Pining for the moon in these uncertain times

The Houston Chronicle ^ | December 16, 2003 | DOUGLAS MacKINNON

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hints that President Bush may commit our nation once again to sending humans to the moon have initiated some interesting debates in Washington. As a Republican, and as someone who has written a book on the 12 men who walked on the moon and authored a number of columns on human space flight, I have heard from several in the GOP asking basically the same question: "With the war in Iraq, terrorism and an upcoming election, is this the best time for the president to focus on something so intangible and risky?"

My answer is an unequivocal, "Yes! There is no better time than now for the president to do something so far reaching, so visionary and so needed. Such a move may well prove critical to the future of our species and our nation."

The reasons for such a bold step are many, but allow me to outline the most obvious.

First, the survival of the human race on the spaceship Earth comes with no guarantees. At the risk of being lumped in with the "flying saucer" people, some scientists predict that the Earth is long overdue for another catastrophic asteroid strike. This time, it would not be a dinosaur killer, but a human killer. Several years ago, a small asteroid swept between the orbits of the Earth and the moon undetected. In astronomical measurements, it missed hitting the Earth by a millionth of one human hair. Had it hit, the loss of life and damage would be incalculable.

Second, leaving aside an "act of God," the human race is more than capable of destroying itself. Through accidental or deliberate detonations of nuclear weapons, the release of chemical or biological weapons, or a man-made plague run out of control, life as we know it can end or change for the worse.

From a commercial point of view, a number of entrepreneurs and corporations strongly believe there is real money to be made mining the moon. From a purely scientific point of view, it makes sense to establish a human-staffed laboratory on the moon that could benefit everything from our understanding of the universe to creating better drugs for consumption here on Earth.

Finally, if we need a selfish or nationalist reason to get back to the moon in a hurry, we have just been given one. The People's Republic of China has firmly set its eyes on the moon and the promise it holds.

The Chinese look at the moon and see a future of unimagined benefits for their nation. Benefits that run the gamut from financial to military. Much of the self-defense of the United States is predicated on the assets we have in low Earth orbit and geo-synchronous orbit, a fact not lost on the Chinese, who view the moon as the ultimate "High Ground."

The PRC also looks at the moon with a theory from history in mind. That being that hundreds of years before Europeans set foot on North America, Vikings landed on our shores, decided it was a "vast wasteland" and went home to perish. To the Chinese, the moon may represent the North America of the Vikings and they have no intention of making the same mistake.

Great presidencies can be made with but a single act. It is precisely because we are at war in Iraq, fighting terrorism and dealing with uncertainty, that Bush should point us once again toward the moon. The human mind can take only so much negative news. The anecdote to that is hope, dreams and the belief in a better future.

When I wrote Footprints, I had the rare chance to talk with all 12 men who walked on the moon. To a man, they said until we had a president who deeply cared about the exploration of space and understood the reality of its benefits, then our program would be basically rudderless.

I do not pretend to know President Bush well. That said, I had the honor to work with him on his dad's campaign in 1988 and had a number of wonderful discussions with him. Those talks convinced me that George W. Bush was and is a man who is very comfortable in his own skin. He knows his mind, believes in himself and is not afraid to make tough or controversial decisions. In short, he is a leader who will direct our nation where he thinks best.

From leaders come visions not yet seen by others. From such visions may come legacies. Should Bush choose to send our nation once again to the moon, his could be a legacy to rival all others.

MacKinnon was press secretary to former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan. He is also a former White House and Pentagon official and author. He may be reached at dmackinnon@sandw.com.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This color-enhanced image of Venus, the solar corona, and the Moon was acquired by the Startracker.
The terminator between the dark side of the Moon and the Earth-lit side can also be seen.

This colorized image shows the full Earth over the lunar north pole as Clementine completes mapping orbit 102 on March 13, 1994. It is a clear day over Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The angular separation between lunar horizon and Earth has been reduced for illustration purposes. The large crater at the bottom of the image is Plaskett at 180 West, 82 North. A high resolution image is also available. Warning: this image is very, very, large (40 Mbytes)!!!

More photos

[thatdewd]

BUMP for Space! I can just see the Chi-Coms deliberately landing a craft on top of the US flag Armstrong and Aldrin erected. (Which fell over when they took off. We need to go put it back up).

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Going back to stay Bump!

This time we go to use the resources and build an Earth-Moon highway.

[Hunble]

In 1973, we were still in a war with Vietnam. President Johnson had begun the "war on poverty" and President Nixon was altering American politics forever.

In 1973, I watched Apollo 17 land upon the Moon and have never forgotten it. That was the first and last scientific exploration of the Moon.

After Apollo 17, we lost something very valuable!

Poverty was not eliminated and we have had many new military conflicts since 1973.

President Regan gave us the goal to land men upon Mars within the next 30 years. Today, after all these years, are we really any closer?

There is absolutely no excuse for America not have a permanent presence on the Moon today. Be it men or robots, this is our basic step into the future.

