More than 5 decades after the last human trip to the moon, eyes are once again turning to the sky, as humanity prepares to open a new page in space exploration through the “Artemis 2” mission, which may bring back one of the most iconic images in human history of the Earth rising from the horizon of the moon.
Apollo 17’s final farewell to the moon
In December 1972, the Apollo 17 mission recorded the last moments of human presence on the moon, when astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt landed in the Taurus-Littrow region, while their colleague Ronald Evans remained in lunar orbit.
Before leaving, Cernan uttered his words that still resonate today, saying that they would leave as they came, with the hope of returning one day with peace and hope for humanity. After the two vehicles docked in orbit, the Earth shone from afar, in a scene that turned into an immortal “farewell shot,” which was the last thing their eyes saw before returning.
54 years of absence and traces that have not been erased
Since that trip, the human presence has ceased to be on the moon, and the footprints of 12 astronauts remain as witness to a golden era of exploration. The moon remained silent, while those traces awaited the return of the descendants of “Apollo,” who today carry the banner of exploration again.
Artemis 2 is the beginning of a new space age
The “Artemis 2” mission was launched today, carrying four astronauts aboard the “Orion” capsule, using a Space Launch System rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida. This mission is the first manned trip to the vicinity of the moon in more than 50 years.
The trip is scheduled to last about 10 days, during which the crew will fly around the moon without landing on its surface, in a preliminary step for future missions that may return humans there permanently.
A multinational crew on a historic mission
The mission includes four astronauts – Americans Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reed Wiseman – along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen, in a collaboration that reflects the increasing international character of space exploration.
Challenges and delays before take-off
The road to “Artemis 2” was not easy, as the mission faced several postponements due to technical problems, and the possibility of postponement still exists. However, officials believe that these challenges are a normal part of a space program of this size and complexity.
Is the “Earthrise” image repeated?
The most important question remains: Will “Artemis 2” succeed in taking a new picture of the Earth from the horizon of the Moon, similar to the one taken in 1972?
If this happens, it will not be just an image, but a symbol of man’s return to the moon, and an announcement of the beginning of a new stage in his journey to explore the universe.
Between past and future
Between Cernan’s last words and the launch of the “Artemis” rocket, a human story extends, whose title is challenge and curiosity. If “Apollo” has finished a chapter, “Artemis” is now writing the beginning of a new chapter, which this time may bring a return without farewell.
