will astronauts go back to the moon in our lifetimes?

Question

I did read that they were going to build a station on the moon is this true? I am also wondering is the flag and moon buggies and lm's still on the moon.

Answer 1

You would need a crystal ball to predict that one, but I believe people will go back to the moon within the next thirty years. Here's why: Our collective intrest and curosity has become more focused on Mars lately, and also, some of the moons of Jupiter. A manned mission to the planets would need to use a lunar base for logistics purposes, because a direct flight from Earth, using current technology, would be nearly impossible. The size of the rocket required to lift the payload, people, supplies, and fuel for a round trip, lasting years in duration, would be frankly, astronomical! Not impossible, but totally impractical. A lunar base would, therefore, be the logical stepping-off point for journeys to the outer planets.
As for the second part of your question; the Apollo missions left on the moon everything that wasn't necessary for the flight home. The flags, tools, experiments, moonquake meters, laser reflectors, buggies, golf balls, and even the suits they wore while walking on the moon, are all still up there. Even the lower half of the lunar module, which they used for the landing, is still there.

Here's a video of Apollo 17's liftoff from the lunar surface:
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/movie/as17_liftoff.mov

Answer 2

Yes, Some equipment was left on the moon, like the rovers. This allowed less energy to be required to remove the astronauts.

There are no plans to return to the moon at this time. We have learned most all we can through the visits. A trip to mars would bear more fruits and be an even more important mile stone.

As for a lunar base, their are plans(engineering), ideas, desires, but little funds and no official plans(political).

We may indeed, with a new form of space travel, have lunar tourism.......

The actual surface of the moon is black as coal. It's whiteness is an illusion.

The moon turns as it revolves so that the same face always faces the earth. 50% of discovered moons are syncronized the same way. The far side of the moon was never seen by manking untill satelites were invented.

The moon is made of the same material as the earth's crust. Hinting that the earth and moon may have been separated by a great cataclysmic cosmic event. It has much less Nickel and Iron compared with earth.

While there have been expiraments at 0 G (Gravity) and 1 G (Earth), there are no experiences of long term effects of .3G (~the moon). So it may actually be impossible for humans ever to live long term at .3G. This is unlikely, but still a potential risk.

Also because the moon has little atmosphere (almost none), we not only need airtight compartments and oxygen generation. We also have to protects from cosmic radiation. So a lunar colony might have to be subterranian.

The peaks of Eternal Light would provide a perfect suppply of solar energy.

At our current technological level it is doubtful anything like a colony would be established, but a research station is currently possible.

The greatest expense is shipping supplies to the moon. at a cost of 1000's a pound.

The moon is also not a convient "gas stop"-little natural resources and NO NATURAL FEUL. But it makes an EXCELLENT starting point for trips as the lesser gravity makes take-off's easier.

Answer 3

Actually they are about 2020, going to build a station on the south pole of the moon, they are there for many possible reasons, such as energy concerns to power the earth, such as helium 3.

There is enough Helium3 on the moon to power the earth for another 1000 years without causing pollution.

How they will sustain themselves is unknown, although it has been confirmed that a scientist has heated moondust to 800 degrees centigrate and squeesed drinking water out of it.

Water means oxygen and drinking water, Oxygen for breathing, oxygen also means they can grow crops...

Because of this we are on the verge of colonizing the moon.



Yes, the flag and buggies are still on the moon, but the flag must be really tattered by now...

Answer 4

From a BBC article published 19 September 2005:


"Nasa plans return to Moon by 2020

The US space agency Nasa has announced plans to return to the Moon by 2020.

Nasa administrator Dr Michael Griffin said four astronauts would be sent in a new space vehicle, in a project that would cost $104 (billion).

"We will return to the Moon no later than 2020 and extend human presence across the Solar System and beyond," Dr Griffin said on Monday."

You can see the actual NASA briefing on this subject by clicking on the second link.

Answer 5

Yes.
There is a plan to build a station on the moon.
NASA wants to start the project hopefully by 2025.

And, yes, the flag is still in the same place, along with a couple golf balls, but I'm not sure about the buggies and the landing module.

Answer 6

yes all the old junk is still there because it would cost too much to remove it

the plan is to build a moon base and an orbital platform

because from there a deep space launch would be easier without earths gravity to deal with.
But until some scientist figures out Rotational Force fields to protect any craft from all the pieces of space dust,
It would be like flying through a sandstorm in a battering ram made of ricepaper.
At the very high speeds necessary, even a tiny speck of space dust could rip through any craft easily

I remember seeing a photo from NASA , in an old National Geographic of a fleck of paint from a previous craft embedded in a bit cut from the window of the space shuttle

Answer 7

I hope so.

Yes, the flags & buggies are still on the moon, but after 35 years of intense heat and intense cold, they're probably faded & brittle.

Answer 8

Yes, my space science professor has mentioned that most likely China's space program will be the first to launch a space craft with astronauts back to the moon!

Answer 9

Yes probably, although there's little point to it, more of a dick waving exercise. Any sort of large lunar base is raher unlikely

The idea of it being a stepping stone to places beyond is complete bollocks. Were not going to get any further than Mars without descovering some completely new rocket science, amd even a trip to Mars would cost about a trillion dollars.

Answer 10

we will be back to the moon by 2016 I think and we will make a moon base some time in th 2020's