月面着陸から45年「次は火星だ」NASAが有人探査に意欲 | HuffPost

7月21日、人類が初めて月面着陸してから45年を迎える。アメリカ航空宇宙局（NASA）は「次は火星だ」と有人探査に意欲を見せている。

安藤健二— The Huffington Post

|

30Th Anniversary Of Apollo 11 Landing On The Moon (9 Of 20): Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module Pilot, Is Photographed Walking Near The Lunar Module During The Apollo 11 Extravehicular Activity. Man's First Landing On The Moon Occurred Today At 4:17 P.M. July 20, 1969 As Lunar Module 'Eagle' Touched Down Gently On The Sea Of Tranquility On The East Side Of The Moon. The Lm (Lunar Module) Landed On The Moon On July 20, 1969 And Returned To The Command Module On July 21. The Command Module Left Lunar Orbit On July 22 And Returned To Earth On July 24, 1969. Apollo 11 Splashed Down In The Pacific Ocean On 24 July 1969 At 12:50:35 P.M. Edt After A Mission Elapsed Time Of 195 Hrs, 18 Mins, 35 Secs. (Photo By Nasa/Getty Images)

NASA via Getty Images

7月21日、人類が初めて月面着陸してから45年を迎える。アメリカ航空宇宙局（NASA）は「次は火星だ」と有人探査に意欲を見せている。

「アポロ11号」が1969年7月21日午前11時56分（日本時間）に、月の「静かの海」に到達。ニール・アームストロング船長が月面の最初の一歩を踏みしめた際に「これは一人の人間にとっては小さな一歩だが、人類にとっては大きな飛躍（Giant Leap）である」という言葉を残した。

NASAは「アメリカの次の大きな飛躍（Next Giant Leap）」というキャンペーンを展開。月に残したアポロ宇宙飛行士の足跡が、火星の地面に刻印されているイメージ画像を発表した。

アメリカのオバマ大統領は、2030年代半ばまでに火星の有人探査をすることを表明している。NASAのチャールズ・ボールデン長官は今回、アポロ11号の宇宙飛行士を讃えるとともに、アポロ計画の精神が「困難だがやりがいのある火星への道」に生きているとして、火星の有人探査に意欲を示した。

月面着陸45周年を迎えて、私たちは火星に向けた取り組みに備えています。私たちの宇宙飛行士が13年間以上も宇宙ステーションに搭乗するという尋常でない仕事も、太陽系へさらに旅行するために準備しています。私たちの技術力は火星探査を駆り立てています。
（Building on Apollo 11 for the Next Giant Leap | NASA Administrator 2014/07/14）

時事ドットコムによると、NASAではアームストロング氏の功績を評してケネディ宇宙センターを彼の名前に改名する式典を行うほか、45年前と同時間に当時の月面歩行をネット放送する予定だ。

アポロ11号の月面着陸

(01 of18)

376713 04: (FILE PHOTO) Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., lunar module pilot, descends the steps of the Lunar Module ladder July 20, 1969 as he prepares to walk on the Moon. This photograph was taken by Apollo 11 commander astronaut Neil A. Armstrong with a 70mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(02 of18)

Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. Poses For A Photograph Beside The Deployed Flag Of The United States. The Lunar Module Is On The Left. Man\'s First Landing On The Moon Occurred Today At 4:17 P.M. July 20, 1969 As Lunar Module \'Eagle\' Touched Down Gently On The Sea Of Tranquility On The East Side Of The Moon. The Lm (Lunar Module) Landed On The Moon On July 20, 1969 And Returned To The Command Module On July 21. The Command Module Left Lunar Orbit On July 22 And Returned To Earth On July 24, 1969. Apollo 11 Splashed Down In The Pacific Ocean On 24 July 1969 At 12:50:35 P.M. Edt After A Mission Elapsed Time Of 195 Hrs, 18 Mins, 35 Secs. (Photo By Nasa/Getty Images) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(03 of18)

376713 17: (FILE PHOTO) Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module Pilot, stands near a scientific experiment on the lunar surface. Man\'s first landing on the Moon occurred July 20, 1969 as Lunar Module \'Eagle\' touched down gently on the Sea of Tranquility on the east side of the Moon. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(04 of18)

