This is the first in a series, leading to the return of astronauts to the Moon in 2024.

In Greek mythology, Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, and the moon. The daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo.

The Artemis program is a United States-led international human spaceflight program with mission objectives of returning astronauts to the Moon, landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, establishing an expedition base with a long-term human presence on the Moon, and laying the foundation for crewed missions to Mars and beyond.

Artemis I, an unmanned flight of the next generation of spacecraft, will lay the foundation for future missions. Launching in early 2022, Artemis I will utilize the Space Launch System super heavy-lift launch vehicle (SLS) to lift the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (Orion) out of Earth’s gravity.

The SLS, a smaller yet more powerful rocket than the Saturn V rocket, consists of four internal RS-25 engines combined with two external solid rocket boosters. When the engines and boosters are at full throttle, the SLS provides over 5 million pounds of thrust.

Orion will orbit about 62 miles above the lunar surface for 6 days before it begins the return to Earth. Orion will travel farther from Earth than any human spacecraft, about 280,000 miles from Earth with a total flight distance of more than 1.3 million miles.

NASA, with its commercial and international partners, will establish the first long-term presence on the Moon with the Artemis program. The lunar base established by the Artemis program will focus on scientific investigations and exploration of the lunar surface, as well as developing the skills and technologies to travel to Mars and beyond.

To learn more about the Artemis program, the Apollo program, and NASA’s history from the beginning to the future, book a hotel in Webster and plan a visit to Space Center Houston, the Official Visitors Center of the Johnson Space Center.

The Space Shuttle program featured the first reusable spacecraft, SpaceX continues the tradition of reusable spacecraft. With the Falcon 9 Rocket Series, SpaceX demonstrates that it is possible to launch, land, and reuse a rocket.

Continuing the Tradition
On June 3, 2017, A Falcon 9 rocket (B1035) launched a Dragon capsule, filled with supplies, to the International Space Station (ISS). After lifting the Dragon capsule into orbit, B1035 returned safely to Earth. Marking the first time that a reuseable rocket stage transported supplies to the ISS.

B1035 is about 156 feet long, 12 feet in diameter, houses nine Merlin 1D engines. The booster is equiped with extendable landing legs that deploy when the booster returns to Earth, during the approach two retro burns are performed to ease the rocket into a safe landing. B1035 flew its second, and final, mission on Dec. 15, 2017.

Plan your visit to Space Center Houston and get a close-up view of the future with this space-flown marvel. The Falcon 9 First-Stage Booster is on display near Independence Plaza at Space Center Houston and is included with your general admission ticket.

Among Webster’s 150 restaurants and entertainment venues, more than 50 offer what might be considered America’s favorite food—the beloved hamburger. A look into the huge variety of hamburgers served up at these establishments reveals that burgers, like people, have distinct DNA—no two are exactly alike. With so many components, ingredients, flavors, and factors working together, like the beef, bun, creative or traditional toppings, and condiments—burger hopping in Webster can be a full-time vocation or tasty pastime.

Stomp’s Burger Joint
Located at 300 West Bay Area Boulevard, is hamburger heaven, as owner Joel Sanchez offers over 20 opulent specialty burgers. Stomp’s burgers are fresh, delicious half-pound Angus beef with signature house-blend seasoning and an unbelievable, seemingly infinite array of top-quality ingredients. In fact, one could eat a different burger every day for months by adding a fried egg, avocado, bacon, or jalapeños or modifying anything on the extensive, highly creative menu. www.stompsburgerjoint.com

Delta Blues Smokehouse
Located at 19901 Gulf Freeway, elevates the hamburger to new heights, literally and figuratively. The Pit Boss is hands-down a culinary work of art and a guest favorite. Starting with 12 oz. of in-house ground ribeye and chuck, seared to perfection and topped with a thick slice of slow-smoked brisket, cheddar cheese, American cheese, mustard pickles, onions, and sweet original sauce. Webster features the original Pappas Delta Blues, where multiple pit masters undergo an intensive six-month training program because this restaurant takes its extraordinary food, drinks, hospitality, and service very seriously. www.pappasdeltablues.com

Carlos Beer Garden
Located at 18018 Highway 3, Carlos has been serving up delicious burgers since 1978. While there are only three burgers on the menu—the Burger, Cheeseburger, and Double Hamburger—they are big, tasty, and extremely popular. These home-style burgers that measure five inches wide are made with fresh half-pound patties cooked to perfection on a flat top grill and served on a bun made fresh from the local bakery and adorned with local produce—lettuce, tomato, and onions, as well as pickles, mustard, and mayonnaise. Bacon and jalapeños can readily be added to this classic burger. And for those who choose the Double Hamburger—that’s a pound of deliciousness. French fries and tater tots are hot and crisp and seasoned just right with a dash of pepper to complement burgers. www.facebook.com/carlossbeergarden

BB’s Tex-Orleans
Located at 1039 West Bay Area Boulevard, is legendary for its variety of unique recipes and delicious Tex-Orleans cuisine that produces a noteworthy burger—aptly called “Da’ Cheeseburger.” This burger stands out independently amid an expansive menu that includes Maw Maw’s Gumbo, Lloyd’s Crawfish Étoufée, Mama B’s Shrimp N’ Grits, Fish Tacos, Boudin Flautas, French Quarter Plate, salads, fried chicken and fish favorites, boiled seafood dishes, and lots of po’boys—because it can. Da’ Cheeseburger, highlighted on the menu as the “best burger ever,” is simply splendid. www.bbstexorleans.com/locations3/webster

Topgolf
Inside the 65,000 square-foot sports entertainment venue where 102 climate-controlled hitting bays on three levels attract professional and novice golfers alike, there are some seriously delicious burgers served up in Topgolf’s restaurant, bays, and bars. A guest favorite, the Smokehouse Burger, like the Classic Burger, features a half-pound, freshly ground, hand-formed patty made from a tantalizing mix of Angus chuck and short rib, grilled to perfection on a flat top grill and placed on a homemade, lightly buttered, toasted brioche bun. The Smokehouse Burger touts crisp bacon, homemade BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion and is a work of art. Simply put, this burger is flavorful, juicy, and delicious and needs no upgrades, although many are available, like a variety of different cheeses, avocado, or fried egg. www.topgolf.com/us/webster