Obama Will Stick with Bush Moon Plan

[Trekker4747]

It's much more efficient and practical to build damn near anything on the ground than in orbit.

J.J. Abrams loves you.

 

[Mallory]

I know. I just got another payment.

 

[Squiggy]

All things must be built in Iowa.

 

[Noname Given]

You don't need a lunar base to go to Mars or anywhere else.

As Dr. Robert Zubrin explains clearly in his book "The Case For Mars".

The moon offers no resources you couldn't find cheaper and more accessible elsewhere.

And this from a 'Teacher'? One of the most valuable commodities for a Mars vehichle is space for consumables and fuel. IF we're able to build a base and launch such a mission from the moon, the vehicle will require much less fuel space; nor will the launch stage(s) need to be aerodynamic, etc. Plus, humans work easier in gravity; so it would probably be easier to assemble on the moon than in low orbit as well.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, this is good news. Now if NASA can just figure out how to use that money efficiently.....

 

[Amaris]

You know what else is nice about having a base on the moon? Much less risk of a sudden change in trajectory (say caused by a meteorite, floating garbage, propulsion misfire) that causes your work, along with you, to be turned into a pretty streaking light across the night sky.

J.

 

[Dayton3]

You don't need a lunar base to go to Mars or anywhere else.

As Dr. Robert Zubrin explains clearly in his book "The Case For Mars".

The moon offers no resources you couldn't find cheaper and more accessible elsewhere.

And this from a 'Teacher'? One of the most valuable commodities for a Mars vehichle is space for consumables and fuel. IF we're able to build a base and launch such a mission from the moon, the vehicle will require much less fuel space; nor will the launch stage(s) need to be aerodynamic, etc. Plus, humans work easier in gravity; so it would probably be easier to assemble on the moon than in low orbit as well.

Except that the moon has no consumables for use on a Mars mission. Unless it turns out to have water frozen at the poles. And even obtaining this would require launching considerable quantities of equipment to the moon in the first place.

The best way to get to Mars is launch from Earth, dock if necessary in Earth orbit and then go.

Besides, you don't need to carry fuel to Mars for the return voyager.

Just take 7 tons of hydrogen and you can make enough oxygen and methane out of the Martian atmosphere to get back with room to spare.

 

[Squiggy]

Except that the moon has no consumables for use on a Mars mission. Unless it turns out to have water frozen at the poles.

The lunar soil contains hydrogen and oxygen. In fact, lunar soil is 40% oxygen. Initially one would have to rely on material transported from Earth and then recycle those resources. but eventually a lunar outpost would be self sustaining through extracting these elements.

 

[Dayton3]

Except that the moon has no consumables for use on a Mars mission. Unless it turns out to have water frozen at the poles.

The lunar soil contains hydrogen and oxygen. In fact, lunar soil is 40% oxygen. Initially one would have to rely on material transported from Earth and then recycle those resources. but eventually a lunar outpost would be self sustaining through extracting these elements.

Eventually perhaps.

But by then we could have a base on Mars for 30 years.

The moon offers no advantages over Mars.

 

[John Picard]

Except that the moon has no consumables for use on a Mars mission. Unless it turns out to have water frozen at the poles.

The lunar soil contains hydrogen and oxygen. In fact, lunar soil is 40% oxygen. Initially one would have to rely on material transported from Earth and then recycle those resources. but eventually a lunar outpost would be self sustaining through extracting these elements.

Eventually perhaps.

But by then we could have a base on Mars for 30 years.

The moon offers no advantages over Mars.

No one can answer my question why we're so hard-core about going to Mars. What is the benefit?

 

[Dayton3]

The lunar soil contains hydrogen and oxygen. In fact, lunar soil is 40% oxygen. Initially one would have to rely on material transported from Earth and then recycle those resources. but eventually a lunar outpost would be self sustaining through extracting these elements.

Eventually perhaps.

But by then we could have a base on Mars for 30 years.

The moon offers no advantages over Mars.

No one can answer my question why we're so hard-core about going to Mars. What is the benefit?

Dr. Zubrin outlines the advantages in "The Case For Mars".

From the huge advances in biological sciences if even fossilized remains of extinct Martian microbial life are found to the increase in interests in science and technology in America as was generated in the early space program.

 

[John Picard]

Eventually perhaps.

But by then we could have a base on Mars for 30 years.

The moon offers no advantages over Mars.

No one can answer my question why we're so hard-core about going to Mars. What is the benefit?

