How come they don't vist the moon any more?

Answer 1

They already explored the moon. They are looking on to bigger and better things.

Answer 2

Mitty, that's a dumb answer. The shuttles don't have anything to do with the moon. For one thing, they wouldn't be able to land on the moon's surface. For another, the shuttles can't take off like a plane, they require rocket propulsion for liftoff - and there aren't any rocket systems waiting on the moon.

Anyhoo, to answer the question...In the late 70's, NASA decided to move in a new direction, and to work in high Earth orbit instead of focusing on lunar landings. That's why the Shuttle system was developed. It was believed at the time that there was more to gain by studying the effects of space travel etc etc while still in high Earth orbit, and then returning safely in a vessel that could be reused for other missions, than by collecting lunar samples etc.

Presently, after two-and-a-half decades and over a hundred missions, there's a good deal of talk at NASA about the life expentancy of the Shuttle program, and about its successor. It's generally believed that the next great space program will be a joint international effort to land on Mars, and that the Moon will play an important role in that program.

Answer 3

Nasa went in other directions (Earth orbiting) after Apollo 17. The moon was deemed not to have resources valuable enough to keep revisiting.
Now President Bush wants to leave another legacy, so we are to return to the moon. Theoretically, it is for a number of reasons.
1. The ISS was supposed to also be a stepping stone to other planets - it has since proven to be a drain on $$ resources and has never really fulfilled its promise.
2. IF there really is water ice in craters at poles, there is a ready supply of fuel for rockets (Hydrogen and Oxygen are now in use) and we would have a lot weaker gravity from which to launch - which means greater payload for fuel spent.
We now have to launch everything astronauts need to survive into space with them. Water is HEAVY. If there is water that can be used which can be found that is already in a low gravity environment, the thought then goes LETS USE IT. That's also the premise behind Robert Zubrin's idea for visiting Mars.

Answer 4

Right now, research in the space station and probes to the ends of the universe take priority right now. We have adequate data from the moon for the time being.

Answer 5

Too expensive for what we can learn at teh moment. In future, I expect some attempt at lunar colonization, which will take quite a few visits! Also, in future we may decide to go after teh moon's mineral resources, whatever they may prove to be. This will also prompt a few trips.

Answer 6

We found out once and for all, its not made of cheese !
Lots of dust.....but what makes you think we haven't been back there. Just because we see the face of the moon, doesn't mean there's nothing going on the dark side that we don't see.
Food for thought.

Answer 7

Because men like George Bush are in office

Answer 8

we already have moon rocks,a few footprints and a flag there.no need to open a 7/11.not much else to do there i guess.

Answer 9

Short on funds, not much to find out about it anymore.

Answer 10

shuttle problems perhaps? not worth losing any more people