When Canadian spaceman Jeremy Hansen embarks on the Artemis 2 mission, he will have the unique task of observing the lunar far side, an area invisible from Earth. Meanwhile, scientists on Earth are eagerly anticipating future plans to deploy telescopes and robots to explore deep space from this vantage point.
The moon presents two distinct faces due to its gravitational lock with Earth. While one side constantly faces Earth, the other side, often referred to as the “dark side,” receives equal sunlight exposure. The far side is characterized by a rugged, crater-filled terrain unlike the near side, which boasts expansive flat plains known as “Maria.”
Shielded from Earth’s artificial radio interference, the moon’s far side holds immense interest for astronomers eyeing it as a prime location for radio telescopes. Aboard the Artemis mission, Hansen will witness sights seldom seen by humans post-Apollo era, as the trajectory will extend 7,500 kilometers beyond the moon, offering a unique global perspective.
Unlike Apollo missions that orbited close to the equator, Hansen will have the extraordinary opportunity to witness both Earth and the moon simultaneously from a farther vantage point. During the flyby, detailed lunar surface observations by the Artemis crew aim to capture subtle visual cues crucial for potential future landings.
One notable mission planned for the far side is the Japanese TSUKUYOMI project, which aims to deploy a radio dish array to study the universe’s early dark ages. These investigations could potentially shed light on the role of dark matter in shaping the cosmic evolution, leading to the formation of stars, galaxies, and planets.
Anticipated lunar missions include the deployment of additional radio observatories, such as LuSEE Night and NASA’s Farside Seismic Suite, alongside ongoing initiatives by NASA and ESA. While crewed moon missions focus on colonization and water ice exploration, the hidden far side remains a hub for robotic explorations delving into the universe’s origins.
The quest to uncover the mysteries of the universe’s inception continues as robots stationed on the moon’s far side silently gaze into the cosmos, seeking answers since time immemorial.
