Many people have ambitions of flying around the Moon, and now NASA has given a glimpse into the process by releasing a stunning video. The space agency used data from its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, which is orbiting the Moon, to recreate the Apollo 13 mission of 1970.
The video is so realistic, one is able to see all the craters and divots on the Moon, providing a glimpse into a cosmic journey.
The video also shows an earthset – when the Earth begins to appear around the Moon – and a sunrise from the view of the Apollo 13 astronauts.
NASA said of the video: “This video uses data gathered from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft to recreate some of the stunning views of the Moon that the Apollo 13 astronauts saw on their perilous journey around the farside in 1970.
“These visualisations, in 4K resolution, depict many different views of the lunar surface, starting with earthset and sunrise and concluding with the time Apollo 13 reestablished radio contact with Mission Control.
“Also depicted is the path of the free return trajectory around the Moon, and a continuous view of the Moon throughout that path.”
NASA announced last year that it will return humans to the Moon by 2024, where they will establish a lunar colony.
The mission will see them place humans back on the Moon for the first time since 1972.
The space agency has decided it has unfinished business on our lunar satellite and wants to set up a permanent base on the Moon, with the missions hopefully taking place in 2024.
The base would be used as a checkpoint between Earth and Mars while also allowing astronauts to study the Moon in close detail.
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine announced he wants to set up a lunar colony and called on “the best and brightest of American industry to help design and develop “human lunar landers”.
The space agency is also upping the ante in its bid to get humans to Mars.
NASA will launch the Mars 2020 rover this year, which will explore the Red Planet as preparation for humanity’s arrival, which could happen in the next decade.
NASA said: “NASA’s latest mission to Mars – a mission that will receive a new name before launch – will be the latest rover to head to the Red Planet, but it’s not going alone.
“To aid it in its exploration, it’s carrying the first helicopter that will fly on another planet.”