More than a flight: why the return to the Moon after 50 years will be a powerful catalyst for global technology

On April 1, an SLS rocket lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. This event officially marked the end of the "era of waiting" – a 53-year period during which no human had traveled beyond low Earth orbit. Aboard the Orion spacecraft are four astronauts: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency representative Jeremy Hansen. Ahead of them are 10 days in space that will reshape our understanding of what humanity is capable of.

Why is this happening now?

The last time a human left low Earth orbit was in December 1972, when the Apollo 17 mission concluded. Since then, all crewed spaceflight has been confined to flights to the ISS at an altitude of roughly 400 kilometers. The Moon is nearly a thousand times farther.

The waiting period stretched to half a century for several reasons:

• Shifting priorities: After the lunar race of the 1960s ended, government funding pivoted to building reusable Space Shuttles and constructing the ISS. For decades, humanity focused on learning to live and work in Earth orbit, accumulating experience in long-duration spaceflight in microgravity.
• The technology barrier: The computers and life support systems of the 1970s were too bulky and expensive to support permanent bases. It took half a century of digital revolution for navigation and communication systems to become compact, reliable, and energy-efficient enough for a return to deep space.
• Finding a new model: The old model of space exploration relied entirely on government budgets. The "era of waiting" ended now precisely because a new working model emerged – NASA's partnership with private companies like SpaceX. This drove down launch costs and gave a powerful push toward making lunar flights not one-off expeditions but regular missions.

Today, the Artemis program is not simply a repeat of past achievements – it is the foundation for a permanent human presence beyond Earth.

A technological leap: how the Moon is transforming Earth-based technology

The Artemis II mission is a proving ground for modern technology. The demands placed on equipment in deep space are so extreme that engineering solutions developed for this program inevitably find their way into mass production.

• Energy and resource storage. Surviving in lunar orbit requires ultra-efficient solar panels and energy storage systems. These developments are already being adapted on Earth, accelerating the growth of electric vehicles.
• Communications and data transfer. This mission is testing laser-based communications. It enables the transmission of massive volumes of data almost instantaneously. In the future, this technology will form the basis for ultra-fast, secure next-generation internet.
• Autonomous navigation and AI. In deep space, signals travel with a delay, so the spacecraft must "make decisions" on its own. Visual recognition and autopilot technologies refined during this mission will become the foundation for autonomous transport and fully robotic manufacturing.
• Medicine and advanced materials. Studying the effects of radiation on the crew and developing lightweight materials to protect the spacecraft hull give scientists unique data. This contributes to new radiation therapy methods and ultra-durable materials for construction in harsh environments.

The space industry has already reached $630 billion, and its growth is fueled by the fact that space-developed technologies are finding applications in everyday life.

The companies involved in this program are effectively setting the trajectory of development for decades to come.

Technological power: SLS and Orion

At the heart of the mission is the pairing of the super-heavy Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the reusable Orion spacecraft.

As of today, the SLS is the most powerful operational rocket in the world: its liftoff thrust of 39.1 meganewtons enables it to send tens of tonnes of payload to the Moon in a single launch. The Orion spacecraft is designed to protect the crew from harsh radiation and extreme temperatures. Upon return to Earth, the capsule will enter the atmosphere at 40,000 km/h – an absolute record for crewed vehicles in history. Air friction will heat the heat shield to 2,800°C, and Orion must withstand this impact to safely bring the crew home.

Route and key milestones

The Artemis II mission is a full dress rehearsal without a lunar surface landing. The flight plan includes:

• Earth orbit: Verification of life support systems under real conditions, while Earth is still relatively close.
• The push to the Moon: Transition to a free-return trajectory. This is a unique maneuver: the Moon's gravity will "catch" the spacecraft, swing it around, and send it back toward Earth.
• Closest approach: At its lowest point, Orion will pass just 130 kilometers above the lunar surface. At this moment, Christina Koch will become the first woman in history on a circumlunar trajectory.
• Splashdown: After 10 days, the mission will conclude with a landing in the Pacific Ocean, wrapping up the most complex cycle of testing to date.

SpaceX as a key partner

Artemis II is only the first step. The next phase will be a crewed lunar landing as part of the Artemis III mission, for which NASA is engaging private companies. The primary role in developing the landing system has been entrusted to SpaceX, which is building the Starship HLS (Human Landing System) – a specialized version of the largest spacecraft in history.

Its key technological advantage is refueling in low Earth orbit. This will make it possible to deliver not only crew but also tens of tonnes of equipment needed to construct a permanent base on the lunar surface.

NASA has already extended its contract with SpaceX to include the Artemis IV mission, cementing the company's status as a key strategic partner in the lunar program.

SpaceX: market position and financial performance

SpaceX holds a leading position in the space industry and the global economy. The company leads in the number of orbital launches, operates reusable rocket stages, and is expanding the global Starlink network.

Against the backdrop of the Artemis program's progress, SpaceX's market valuation continues to rise. The company has filed a confidential IPO registration with the SEC, targeting a valuation of approximately $2 trillion. The current phase allows private participants to become shareholders through pre-IPO instruments ahead of official trading on the exchange.

How to participate

Gaining exposure to SpaceX is currently available through the Regolith platform.

Process:

• Register in the Regolith dashboard.
• Review the SpaceX offer details (entry for this deal starts from $50,000).
• Complete verification and confirm participation.

For further details, documentation procedures, and current terms, contact the platform's team or review the offer card in your dashboard.