51 years ago, the last human mission to visit our planet’s only natural satellite returned home. On December 19, 1972, one of the most important episodes in history took place Space exploration With entry into Earth’s atmosphere and landing in the Commander’s Pacific Ocean Eugene CernanCommand module pilot Ronald Evans and lunar module pilot Harrison SchmidtGroup members Apollo 17 Mission.
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The success of the last manned lunar mission was overwhelming. Astronauts landed in the area Taurus-LitoAn area of great geological interest, and conducted three spacewalks in which they collected more than 110 kg of lunar samples, providing invaluable information on the formation and evolution of the Moon.
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These samples include different types of rocks and soils AnorthoglasusAluminum-rich igneous rocks form from cooling and solidification Magma Moon million years ago.
The Apollo 17 mission broke many records, such as being the first to include a scientist on its crew. Harrison Schmidt was a geologist who studied the Moon for many years, and his tenure allowed for a detailed and thorough geological study of the lunar surface. Commander Cernan would be the last person to walk on the lunar surface on December 13, 1972, the most recent of the twelve men who first set foot on lunar soil in 1969.
The end of an era marked the beginning of a new era in which humans focused on low orbit. Since the Apollo missions were able to reach a distance of 400,000 kilometers from Earth, in the last half century Earthlings have not traveled more than the distance between Bogotá and Cúcuta. Frequent return trips to space International Space StationIt has received nearly 300 astronaut visits since 2000.
Today we find ourselves in the midst of a remarkable renaissance in lunar exploration. New projects and programs by space agencies and private companies are renewing interest in the Moon. A continuation of the Apollo program ArtemisIt hopes to return humans to lunar orbit next year, including the first woman and the first African American, and by the end of the decade.
This renaissance of lunar exploration promises not only to repeat the achievements of Apollo, but also to establish a permanent presence on the Moon, pave the way for future interplanetary missions, and go even further.
With advanced technologies and a deeper understanding of our solar system, the next generation of lunar explorers will open new frontiers in space, doors to the exploitation of natural resources beyond our planet. Projects include both manned and unmanned missions Establish a permanent presence on the Moon.
During this year, important steps were taken to democratize space, of which Chandran was the protagonist. However, some failures, such as the first spacecraft to land on the South Pole of an Earth satellite and the Russian Luna 25 mission that crashed into its surface, remind us that lunar exploration remains a challenge.
The moon has sparked the human imagination for thousands of years, serving as a beacon in our ongoing quest to understand our place in the universe and overcome its myriad challenges.
Santiago Vargas
Ph.D. D. in Astrophysics
Astronomical Laboratory of National University
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