OK conspiracy theorists - get out of this! Moon landings!

[Coito ergo sum]

Coito,
I agree there is no intention behind the "aspiration" to go to Mars. And the asteroid idea is ludicrous.
What benefit can you possibly get from that? Compared to the Moon, anyway.

If the plan is to get people living sustainably away from Earth, huge space stations are the answer.
But to build them, we need to mine the Moon. That's why the Moon is vital.
Once you get to a point where you can manufacture in space, from Moon materials, then you can really take off. The electrical energy supply is virtually unlimited and extremely cheap. Materials can be lifted off the moon without much effort. And processed into machinery etc. on a space station.
You could provide proper shielding from radiation with Moon materials because you wouldn't be so restricted by weight.

That's how I see it. Moon first, giant Space station second.
With proper shielding, and artificial gravity from rotation, people could be born, live and die in a giant space station. It's not certain that you could ever do the same on the Moon or Mars.

I am in favor of aggressively getting to the Moon ASAP. I am good with going there "first," but since we already have significant investment in the ISS, I see no reason to abandon it. We might as well do both. And, we couldn't find a better "stimulus package" or jobs bill.... it's "shovel ready" -- we HAVE a space program. We were half way through a Moon program. Double NASA's budget and put people to work.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

My own position: If we don't have lifeboats for the human race we have all our eggs in one basket. This requires that we have pockets of humans elsewhere, self-sustaining colonies. The Moon is the first step in achieving this.

[Coito ergo sum]

My own position: If we don't have lifeboats for the human race we have all our eggs in one basket. This requires that we have pockets of humans elsewhere, self-sustaining colonies. The Moon is the first step in achieving this.

"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!"
Larry Niven, quoted by Arthur Clarke in interview at space.com, 2001

[Gawdzilla Sama]

My own position: If we don't have lifeboats for the human race we have all our eggs in one basket. This requires that we have pockets of humans elsewhere, self-sustaining colonies. The Moon is the first step in achieving this.

"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!"
Larry Niven, quoted by Arthur Clarke in interview at space.com, 2001

How many seconds before Feck comes in to point out the dinos are NOT extinct?

[mistermack]

I think it's long overdue to have a "World" space program.
Why should two or three countries do it all?
You could have a system where every country except the very poorest pays a fixed percentage of it's economy size towards a common space program.
That would get the thing going again, and that kind of co-operation is good for international relations as well.
You could share out the development work benefits on a similar scale. You get a slice proportional to what you put in.

Anyway, could it be that Apollo NEVER went, and THAT'S why the Americans are too embarrassed to go back?
It makes you think !

[Gawdzilla Sama]

True. We need something like, say, a "World Space Station" with lots of countries contributing. The fact that we don't is very telling, I think.

[Atheist-Lite]

True. We need something like, say, a "World Space Station" with lots of countries contributing. The fact that we don't is very telling, I think.

Almost like some countries don't want to throw money down a bottomless pit isn't it?

[Geoff]

Gradually boost the ISS into a higher and higher orbit until it's near the moon then lower an astronaut down on a rope.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/space-elevator.html

Long-term: this, definitely (unless we get fusion power anytime soon).

Other than producing the carbon nanofilaments efficiently, which is probably not that far away, the ingredients are all there.

[Coito ergo sum]

I think it's long overdue to have a "World" space program.

Would be nice.

Why should two or three countries do it all?

Well, if we're going to pay for most of it, then we'll not call it a "world" space program.

The US has pulled back considerably anyway - if we're not careful, we won't even have a space program. Most of what we read on NASA is climate science now. Not to impugn the importance of climate science, but it's the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

You could have a system where every country except the very poorest pays a fixed percentage of it's economy size towards a common space program.

That would be great, but good luck.

That would get the thing going again, and that kind of co-operation is good for international relations as well.

Some countries would be better left out.

You could share out the development work benefits on a similar scale. You get a slice proportional to what you put in.

Anyway, could it be that Apollo NEVER went, and THAT'S why the Americans are too embarrassed to go back?
It makes you think !

Only if you don't. We weren't too embarrassed to go back. We were halfway through Constellation and getting back to the Moon. I still shake my head in dismay at the foolish cancellation of that program. Shortsighted.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

True. We need something like, say, a "World Space Station" with lots of countries contributing. The fact that we don't is very telling, I think.

Almost like some countries don't want to throw money down a bottomless pit isn't it?

He swings! He misses!

[Coito ergo sum]

True. We need something like, say, a "World Space Station" with lots of countries contributing. The fact that we don't is very telling, I think.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

True. We need something like, say, a "World Space Station" with lots of countries contributing. The fact that we don't is very telling, I think.

[Clinton Huxley]

If only you hadn't spent $4 trillion on bombing sand and rocks.....

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If only you hadn't spent $4 trillion on bombing sand and rocks.....

I blame Obama.

[Clinton Huxley]

If only you hadn't spent $4 trillion on bombing sand and rocks.....

I blame Obama.

Well, I blame him for the fall of the Assyrian Empire.