The United States has announced a plan to land the first international astronaut on the moon by 2024. The plan involves a partnership between the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and commercial partners in the US and abroad.
Under the plan, a rover will be sent to the moon’s south pole in 2022, followed by a fellow rover in 2024. These rovers will be loaded with scientific instruments which will collect data on the moon’s surface and atmosphere, as well as map it.
Then a manned mission will launch in 2024, carrying at least two astronauts aboard a manned vehicle. These astronauts will conduct experiments on the moon’s surface and perform spacewalks. It will be the first international mission to the moon since the American Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
The mission will be a stepping stone for future space exploration by demonstrated capabilities that will allow us to extend human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and pave the way for a sustained human presence on the moon. NASA also hopes that the mission will inspire a new generation of space explorers.
