NASA Interim Administrator Steve Jurczyk said on Friday, April 9, that at the request of President Biden's budget, the Artemis mission has a new purpose: In addition to landing the first woman on the Moon, she will also send the first colored person to the surface of the Moon. So far, the only terrestrials to have touched the surface of the Moon have been men.
"The president's request enhances NASA's ability to better understand Earth and to further monitor and anticipate the impacts of climate change," Jurczyk said in a statement.
"It also gives us the resources needed to continue advancing the space exploration plan, including landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, under the Artemis program."
Biden's budget request for 2022 includes $ 24.7 billion for NASA.
NASA previously announced that its Artemis mission, named after the Greek moon goddess and twin sister of the god Apollo, would send a woman to the surface of the moon by 2024. Last November, the agency introduced the 18 astronauts who will be part of the staff. The group includes several people of color and nine women. It is not yet known who will be the first woman or person of color on the Moon.
Source: The Verge
