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
As NASA prepares to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the first moon landing on July 20, it also faces a critical question: how to balance its vision for space exploration with the public’s expectations and preferences. The answer may depend on how well NASA can communicate its goals and achievements, as well as how well it can collaborate with other stakeholders in the space sector.
Relevant articles:
– Many Americans think NASA returning to the moon is a waste of time and it should prioritize asteroid hunting instead, a poll shows, by Sorin61 on Reddit, posted on April 6, 2023
– NASA’s 1st nuclear-powered rocket could launch as soon as 2025, by MSN, published on July 31, 2023
– NASA reveals lab to study its first sample obtained from an asteroid, by MSN, published on July 26, 2023
– The Best Spaceflight Images From July Will Make Your Head Explode, by Gizmodo, published on July 31, 2023