30Th Anniversary Of Apollo 11 Landing On The Moon (9 Of 20): Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module Pilot, Is Photographed Walking Near The Lunar Module During The Apollo 11 Extravehicular Activity. Man\'s First Landing On The Moon Occurred Today At 4:17 P.M. July 20, 1969 As Lunar Module \'Eagle\' Touched Down Gently On The Sea Of Tranquility On The East Side Of The Moon. The Lm (Lunar Module) Landed On The Moon On July 20, 1969 And Returned To The Command Module On July 21. The Command Module Left Lunar Orbit On July 22 And Returned To Earth On July 24, 1969. Apollo 11 Splashed Down In The Pacific Ocean On 24 July 1969 At 12:50:35 P.M. Edt After A Mission Elapsed Time Of 195 Hrs, 18 Mins, 35 Secs. (Photo By Nasa/Getty Images) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(05 of18)

376713 19: (FILE PHOTO) Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module Pilot, removes scientific experiment packages from a stowage area in the Lunar Module\'s descent stage. Man\'s first landing on the Moon occurred July 20, 1969 as Lunar Module \'Eagle\' touched down gently on the Sea of Tranquility on the east side of the Moon. The LM (lunar module) landed on the moon on July 20, 1969 and returned to the command module on July 21, 1969. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(06 of18)

376713 20: (FILE PHOTO) The deployment of scientific experiments by Astronaut Edwin Aldrin Jr. is photographed by Astronaut Neil Armstrong. Man\'s first landing on the Moon occurred July 20, 1969 as Lunar Module \'Eagle\' touched down gently on the Sea of Tranquility on the east side of the Moon. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(07 of18)

376713 01: (FILE PHOTO) An Apollo 11 astronaut\'s footprint in the lunar soil, photographed by a 70 mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 lunar surface extravehicular activity. Neil Armstrong steped into history July 20, 1969 by leaving the first human footprint on the surface of the moon. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(08 of18)

376713 11: (FILE PHOTO) A view of the Earth appears over the Lunar horizon as the Apollo 11 Command Module comes into view of the Moon before Astronatus Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin Jr. leave in the Lunar Module, Eagle, to become the first men to walk on the Moon\'s surface. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(09 of18)

376713 18: (FILE PHOTO) With a half-Earth in the background, the Lunar Module ascent stage with Moon-walking Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin Jr. approaches for a rendezvous with the Apollo Command Module manned by Michael Collins. The Apollo 11 liftoff from the Moon came early, ending a 22-hour stay on the Moon by Armstrong and Aldrin. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(10 of18)

376713 05: (FILE PHOTO) Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. walks near the Lunar Module during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity July 20, 1969 on the Moon. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(11 of18)

376713 16: (FILE PHOTO) One of the few photographs of Neil Armstrong on the moon shows him working on his space craft on the lunar surface. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(12 of18)

30Th Anniversary Of Apollo 11 Landing On The Moon (19 Of 20): Astronaut Neil Armstrong Inside The Lunar Module. Man\'s First Landing On The Moon Occurred At 4: 17 P.M. On July 20, 1969 As Lunar Module \'Eagle\' Touched Down Gently On The Sea Of Tranquility On The East Side Of The Moon. The Lm (Lunar Module) Landed On The Moon On July 20, 1969 And Returned To The Command Module On July 21. The Command Module Left Lunar Orbit On July 22 And Returned To Earth On July 24, 1969. Apollo 11 Splashed Down In The Pacific Ocean On July 24 1969 At 12: 50: 35 P.M. Edt After A Mission Elapsed Time Of 195 Hrs, 18 Mins, 35 Secs. (Photo By Nasa/Getty Images) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(13 of18)

376713 13: (FILE PHOTO) U.S. Navy pararescueman Lt. Clancey Hatleberg disinfects Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. after getting into the life raft during recovery operations today at the completion of their successful lunar landing mission. The space pilots donned biological isolation garments in their spacecraft. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(14 of18)

