GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — NASA is preparing for its most diverse mission yet — the first female boots on the moon. The Artemis mission plans to bring the first woman ever to the moon, alongside the first man since 1972.
"The mission gets its name from Greek Mythology, Artemis being the twin sister to Apollo. While this mission is similar to Apollo, there are some major differences," said Emily Calandrelli, Emmy-nominated science TV host. "Instead of astronauts heading to space to just grab rocks, they want to make their presence more sustainable and more permanent. This is a new way of exploring while astronauts are there for an extended period of time."
NASA plans on staying that extended period of time through the Lunar gateway, which is similar to the international space station that orbits around the earth, but instead orbits the moon. This gives astronauts the opportunity to have resources near the moon to help them survive an extended period of time.
Only 11% of Astronauts who have seen Earth beyond our atmosphere have been women. That is why this mission's purpose expands beyond that of scientific research.
"This is a way to properly reflect the human presence here on earth," Calandrelli said. "I think the Artemis mission is one way to correct the underrepresentation of women in space and move the needle in the right direction."
In a career where the discoveries are endless, the science community needs as many diverse minds in the room to make a difference. NASA encourages all women and little girls to know that they need your minds, even in outer space.
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