Scientists, Dreamers Continue Refining Ideas for Future Lunar Bases

Space.com ^ | 7/18/02 | Leonard David

[RightWhale]

Interest is building. India, China, Japan, ESA all are working [at a snail's pace] on moon landing programs. The private sector is dreaming big, but with not enough money to do more than a storyboard for their webpage. For China it is a manned landing, the rest are robotic. And NASA? NASA drove their moon people away or underground.

[Brett66]

Yeah, if NASA is going to do this we'll need Tommy Daschole's approval. Fortunately there seems to be momentum building to go back in the pursuit of profit ever since Tito started the space tourist race. No congressional approval is required.

[RightWhale]

We can't afford to advance humanity

Actually, NASA simply needs to be told to set up a moonbase. They can do it easily within their present budget. They would have to stop doing some other things, and the schedule might not be fast.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[vannrox]

China's space budget is largely unknown. Expect some real surprises. We should copy their designs after they get the bugs out of their settlements.

[Brett66]

Saw this article on Space.com that stated that NASA was looking at beginning human 100-day class missions in the 2006-2011 timeframe. Such talk seems to have O'Keefe's blessing, this seems to be a positive development. I haven't heard of top NASA officials talk of going back to the moon for years,but it's still low-key talk. This also marks the first time I've heard of a direction for NASA after the ISS is complete since O'Keefe's been administrator. Well, they really didn't use the "M" word, they just talked of 100-day class missions.

Here's the article:

A Sneak Peek at NASA's Plans for Exploring Mars and Beyond

[Semi Civil Servant]

Had you polled high school seniors in 1969, I would guess about 90+% percent would have told they believed we would have several bases on the moon by 2000 A.D. And less than 5% would have told you they believed they would EVER have their own computer sitting on a desk at home.

Everything was in place 33 years ago to build a lunar base. And then the momentum evaporated. Predicting the future isn't easy.

[RightWhale]

A 100-day mission that didn't involve orbiting the moon would possibly mean going farther out than the moon and coming back in one orbit. They could make a larger number of smaller orbits, but one orbit that went beyond the moon would be a lot farther than NASA has sent a crew before. It would be a boring trip in the middle, with great interest at the beginning and the end.

[carenot]

Every time you look at a social worker, a food stamp recipient, or some old woman needlessly taking up the valuable time of the bank teller as she deposits the social security check she didn't earn, take heart to know that those are your space program dollars paying for it.

I am an old woman.

I get Social Security. $753 a month. I believe I earned it and more.

I probably could get food stamps, but I do allright by my self.

I can even keep 3 of my 17 grandkids while their mother works and I don't charge her nothin'. I can feed 'em too.

Don't need food stamps.

My husband died a few years before he could get his SS that he had paid into since he was 14 in 1947.

[Falcon4.0]

You took the words right out of my mouth brother!

[Brett66]

Ping.

[gcruse]

A moon base. How...retro.

[Doc On The Bay]

"Predicting the Future isn't easy!".........

Actually, predicting the Future is VERY easy; One simply has a group of Unbiased, extremely erudite Experts suggest a "Course of Action" for a "Culture," & "Said Experts" will quickly find a "Rationale" GUARANTEED TO DESTROY the "aforementioned Culture!!"

Set up a "Moon Colony,??"--A TOTAL "NO-BRAINER,"--,BUT NEVER LET the "Project" be "Run By" ANY "Government Agency!!"

WE SHOULD ALREADY HAVE A "VIABLE MOON COLONY!!!"

Either we have been LIED TO for DECADES, or our "Leaders,"-- LONG SINCE presiding over our "Moon Colony Capabilities"== have "Covered For" an active Moon Colony!"

Doc

[Old Professer]

Man, you're as cold as the back side of the moon.

[crz]

I have no problem with this elder collecting her husbands social security. What I have a problem with is those who are below retirement age and are able to work collecting it. That as well as food stamps and living off from someone like me who has worked and paid into it for some 27 years. Then I have a problem with those who fail to show respect to their elders.

[DAnconia55]

Social Security is theft.

[RightWhale]

Expect some real surprises

Could happen, easily. Things are changing fast. Consider that we had the technology, which some such as myself considered somewhat less than the latest at the time, and we sent Apollo before 1970. Is China 40 years behind, 30 years, 5 years? There are no technological reasons that China can't go to the moon right now. And more.