Sciency Words: (proper noun) a special series here on Planet Pailly focusing on the definitions and etymologies of science or science-related terms. Today’s Sciency Word is:
ARTEMIS
By 2024, America will return to the Moon. That is the promise of NASA’s new Artemis Program. As far as I’m concerned, NASA could not have picked a better name for their next Moon mission.
In ancient mythology, Artemis was Apollo’s twin sister. So as a follow-up to the Apollo Program, Artemis is the logical choice.
And where Apollo (named for a Greek god) put the first man on the Moon, Artemis (named for a Greek goddess) promises to put the first woman on the Moon. And furthermore, Artemis has a stronger claim to the Moon anyway; she was the goddess of the Moon, after all! Apollo was the god of the Sun.
But will the Artemis mission actually happen? Honestly, I doubt it. Why? Well, I’m really, really sorry for this, but we’re going to have to talk about American politics.
Artemis is expected to cost $20 billion, minimum. That’s roughly equivalent to NASA’s entire annual budget. While that $20 billion price tag is not an immediate deal breaker (like the 90-Day Report was), it’s still an awful lot of money.
It’s up to the current administration to persuade Congress to pay for Artemis. Why is Artemis a good idea? Why does it have to happen by 2024? Based on articles like this one, it sounds like Congress is skeptical yet persuadable.
Unfortunately, the current administration seems to be sending a lot of mixed messages about Artemis. Most notably, at an event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the original Moon Landing, the current President very publically chastised his own NASA administrator for wanting to return to the Moon. It’s enough to make one wonder if Artemis is a real priority for this administration.
So I’m pretty pessimistic about the Artemis Program. I don’t think it will happen, at least not as it’s currently envisioned, and certain not on the current timetable. Don’t agree? Please tell me why I’m wrong in the comments. I would love to be wrong about this.
But whenever the United States does get around to returning to the Moon, I hope NASA keeps the Artemis name. That really is the perfect name for the next Moon mission.
Planet Pailly 
I agree – no one in the administration or congress seems to have a real idea of “why?” Maybe the best goverment can do is provide seed money and strategic contracts to private companies – but they need a reason to go beyond “farming the government.”
The Elon Musks of the billionaire world may accomplish a lot on personal whim, maybe enough to get to a practical “why” but so far, it seems the ISS was put into space to study putting the ISS into space, and going to the Moon is supposed to find resources so we can go to the Moon… seems circular. Science may only get a nod because it’s good PR – where’s the money-making “why?”
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You’re right, there needs to be an economic incentive. Scientific research can be an economic incentive, but one single project with a $20 billion price tag is a tough sell.
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Artemis was also one of the Three (actually four) Musketeers.
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I did not know that, though I do remember it was the name of one of the characters in Wild Wild West. It’s also the name of my car (I’m one of those people who gives cars names).
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Artemis, meet old Betsy.
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I am probably a minority of one on this, but whenever I read “Artemis,” I only think of The Forgotten Realms.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_Entreri
Now I’ll be carrying around a vision of the Moon holding an assassin’s sword for the rest of my life.
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You’re welcome!
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I like the Artemis name too. Years ago there was talk of privately funding NASA. I think that was a good idea, and we’d already have a space station on the moon.
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Well, if the current administration screws things up, NASA could always start a Go Fund Me.
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That might work better.
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With other nations and private enterprise lining up to go to the Moon, I’m thinking that the pressure is on once again and America will not want to lose prestige by pulling out.
#spacerace
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You’re probably right. I’m just not convinced that this is the plan that’ll make it happen. But we’ll see.
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