If the U.S. landed on the moon in the late 1960's why haven't they gone back again?

Question

They have better technology now then they had in the 60's don't you think?

Answer 1

We have gone back, and we're planning to again. There were six moon landings between 1969 and 1972. President Bush's "Vision for Space Exploration" calls for another manned Moon mission by 2020.

Answer 2

The public lost interest. The moon project was more a race with the USSR than anything else. The US won and that was all the public cared about. Technology might be better today, but there are no rockets like those that carried the Apollo missions--they would have to be built from scratch. There is no money. Its all been spent in Iraq and giving tax breaks to billionaires. Hopefully America's role in space is over forever.

Answer 3

There is so much to explore and see. They've already been there, did some tests, took some samples and moved on. Now they're landing on Mars and Venus and wherever else they can.

Also, a very sad truth, but they need results to explain their VERY high costs of operations. If NASA held a press conference and said "Guess what, we're gonna land on the moon... again", the people of the nation would be mad that they're spending all of the tax money, doing something that's already been done. But when they say "we've never thrown a robot to the surface of the moon, to drive around and send back pictures"... everyone says "hmmm, that sounds neat."

Answer 4

You have no idea how expensive it was to send these manned missions, do you?

When technology makes colonization feasible, and there is something significant to gain from it, man will return.

Right now, the only driving froce I can think of is the "because it's there" notion. I think, perhaps, the Chinese may be the next to land there, because their economy has such a surplus of money. But, then, there's always the political question "Why waste enormous sums of money going to the Moon when there are more gainful and profitable ways to use the money right here on earth?"

Answer 5

There ARE missions being planned-to go to Mars.
The costs also come into the scene here- a manned mission is a very expensive affair. Also, NASA wants to be extra careful- they already have two major disasters under their belts (Challenger and Colubia, total of 14 astronauts killed)
and they want to take all possible precautions to prevent another disaster.

Answer 6

They have better COMPUTER technology now, but not better ROCKET technology. The space shuttle engines are even more expensive than the Saturn V engines and they don't give more thrust or use less fuel.

Answer 7

They found no MacDonald's
Actually, if, I thinking correct, they planing a base on the moon. From there we head for Mars.

Answer 8

No evidence of oil reserve on the moon. Also, been there, done it, let move on to Mars.

Answer 9

They have outstanding, unpaid parking tickets and those moon parking attendants don't take any crap from foreign tourists you know.

Answer 10

Because it sucks. There's dirt all over everything, it's hard to breathe, and there isn't even a Starbucks!