International Space Station?

Question

Everytime a piece is added, it seems like its American..
with the acception of the arm from canada, and a module from japan..

why are we wasting our time pushing other nations space programs furthur?
we need to start colonizing the moon now...

I see the moon as a 2nd launch stage,
considering it has no gravity liftoff would be easy..

i can think of a million reason to launch from a base on the moon...

Answer 1

Well, the Italian module was just added this week; and the first module launched was from Russia. While we do carry the bulk of the expense - it's not 'wasting time.' We're learning - not only how to progress technologically, but also socially, through cooperation with other countries. If we're ever to explore Mars and beyond - we'll need the financial support and technological know-how from *many* nations. And, frankly - if we're going to progress into space, we should go as Man - not just Americans. Or Russians. Or Japanese. We should all go together. It may turn out to be the key to peace here on Earth.

Answer 2

First it has been said before, USA only could never offer to build the space station alone. It's the same for a future Mars expedition, you need the help of several country to achieve such an exploit.

And by the way, the moon does have gravity, it's 1/6th of the earth.

Answer 3

The ISS is the *International* space station. Half of it is Russian. In fact, the first two main modules were Russian. The module that was added on this mission was not built in America (I think it was in Australia but I forget). Other missions in the future will be adding european and Japanese modules.

Space exploration is for all of humankind, not just America. Return to the moon missions are scheduled for 2020.

Answer 4

If you did not know what to do in Earth orbit, how do you think you will feel about the moon?

But maybe you don't realize that the moon is nothing but a piece of Earth? The dust is like the stuff in your garden after you burned it for a week in an oven at 1500 degrees. Nothing else.

You are right. We are wasting a lot of money on the ISS. But how would wasting it on the moon be any better? I have yet to hear an answer that is at least one notch up over "Mommy, can I play cowboys and Indians with the neighbor kid?".

Seriously. We can learn a lot from the moon... with sample return missions, rovers... RC stuff if you like. We can not learn anything about it by going there ourselves, except maybe what it feels like to get cancer from the radiation that's up there. But that we could simulate much cheaper down here. Are you going to volunteer?

I wouldn't think so.

Answer 5

What on earth would be the purpose of colonizing the Moon?
There is no atmosphere there, and there is not one single source of food. Therefore "EVERYTHING" a group of people might need must be transported there at a cost of $100,000 per pound. Please try and formulate some specific objective that is worth that outrageous cost... Any colony established on the Moon would require constant resupply over a distance of 240,000 Miles and space launches at both ends of any
particular mission; one from Earth, and one from the Moon.

Flights to the ISS only require ONE space launch; from Earth's surface up to the ISS. From the ISS back to Earth's surface is simply a matter of slowing down and glideing back down.

Answer 6

The moon has gravity.

And to amansscientiae, I'd volunteer in a heartbeat, are you kidding?!?!