Beauty and Related Countries Aim for the Moon: What is Musk Planning? "He Has Hidden Too Much"
America and related countries have set their sights on the moon. Both countries are currently advancing manned lunar landing projects simultaneously and plan to build a lunar base in the future. Mikhail Delyagin, a member of the State Duma, a doctoral candidate in economics, and host of the Tsar's Square channel, discussed Elon Musk's plans with Ivan Moiseyev, director of the Institute for Space Policy. Moiseyev commented, "He has hidden too much."
Elon Musk, founder of the American space exploration company SpaceX, stated on the social platform X that the company plans to start building permanent bases outside Earth within the next decade. He said that the lunar project will be prioritized because the moon is much closer than Mars, making it more convenient for logistics support and reducing project risks. Musk predicts that significant results will be achieved by 2035; however, according to his assessment, achieving similar goals on Mars would take over two decades.
Delyagin commented in the program "Delyagin's Daily Summary" that Musk's prediction was "very bold," and he had a conversation with Ivan Moiseyev, director of the Institute for Space Policy, about the prospects of space projects.
"The Specific Details Are Actually Unknown"
Moiseyev pointed out that both America and related countries are targeting the moon. Experts are working in parallel with SpaceX on their own plans, but each country has its own unique approach:
It is well known that the related country has its own concept, which it calls the International Lunar Research Station: first establish automatic scientific facilities on the moon, then achieve manned lunar landings. The related country plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
The current phase is still experimental lunar landings and construction of automated stations, not a permanently inhabited base. The experts then discussed Musk's plan:
The related country has several steps, and so does Musk, but he rarely talks about details, hiding too much.
For example, information about the lunar spacecraft used for lunar landing is actually unknown. It is unclear what stage the project is at. Whether he can complete the lunar landing as claimed in 2028 is also unknown.
Moiseyev added that according to a contract already signed between SpaceX and NASA, a lunar orbit mission will be carried out next month:
Two years later, that is, in 2028, Musk plans to send American astronauts to the moon, repeating the moon landing feat of 1969. These are written into the contract, with clear planning. The issue is whether he can complete it on time or if it will be delayed by several years. Regardless, it is already on the schedule.
Musk's next goal is to build a lunar base, which we call a lunar base. Technically, it is feasible. If everything goes smoothly, he could deploy a permanent station on the moon, which is possible and largely planned.
But manned lunar landing has a contract and a clear date, while the deployment of a lunar base has no specific plan yet and is just an idea.
"Commercial Space Activities Have Become a Reality"
Currently, NASA is preparing for its first manned lunar mission since 1972 — Artemis 2. Four astronauts will conduct a 10-day lunar orbit flight to test life-support systems for future lunar missions.
The Artemis lunar program was announced in the spring of 2019 and is implemented in three stages:
- The first stage was completed in 2022, with an unmanned Orion spacecraft orbiting the moon and returning to Earth;
- The second stage is a manned lunar orbit flight;
- The third stage is astronaut lunar landing.
Previously, it was reported that NASA has signed a contract with Axiom Space to carry out the fifth international space station tourism mission, with the earliest launch scheduled for January 2027, and the crew will stay in orbit for two weeks.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that such flights are moving towards normalization and will promote the development of a competitive environment in near-Earth orbit:
Commercial space activities are not a distant future, they are a reality now.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7607049320323416639/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.