US Wants To Send A Satellite To Patrol The Space Around Moon

Let the space games begin! As countries take their Earthly race to outer space, Moon is going to take some heat in the coming decades. It appears that the United States wants to expand its military capabilities to monitor the space beyond between Earth and Moon.

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has shown interest in monitoring the space between Earth and Moon beyond the region where satellites usually orbit our planet through its Cislunar Highway Patrol System (CHPS).

istock

The plans were revealed in a newly released video by AFRL. The Cislunar space is where traditional satellites orbit earth, situated 35,405 kilometres (22,000 miles) above Earth's surface.

A new satellite in the works

In the release video, AFRL noted that the Moon will experience increased traffic in the coming decades courtesy of NASA, along with Russian and Chinese space programmes. Even commercial companies are working to send expeditions to the Moon.

NASA's upcoming Artemis mission wants to put American astronauts on Moon's surface again in hopes to setting up a "long-term presence" on Earth's natural satellite.

Also read:?Your Name Can Fly To The Moon On NASA's Artemis-I Mission: Here’s How

Russia and China have partnered to set up a research base on the Moon. The US' CHPS project aims to send a rocket from Earth that will release a satellite. This satellite will travel farther than our traditional reach in space, reaching about 384,633 kilometres (239,000 miles) away.

NASA

India, too is planning Moon missions of its own. The Chandrayaan-3 is expected to take off in the middle of this year, building on the lessons of Chandrayaan-2. This mission, however is not manned and will only have a lander and a rover.

Also read:?ISRO Chandrayaan-3 Mission To Launch In August 2022, Aiming For Moon's South Pole

What do you think about space getting tense? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.

References

March 7, J. G. |. (2022, March 7). The US has plans to patrol the space around the moon. TheHill.?