2007-01-05 08:20:41 · 8 answers · asked by tl6man 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because NASA needs a purpose. Like all entities they propose these missions so they can survive and maintain funding. The Federal Government supports it for the same reason people like fancy cars. It's just cool.
At least financially there is negative return on such ventures, at least in the short run, but there exist the possibility that the long term investment of the dispersed knowledge gained will make humanity better off.
2007-01-05 08:53:10 · answer #1 · answered by rokiko 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If humanity is to reach out for the stars, it has to start someplace. People can learn to 'live off the land' to be able to make extended stays in space and on other worlds; the moon will be a stepping stone to other worlds in our solar system. As we learn more, the farther into our solar system we will travel, and hopefully one day one giant leap to other planetary systems.
2007-01-05 08:34:44 · answer #2 · answered by Siouxxi M 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Their are so many resources available in the lunar soil, such as metals and gases trapped in the rocks.
We need to keep expanding ourselves. The possibility exists that this planet won't be able to support life too much longer, cosmically speaking. There are many objects, such as comets and asteroids, that could strike the Earth, causing such destruction to make the planetary surface worthless, that we must colonize space NOW in order to preserve the species.
2007-01-05 08:33:54 · answer #3 · answered by Uther Aurelianus 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Colonization practice, perhaps even some terraform experiments. We are never going to get to the stars until we working out all the details on a body closer to home.
It is the same reason you set up base camps when you climb everest.
2007-01-05 08:27:20 · answer #4 · answered by Dane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Doing experiments in a low gravity environment, and having a low energy way to get off the surface to go to Mars (1.4 miles/sec escape velocity instead of 7.5 mps)
2007-01-05 08:25:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well for one, it is no gravity there and if you take off you're space suit you will die. Then you have to pee in these little containers and now you have to carry it all the way back to earth because the pee floats in space. And it can get back on your space suit. Also it takes a long time to go to the moon because the times are different.
2007-01-05 08:30:51 · answer #6 · answered by k_carthran 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Should Europe have ignored the new world once Columbus made it here ?
2007-01-05 08:33:38 · answer #7 · answered by Gene 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
To avoid terrorism.
2007-01-05 08:31:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