SPACE EXPLORATION:

WASHINGTON DC: US space agency NASA has begun a special countdown following the successful splashdown of the Artemis 2 crew.

The four-person crew returned yesterday after their nine-day mission to orbit the earth and the moon to take observations in preparation for the Artemis 3 mission in 2027 which will test spacecraft docking systems and space suits to be used in a planned 2028 lunar landing by the crew of Artemis 4.

NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, (main picture) congratulated the Artemis 2 crew on the success of their mission and the global interest it sparked in space exploration and the planned return of moon landings after a 50-plus year gap.

“But in the wake of this mission I have directed NASA to initiate a special countdown that will run in parallel to the coming Artemis 3 and 4 and any successive missions,” Mr Isaacman said.

“When President Trump appointed me to head up NASA I immediately identified a yawning gap – quite literally – in the agency’s forward planning.

“I recall that there was enormous national and international interest in the early Apollo moon missions, peaking with the first lunar landing by Apollo 11 in July 1969.

“But by the time of Apollo 17 in December 1972 – the last crewed landing on the moon – public interest had waned dramatically and people were just downright bored by the program,” Mr Isaacson said while yawning loudly.

“So I’ve directed NASA to begin a countdown to the estimated time that public interest in the Artemis program will evaporate so that we know when to call it quits and end the moon shots.

“I reckon that given the better and wider communications available since the Apollo program, especially the advent of social media that bombards us 24/7, interest in Artemis won’t take long to taper off.

“In fact while it took from Apollo 11 to Apollo 17 for the world to become bored with the earlier lunar program, I estimate it will be around about Artemis 5 that everyone says enough is enough,” he said before once again yawning, stretching his arms widely and resting his head on the lectern and falling asleep momentarily.

Mr Isaacson woke briefly to tell reporters that the new countdown was also needed to ensure NASA could fulfil the Artemis program’s goal – which he had recently amended – that now called for the establishment as soon as possible of a gold-clad Trump Moon Base Hotel.

“We’re also looking at a Trump International Golf Course up there, which is not impossible if you recall astronaut Alan Shepherd’s efforts (below) with a makeshift six iron during the Apollo 14 moon mission,” he said before nodding off again.

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