376713 06: (FILE PHOTO) New York City welcomes the Apollo 11 crew in a showering of ticker tape down Broadway and Park Avenue August 13, 1969 in a parade termed as the largest in the city\'s history. Pictured in the lead car, from the right, are astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. The three astronauts teamed for the first manned lunar landing on July 20, 1969. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(15 of18)

376713 23: (FILE PHOTO) A pre-launch twilight photo of the The Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle. It lifted off July 16, 1969 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The space craft was injected into lunar orbit July 19, 1969 with Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. on board. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(16 of18)

376713 21: (FILE PHOTO) The Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle lifts off July 16, 1969 from Kennedy Space Center\'s Launch Complex in Florida. The space craft was injected into lunar orbit on July 19, 1969 with Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. on board. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(17 of18)

376713 15: (FILE PHOTO) The Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle lifts off July 16, 1969 from Kennedy Space Center\'s Launch Complex in Florida. The space craft was injected into lunar orbit on July 19 with Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. on board. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) (credit:NASA via Getty Images)

(18 of18)

This May 1969 file photo shows the astronaut crew of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Left to right, are Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module. AFP PHOTO / NASA (Photo credit should read /AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)

■なぜ火星探査が必要か？

アポロ11号の乗組員で、アームストロング船長に続いて月面に降り立ったバズ・オルドリン氏も「火星探査はアポロが月へ行ったのとは全くわけが違う」と、次のように話している。

火星に人類の第一歩を刻むことは、重大な節目になるだろう。人類の粘り強さと、別の惑星に定住するための技術を必要とする大事業だ。火星探査はアポロが月へ行ったのとは全くわけが違う。ふるさと地球を離れ、限られた帰還能力しか持たず長期ミッションに出る必要がある。ひとたび遠い火星にたどり着けば、再び地球に帰れる見込みはほとんどない。月へ到達することと、はるか火星を目指すことの根本的な違いはそこだ。したがって、火星を目指すのならそこに定住することを、そのために何が必要かを考えなくてはならない。これは人類の火星進出計画なのだ。
（ナショナルジオグラフィック『オルドリン氏、「次は月より火星」』 2013/05/13）

火星までの直線距離は最短でも約5500万キロで、月までの約38万キロの100倍以上。往復には約3年を費やすと言われている。宇宙飛行士は長旅の間、強い宇宙放射線にさらされることになり生命も危ぶまれる。

それだけの困難を乗り越えて実施する目的の一つには、火星がテラフォーミング（惑星地球化計画）しやすい惑星だということがある。火星は人類が住める環境に造りかえられる可能性があると、アメリカの天文学者、故カール・セーガン博士は指摘していた。

火星の有人探査計画の観点から、国際宇宙ステーションは、それが長期（１～２年）有人宇宙滞在の研究のためだとすれば尚更、十分納得のいく話である。長期的にみれば、火星は人類が他の天体で自給自足による共同社会を建設するための最高の場所である。同時に、太陽系の中で最も地球環境に改造し易い天体でもある。
火星は、我々の孫やひ孫達に前途有為の未来という希望に満ちた夢をもたらしてくれる。この実現によってこそ、アメリカ人の節度、想像力および持続力を示し、冷戦の影を地球から排除する機会をもたらすことができる。
（THE PLANETARY REPORT 1996年9・10月号「なぜ火星なのか」）

【関連記事】

ハフィントンポスト日本版はFacebook ページでも情報発信しています。

ハフィントンポスト日本版はTwitterでも情報発信しています。@HuffPostJapan をフォロー

訂正の連絡はこちら

注目記事

【ゴールデンウィーク初日・TVerドラマランキング】「ブルーモーメント」「Destiny」を抑えた1位は？

「私は教授です」デモ現場で教員を警察官2人が地面に押さえつける動画が拡散アメリカ

【新玉ねぎを食べ尽くせ】甘くてトロ旨！毎日でも飽きない新玉ねぎレシピ3選

アン・ハサウェイのベリーショートが語彙力なくすカッコ良さ...「男役いける」と大反響。伝説のボーカリストを連想する人も【画像集】