Dr. Zubrin outlines the advantages in "The Case For Mars".

From the huge advances in biological sciences if even fossilized remains of extinct Martian microbial life are found to the increase in interests in science and technology in America as was generated in the early space program.

Spending billions for a six month trip to recover fossilized microbes? That's the case for going to Mars Boy, talk about zero business sense. There's no ROI for that.

 

[Dayton3]

No one can answer my question why we're so hard-core about going to Mars. What is the benefit?

Dr. Zubrin outlines the advantages in "The Case For Mars".

From the huge advances in biological sciences if even fossilized remains of extinct Martian microbial life are found to the increase in interests in science and technology in America as was generated in the early space program.

Spending billions for a six month trip to recover fossilized microbes? That's the case for going to Mars Boy, talk about zero business sense. There's no ROI for that.

"ROI" Return on Investment rarely applies to anything in life or in government for that matter.

Do we subject Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to ROI?

We're spending one trilliion a year on people for the most part who are old and sick and never likely to be that productive for society again.

What about the defense budget?

Justifications for most things in life both personal and governmental or intangible.

 

[John Picard]

Dr. Zubrin outlines the advantages in "The Case For Mars".

From the huge advances in biological sciences if even fossilized remains of extinct Martian microbial life are found to the increase in interests in science and technology in America as was generated in the early space program.

Spending billions for a six month trip to recover fossilized microbes? That's the case for going to Mars Boy, talk about zero business sense. There's no ROI for that.

"ROI" Return on Investment rarely applies to anything in life or in government for that matter.

Do we subject Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to ROI?

We're spending one trilliion a year on people for the most part who are old and sick and never likely to be that productive for society again.

What about the defense budget?

Justifications for most things in life both personal and governmental or intangible.

http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html

Out of a $2.4 trillion budget, less than 0.8% is spent on the entire space program! That's less than 1 penny for every dollar spent. The average American spends more of their budget on their cable bill, eating out or entertainment than this yet the benefits of space flight are remarkable. It has been conservatively estimated by U.S. space experts that for every dollar the U.S. spends on R and D in the space program, it receives $7 back in the form of corporate and personal income taxes from increased jobs and economic growth. Besides the obvious jobs created in the aerospace industry, thousands more are created by many other companies applying NASA technology in nonspace related areas that affect us daily. One cannot even begin to place a dollar value on the lives saved and improved lifestyles of the less fortunate. Space technology benefits everyone and a rising technological tide does raise all boats.

 

[Dayton3]

Spending billions for a six month trip to recover fossilized microbes? That's the case for going to Mars Boy, talk about zero business sense. There's no ROI for that.

"ROI" Return on Investment rarely applies to anything in life or in government for that matter.

Do we subject Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to ROI?

We're spending one trilliion a year on people for the most part who are old and sick and never likely to be that productive for society again.

What about the defense budget?

Justifications for most things in life both personal and governmental or intangible.

http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html

Out of a $2.4 trillion budget, less than 0.8% is spent on the entire space program! That's less than 1 penny for every dollar spent. The average American spends more of their budget on their cable bill, eating out or entertainment than this yet the benefits of space flight are remarkable. It has been conservatively estimated by U.S. space experts that for every dollar the U.S. spends on R and D in the space program, it receives $7 back in the form of corporate and personal income taxes from increased jobs and economic growth. Besides the obvious jobs created in the aerospace industry, thousands more are created by many other companies applying NASA technology in nonspace related areas that affect us daily. One cannot even begin to place a dollar value on the lives saved and improved lifestyles of the less fortunate. Space technology benefits everyone and a rising technological tide does raise all boats.

You just answered your own question about Mars then.

Which makes me wonder why you brought it up.

and also,

the last of the post says "One cannot even begin to place a dollar value on the lives saved...."

Thus validating my point about intangibles

 

[RJDiogenes]

Also, because it is there.

 

[Kryton]

Plus free Teflon and Tang for everyone!

 

[Gertch]

I never even heard what his mush room plan was.

 

[Dayton3]

I never even heard what his mush room plan was.

It was well covered in various science and space magazines.

Basically ending the shuttle program and developing more standard launch vehicles out of evolved shuttle components (Ares I & V). Using a capsule design.

Returning to the moon around 2018 with Mars to follow some time after.

 

[msbae]

Well, this is good news. Now if NASA can just figure out how to use that money efficiently.....

My thoughts exactly...