How will science benefit from going back to the moon?

Question

What kind of things can we figure out by being there that we don't know already?

Answer 1

There are so many practical matters about the origin and composition of the moon to answer, also consider the question of life on Mars, a find of martian meteor rock on the moon would not be contaminated by Terrestrial Biota. There is a naked record of the evolution of the solar system on the moon, from the moon we can observe the stars and sun without the interference of the atmosphere or Van Allen Belt. Then there are experiments in biology and Nuclear Physics that it would be much safer to carry out with an empty vacuum around them. The moon is a potential scientific GRB!

Answer 2

If your question is "How will science benefit from PEOPLE going back to the moon?" the answer is very, very little - which is exactly why we haven't been back since 1972.

All of those aforementioned science experiments and measurements can be conducted by robots - which is exactly what they're doing on Mars. So there really is no reason for people to return to the moon besides a sense of national pride.

And btw, the microwave was invented after a radar engineer noticed the radar melted a candy bar he had in his pocket - NOT as a result of the space program.

Answer 3

The reason we may go back to the Moon is 1. ) To practice having an outpost there as a warmup for putting one on Mars and 2.) To mine any valuable minerals that may be there. Which at this time i highly doubt the value of mining anything there considering the cost to do any mining on the Moon.

Answer 4

The Moon will become a necessary resource for further exploration of the solar system.It can be mined for minerals and even crushed moon rock can be used for shielding in future space habitats.Recent satellite missions have revealed the possibility of ice in some craters.Any thing we can find there will save fuel because it's much cheaper to lift it out of the moons gravity instead of the Earths.

Answer 5

According to Buzz Aldren, Astronaut, for every dollar that was spent on the space program 7 dollars is returned in technology dividends. Computers are just one example.

Answer 6

Exploring the moon will give us insight into how to more easily move materials into space. We will eventually learn how to extract oxygen for atmosphere, hydrogen for fuel and iron for structures from the unique compounds found there, and we will ultimately learn concepts of how to terraform other worlds.

Answer 7

we wouldn't find people there, obviously. no one could live there. and also, we shouldn't mine it or else it will all be gone sometime and then there would be no more moon. we probably couldn't figure out anything else that would benifit people or science.

Answer 8

If nothing else we could see/measure changes on the moon from then to now.

Answer 9

There are a wide range of advances that have emerged from space technology.

http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/phonedrmarc/2003_december.shtml

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/shuttle/benefits/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0381900568/ref=dp_olp_2/002-2896297-5464820?ie=UTF8

Your microwave, amongst many other things, came as a direct result of space research.

Enjoy! :)

Answer 10

well we can fine tune navigation in space and get people used to being there so maybe we can do more long term things