4 WebsiteCompass Don’t Miss These Moon Missions NASA is planning Moon missions this year, including the deployment of Moon landers and Lunar Trailblazer. Other countries are sending spacecraft to the Moon as well. Moon Landers NASA will send several land robots to the Moon in 2024 to collect important scientific data. They include VIPER, which will collect soil samples; PRIME-1, which will analyze ice samples; and Blue Ghost Mission 1, which will study heat flow in the Moon’s interior. Lunar Trailblazer Lunar Trailblazer’s purpose is also to collect information and study specific aspects of the Moon. It will look for water, but not from the surface. Instead, it will orbit the Moon, “measuring the temperature of the surface and mapping out the locations of water molecules across the globe,” according to PBS. Foreign Moon Missions The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) wasted no time in getting its Moon mission underway this year. It successfully landed the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) on January 19 with the intention of using it to test technology and collect images. However, upon landing, the craft was unable to draw power from its power supply and JAXA announced it was shutting down the lander. The agency is considering restarting it at a later date. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has plans to send a set of four spacecraft to the Moon. This mission is known as Chang’e-6, and it follows up on the work of the Chang’e-5 mission, which collected lunar material from the near side of the Moon. The craft will land on the far side of the Moon, collect samples, and deliver the samples back to Earth. The launch is scheduled for May 2024. Source: pbs.org/newshour/science/ 6-space-missions-to-look-forward-to-in-2024 Help Kids Explore Space from Home Many kids are fascinated by rockets and space travel. If there are future astronauts in your family, help them take their interest to the next level with resources such as these: • Kids Astronomy by Star Walk 2 (download from your app store) is an educational game that gives players the opportunity to explore the solar system, planets, stars, constellations, and more. • NASA Kids’ Club (nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-kids-club) provides games, hands-on projects, videos, and other activities to help kids learn about space. • National Geographic Passport to Space (kids.nationalgeographic. com/space) is a great place to explore the wonders of space with games, videos, and other information. • YouTube (youtube.com) includes numerous videos about space-related topics designed specifically for kids. Another way for kids to learn about space is in a hands-on environment. Is there an observatory or planetarium in your area? Go online to find out what experiences they offer. QUICK TIP: Visit space.com/ 55-earths-moon-formationcomposition-and-orbit.html to learn more about the Moon. Feature Story
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