Moon Space

More than 100 robotic explorers from more than half a dozen nations have since sent spacecraft to the moon.

Moon space. Though a satellite of earth the moon with a diameter of about 2 159 miles 3 475 kilometers is bigger than pluto. Four other moons in our solar system are even bigger the moon is a bit more. The moon was the first place beyond earth humans tried to reach as the space age began in the last 1950s.

Researchers will be able to determine if 2020 so is the booster and not a space rock. Nine crewed missions have flown to the moon and back. Nasa also plans to build a lunar gateway a space station orbiting the moon.

As part of human exploration of the moon numerous space missions have been undertaken to study earth s natural satellite. Earth is about 80 times the volume than the moon but both are about the same age. The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system.

At 3 475 km in diameter the moon is much smaller than the major moons of jupiter and saturn. The main vehicle used to ferry astronauts to the moon will be the orion spacecraft which is scheduled to make its uncrewed maiden flight on nasa s giant space launch system sls rocket next year. The booster that launched the ill fated spacecraft kept going past the moon and out into the solar system.

The nasa program expected to cost tens of billions of dollars will send robotic rovers to the surface of the moon before an eventual human landing.