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Space

NASA to get an extra $1.6 billion to put the first woman on the moon

By Leah Crane

14 May 2019

SLS rocket

NASA’s SLS rocket may return humans to the moon

NASA

NASA鈥檚 planned 2024 moon mission will be called Artemis, after a Greek goddess of the moon and twin sister of Apollo. US president Donald Trump has announced an additional $1.6 billion in funding to kickstart the mission.

The budget, which is for the financial year 2020, includes $1 billion for the development of a commercial lunar lander, which NASA would purchase from a private company. Blue Origin鈥檚 Blue Moon lander, unveiled on 9 May, could be one option.

Most of the remaining money will go towards NASA鈥檚 SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, which are intended to carry crew members to the moon-orbiting Lunar Gateway from which the lander will bring them to the surface.聽Officials say this will include the first woman on the moon.

The Gateway itself has had its budget cut back by about $300 million, some of which will go towards exploring the south pole of the moon with robots before landing humans there.

Congress still has to approve the budget request, and the approval will depend on where the money will come from 鈥 it will likely be offset by cuts elsewhere in the federal budget, such as cutting the budget available for university grants. Even then, some experts question whether it will be enough funding to get humans to the moon in 2024.

鈥淭his additional investment, I want to be clear, is a down payment on NASA鈥檚 efforts to land humans on the moon by 2024,鈥 said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine in a press call on 13 May. 鈥淚n the coming years we will need additional funds, but this is a good amount that gets us out of the gate in a very strong fashion, and sets us up for success in the future.鈥

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