(Photo courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.)

Lunar outposts used to be the stuff of science fiction.

But today, NASA is designing one--as part of the Artemis lunar exploration program!

Artemis, a multiple-mission project, is scheduled to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024.

And once there, the crew--including the first female astronaut to set foot on the moon--will be exploring new lunar regions.  They'll also be collecting ice, just discovered in 2009,  from the Moon's South Pole.

The first phases of Artemis involve transporting sections of a lunar orbiter called Gateway up to the Moon.  It'll be smaller than the ISS, and will be robotically controlled in between visits from the astronauts, says Gateway Logistics Element Project Member Matt Wittal.

NASA Gateway rendering. (Image courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.)

Matt, who works in NASA Mission Design and Planetary Science Systems at Kennedy Space Center, explained that Gateway would  serve as a "home away from home" for astronauts on future lunar missions.

But as mind-blowing as all of this is, the ultimate goal isn't lunar exploration.  Nor is it, simply, creating a "mini-city" for Moon habitation.

Instead, the Artemis program is being designed as a step towards missions to Mars.

Matt talked about Artemis, explained the timeline for the multiple missions and offered a preview of what the astronauts can expect, when they return to the Moon.

(Over Coffee®, and yours truly, are not, in any way, shape or form, affiliated with, or endorsed by, NASA.  We just find this a very cool topic!   Here are NASA's links for more information on NASA Artemis, and on NASA Gateway.)
On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:


How Matt first became interested in space technology;


His journey, from there, into NASA Mission Design;


What will be involved, in the phases of the Artemis program;


What Matt's currently designing, for NASA Gateway;


The lessons from previous missions, which enable NASA to create Gateway;


Some of the considerations involved in designing for living and staying on the lunar surface;


What happens in 2024, once the astronauts get to the Moon;


 What each of the Artemis missions will be doing;


Some of the technologies that will make Gateway's operation possible;


Some of NASA's resources for makers and educators;


What Moon and Mars exploration will mean on Earth;


What Matt considers "the most fun thing" of working on Artemis;


How the process of transporting supplies to space differs, in real life, from science-fiction films;


What it will be like, to be on the Lunar Gateway and explore the Moon;


Additional projects astronauts might conduct, on the Moon, in addition to gathering lunar ice;


Some of the "surprises" we may find, on other planets and in space;


The art involved, in designing missions to the Moon (and ultimately, to Mars);


A timeline for the Artemis mission launches--and an estimate for Mars!