and build a permanent space station there, would be impractical because there is very little if anything we can learn from the moon, since we've been there several times. They also argued that landing and taking off from there, perhaps as a base to launch a trip to Mars would exhaust nearly 2/3 or more fuel in doing so. Can we learn anything new from our moon? A critic cited that the money could be better spent studying the affects of global warming from space. Do you agree?
2007-06-10 16:01:09 · 8 answers · asked by Westbound 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I'd be happy for him to go, as well.
2007-06-10 16:06:03 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm in favor of a return to the moon and a lunar base. We had the technology to do it thirty years ago but the Vietnam war was eating our lunch economically and it was decided to play around in low Earth orbit instead. The way i look at it, the Moon is something I can see. Mars just as soon be Saturn because I can't see it. If they want to go to Mars for exploration purposes the distances involved make it beyond our technology at the present time. A Moon base is seen as a good way to develop the technology to make that possible.
2007-06-10 23:09:10 · answer #2 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there is much more that we can learn from the moon and being on the moon than i want to explain. we are using the space station for scientific experiments. in our lifetime, it will fall out of orbit, the moon won't. so instead of building a new space station we can have a community on the moon. the most promising aspect of having a colony on the moon would be for future space exploration. since there is very little gravity on the moon far less fuel would have to be used to launch deep space projects. mars would be much easier as well as all of the planets in our solar system. it would take far less fuel to launch a rocket from the moon then it would from earth. it would take very little fuel to break the moons gravity and then you could rely on ion propulsion or even a solar sail. both technologies exist and are extremely promising. electricity could be generated from the moon and "microwaved" to the earth, saving our resources. minerals could be farmed. the list goes on and on. study more about it and i think you would agree with me.
2007-06-10 23:19:09 · answer #3 · answered by pitaboy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Imagine if in 1498, Europeans said that there was nothing new to learn from the New World, since Columbus had already been there four times.
Whoever made these statements clearly did not know what they were talking about, and should be embarrassed for making themselves look foolish on national radio.
2007-06-10 23:04:44 · answer #4 · answered by The Tridentine Avenger 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Things we can learn from the moon:
- how to protect astronauts from solar radiation and cosmic rays for extended stays
- how to make and maintain a liveable habitat in an environment with no breathable air or water (like on Mars or extended manned voyages)
- how to extract oxygen and hydrogen from rocks (and maybe make our own water)
- how people react over time to confinement in an artificial environment and no way to go outside for some fresh air
- how our bodies change over time in a low-gravity environment (the moon, Mars, extended manned voyages)
- how to efficiently (close to 100%) recycle wastes and grow our own food with no outside resources available
- ways to efficiently supply off-world bases (logistics, payload maximization, timing, etc.)
Probably a lot I haven't thought of.
2007-06-10 23:11:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The raw resources of planet Earth are limited. The *only* place we can turn to for future resources is space, including the moon, the asteroids, etc.,. Mankind must address immediate crises like global warming, but at the same time we can not afford to remain locked to this planet and expect to survive.
2007-06-10 23:07:00 · answer #6 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it would be a good idea to do that.. but I also think that they should try to study Mars more... because Earth would most likely be in the state mars is if the climate change continues at this rate.. We need to find new planets, places we can survive at..... if we stay earth bound there is no hope for humans to survive... sooner then later Earth will come to an end..
2007-06-10 23:15:16 · answer #7 · answered by Love Exists? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hope he does go back to the moon. I'd even pay the fare for a one-way ticket just to hear him say. "I'm goin' to the moon ehh ehh, terrorists in space, ehh ehh.. SHOWK N' AWE!"
2007-06-11 08:03:10 · answer #8 · answered by michaelhobbsphd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