2006-07-17 19:52:34 · 8 answers · asked by Lucky 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
First, the ISS is protected from most of the radiation in space by being close to the Earth and inside its magnetic field. A space station further out would not have this natural shielding and a solar flare could kill the inhabitants. On the Moon, such a station would have to be underground for long term occupation.
Second, the Moon takes a lot more energy to reach and is at least three days away by present travel methods. The people on the ISS could, in theory, be back on the ground in a few hours if they had to, given an escape method.
Third, a station on the Moon would be in darkness half the time, and that would mean a large mass of storage batteries or generators needed to supply electrical power during lunar night. The space station in Earth orbit can charge its batteries nearly all the time.
Fourth, the space shuttle is only capable of reaching about 300 or so kilometers altitude, and could never reach the Moon. We would have to design a whole new transportation system to reach a lunar station. Keeping a lunar station supplied would be impractical at this time.
2006-07-17 20:00:58 · answer #1 · answered by aichip_mark2 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Because it wouldn't be a space station. They are, by definition, a station in space.
I agree with your sentiment that our next big step in space should be to build a colony on the moon.
2006-07-17 19:57:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will not be a space station, It will be a Moon Station or Lunar Village or something like that.
We will do that quite soon I believe, May be we are still lacking technology and finances to do something like that.
2006-07-17 21:21:08 · answer #3 · answered by R G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sending the group obtainable is the high priced section. somewhat high priced. you may desire to circulate all a thank you to the Moon (enhance up the stuff and the human beings to 11 km/s), then land on the Moon (braking against a million/6 gravity isn't unfastened), take off from the Moon back (various the human beings could insist on being delivered back alive) which takes extra gasoline, then arrive back at Earth at 25,000 mph (11 km/s) and... wish for the final. in assessment, the shuttle purely needs to prevail in particularly below 8 km/s to realize orbit. Drop off the fabric (which, being interior the shipment carry of the shuttle, is already interior the right orbit) and the human beings. people who insist on coming back, hop back into the shuttle which only needs to brake slightly, inflicting it to drop into the ambience at a extra secure velocity of 17,000 mph. additionally, on the Moon, you don't get any of the advantages of being in orbit (e.g., microgravity experiments). on the gap spation, the "lifeboat" is an person-friendly Soyouz pill. You hop in, separate, brake slightly... and you fall back to Earth. From the Moon, you could want a much extra tricky area vehicle as a "lifeboat". of direction, in case you have the money to construct a Moon base, circulate suitable forward.
2016-11-02 06:32:12 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because that would be a lunar colony and not a space station.
2006-07-17 19:57:07 · answer #5 · answered by S.A.M. Gunner 7212 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Then it wold not be a space station it would have to be a colony of earth.
2006-07-17 19:56:27 · answer #6 · answered by yorkshireman_andy_newton 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it can't withstand the intense heat and solar wind. Nothing we make can yet. This is why no mission to mars yet. : (((
2006-07-17 19:56:34 · answer #7 · answered by AdamKadmon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
teh m00n sux0rz
2006-07-17 20:12:00 · answer #8 · answered by gnomef0cker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