WASHINGTON — There are reasons to be over the moon about Artemis II.
America’s long-awaited return to Earth’s closest neighbor with the Artemis II launch on Wednesday is just a first step towards transforming the moon into a gateway for deep space exploration, a key lawmaker has revealed.
Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, explained that policymakers believe the moon could be a critical refueling spot to take humans further beyond Earth than ever before.
“There are different types of minerals on the moon, and that might allow us to reduce some of the cost of creating higher energy sources, and in general, we think this could be a gas station to space,” Haridopolos told The Post.
“It’s really hard to break out of the Earth’s atmosphere. That’s why you need such strong, massive engines,” he added. “Once you’re out of the atmosphere, then you’ll be a lot easier to propel into deep space.”
Artemis II is a 10-day mission that will take humans further into space than ever before and will include a flyby around the moon. It will mark the first time astranauts have gone past Earth’s low orbit since 1972, the last time humans went to the moon.
The mission will ensure the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems are up to snuff.
Then, in 2028, NASA is planning to attempt a crewed moon landing in which humans will set foot there for the first time since 1972. That marks a delay from earlier plans of achieving that feat by next year.
Given the delays and technical snarls that have dogged the very expensive Space Launch System super-heavy lift rocket program and the fact that it isn’t reusable like SpaceX’s Starship, some critics have argued that Congress should scrap it.
“It is not an inconsequential cost, so we recognize that,” Haridopolos said. “We’re going to stick with the SLS until a replacement is ready to put us in the position we need to go around the moon and other potential [worlds].”
“We’re always looking for better, cheaper, more efficient engines.”
The Artemis program was set up during the first Trump administration and is intended to establish a base on the moon to lay the foundation for a trip to Mars in the 2030s.
“I think that again, in a couple of years, you’re going to see astronauts back on the moon trying to establish again, not only that base, but to … [investigate] the hydrogen waters that they call helium three,” the congressman said.
“Helium three is a derivative that you can get off the moon, and it helps to create nuclear [fusion] and it’s a very expensive product in which to acquire on Earth,” he added. “There’s so much of this here on the moon.”