Why, after 30 years of technology, is America unable to launch a single man into space? China and Russia can put a men into orbit today, but America has lost that ability!

There is no excuse!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

And now there is national security to consider. It takes something like having China, India, Russia, EU and Japan geared up and heading for the gold mine of ice at the lunar poles to grab our attention.

Our commercial and military satellites are sitting ducks. We can use a base at the Moon to protect and service them. This time private enterprise will quickly follow and a new era of scientific discovery and technological advances will begin in in earnest.

[Hunble]

I remember from only 10 years ago, NASA was exploring the idea of placing a rocket booster upon the back of a SR-71 "black bird" and sending it to the Moon.

The pilots of the SR-71 required a space suit because of the altitude that it flew at. This option was so low cost, it was almost laughed at.

Granted, it would be impossible for the SR-71 to actually land upon the Moon. However, for the first time in 30 years, an American could have gone into Lunar Orbit and safely return.

Oh well....

[Pro-Bush]

BUMP! I am really happy about this!

[Fledermaus]

Just going back to the moon for the sake of going there is a waste of time and money.

A permanent base is useless at this point.

Maybe a base that is near the juncture with the dark side to build a radio telescope on the dark side could be feasible.

Buzz Aldrin suggests, instead, of building a mid Earth-Moon space platform used for experiments and to launch vehicles to Mars and beyond. He says all this low orbit stuff around the Earth isn't worth much and a base just to have one on the moon doesn't advance our science.

If going back to the moon results in nothing but a vacation trip to take pictures of where we landed in the Apollo days, it will bore people to death.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ten years ago Golden and Clinton were using NASA as a foreign policy agency.

That was then, this is now.

[Fledermaus]

Granted, it would be impossible for the SR-71 to actually land upon the Moon. However, for the first time in 30 years, an American could have gone into Lunar Orbit and safely return.

All the DU'ers would have accused GHW Bush of flying that SR-71 to a secret lunar location to have aliens hold Earth hostages until after his son is reelected in 2004! < g >

[Hunble]

Ah, that SR-71 idea was the one time when I thought Golden may be good for the American space program.

Seriously, I do not care how we do it, JUST DO IT! Make the next Lunar lander out of LEGO blocks, if that is what will make it happen.

Get America back on the surface of the Moon!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

If going back to the moon results in nothing but a vacation trip to take pictures of where we landed in the Apollo days, it will bore people to death.

This isn't boring or trivial

[Cincinatus' Wife]

10 Reasons to go back to the Moon

Poll 74% yes - 26% no.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

BUMP! I am really happy about this!

You, me and 3/4 of those polled!

[Clock King]

Since Mars is also, the next big destination, I always wondered why every scheme I hear to get there involves blasting off from earth, taking a least a couple of years, etc. Why not approach Mars (and the asteroid belt, which is where the REAL mineral wealth is!) like a mountaineer assaulting K2. Build base-stations along the way before making the final run to the peak. The idea for a real low orbit Space station should be considered. Then a Geo-synchronous station (also doubles as a satellite repair and upgrade center). Then there should be a moon base and moon-orbit station. From there, you can launch to Mars with ease. To me, it just makes sense to start a Mars launch from orbit. Ideas, anyone?

If we (the US) don't do it, China will; just like the fable of the tortise and the hare. We sleep, they just keep plodding along. By the time we wake up, it's too late. Yes, they are 40-odd years behind us, but they'll make up that deficiency in about 20 years or less. And it'll take that long to change our culture back to the sort of aspiring intellectual one that gave rise to the space exploration of the 1960's.

[bellevuesbest]

Watch out now! You may have started another flame war thread over taxes.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Watch out now! You may have started another flame war thread over taxes.

Ah, yes. Well, there are risks inherent with innovation and national security.

[Hunble]

Put it this way:

If China is only 40 years behind the United States, and America has not been to the Moon in 30 years.....

At least China was able to put a man into orbit this year. That is better than America can do!

[Simmy2.5]

To get to the future is going back to a place we have been to in the past. Also, people need to realize the benifits that going back to the moon (and hopefully, on to Mars) will do to, not only Americans, but to mankind. No longer confined to one planet, but extended to reach the stars. The amount of potential scientific descoveries could benifit humanity more then spending it on say, "universal healthcare" or a "war on poverty" (especially if liberals keep changing the definition of poverty). Returning to the moon and on to Mars is the most logical step that we NEED to take to truely help the people.

That being said, that doesn't mean it should be done by NASA (private corportations are welcomed too), but returning ot the moon will help NASA get rid of this "low orbit" crap we have been stuck with during the shuttle era.

[Fledermaus]

Once established, such an infrastructure will revolutionize space travel, assuring us of continuous, routine access to cislunar space (i.e., the space between and around Earth and Moon) and beyond.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about! Unfortunately, I doubt even Bush has all that other stuff in mind. But I'm on board!

Thanks for that informative link.