In September 2026, NASA aims to make history by landing astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years as part of the ambitious Artemis III mission. The mission involves extensive preparations, requiring coordination of numerous contractors and logistical efforts.
Recently, NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas took part in “moonwalk” simulations in the northern Arizona desert, resulting in a series of inspiring and humorous photos shared by NASA. One notable moment featured the astronauts encountering a cow during their exercises.
Unusual Desert Moonwalks
Instead of full pressurized spacesuits, the astronauts wore 70-pound backpacks and mockups of restrictive spacesuits, creating a unique photo opportunity. Traditional Apollo mission spacesuits were notoriously difficult to maneuver in, especially with the Moon’s reduced gravity.
To mimic lunar conditions, teams simulated sunset and sunrise using bright spotlights. According to NASA mineralogist Cherie Achilles, night simulations highlighted the challenges astronauts will face navigating in darkness on the Moon’s southern pole, where the Sun skims the horizon like a flashlight on a table.
Bovine Curiosity
Curious cows observed Rubins and Douglas as they analyzed the local environment. NASA shared a photo of a bull staring at the astronauts, humorously noting, “There are, of course, no cows on the Moon.”
The astronauts also practiced sending collected data about simulated Moon rocks to a nearby team, a crucial task for the Artemis III mission. NASA plans to use data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to provide astronauts with detailed geological maps.
Despite the progress, NASA still faces significant challenges. No astronaut has yet flown aboard the Orion spacecraft, and SpaceX’s Starship, intended for the Moon landing, has only reached orbit once without a crew and has yet to successfully land on Earth, let alone the Moon.