And What’s the Point? NASA Pushes Ahead with Lunar and Martian Missions

How many humans have ever wandered across the Moon’s dusty plains? Just twelve — between 1969 and 1972. Three others almost joined them, but Apollo 13 famously didn’t make it. Instead, it looped around the Moon and splashed down in the Pacific, leaving behind no fresh American flag — only Jack Swigert’s immortal admission: “Houston, we’ve had a problem here”. Now, after more than fifty years of celestial quiet, NASA is gearing up to return to our lone satellite. But why?

First, because the $35 billion allocated to the Artemis program shouldn’t be squandered. Second, to explore the Moon’s south pole, cloaked in ice. Those cosmic icebergs aren’t all that different from the earthly kind, except they can be mined for water — a crucial resource for future journeys to Mars. The Moon is just three days away; Mars takes nine months. So why not make a pit stop and refill the H₂O tanks? And while we’re at it, why not build a McDonald’s next door? Order to go — burger included!

All jokes aside, the idea of lunar convenience isn’t entirely far-fetched. NASA intends to build a permanent lunar-orbit station, Gateway, with five industrial titans — Maxar Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Thales Alenia Space, JAXA, and CSA — already onboard. The station will feature at least two habitation modules (one for short stays, another for longer missions) and a suite of life-support systems. Forget Mario and Luigi; maintenance will fall to robots with precision manipulators.

And where there’s big money and dreams of space, there’s Elon Musk. Artemis would hardly get off the ground without him. Musk’s Starship — still prone to spectacular test-flight explosions — will serve as the lunar landing vehicle. Engineers promise the fireworks will soon subside; by 2026, the rocket is expected to ferry two astronauts to the Moon.

For over half a century, the Moon has orbited quietly — a silver witness to our nights, waxing and waning. But all good things end. American astronauts are suiting up once more, engines roaring, eyes fixed on a bigger prize. The Moon? It’s no longer the dream — just a stepping stone. Mars is the true obsession. And if, by chance, the previous six Moon landings were indeed filmed in Hollywood, then Paramount Pictures had better invest in some cutting-edge gear. Mars will need to look so good that we all believe — all over again.