Why all countries suddenly going to the moon?

Question

seems all countries are interested in going to the moon all of a sudden. and Also the U.S is heading there too.

Answer 1

Are they? Suddenly? Hardly. China and Japan have been working on their space programs for decades. That they went mostly unnoticed is a matter of poor advertising (or missing interest in the US) but certainly not the result of super-human acceleration of their programs.

I might also point out that while China and Japan are going to the moon, the US just went to Mars (again, and again and again), Saturn, Pluto and the two largest asteroids. Bummer.

Not to mention that the US is the only country working actively on a manned lunar landing. Nobody else is. The Chinese are talking about it. But talking and doing are two very different things, indeed.

Answer 2

You may not like this but going to the moon is the probably the next logical step in space exploration.

We need to understand how to build, live, and thrive on the moon before we can arrive to mars or perhaps a comet and then beyond that. Not to mention that some of the most powerful telescopes will be built and operated on the moon.

Also, the future of space exploration will be an international one. It's a good thing that there are many countries who want to explore the moon because if we want to take space exploration seriously then we will need everyones help.

Answer 3

I watched an old episode of a UK programme called Horizon the other day that said that it was because it was possible the moon was rich in a substance called H3 (3 hydrogen atoms joined together) which was (potentially) the key to nuclear fusion. If this substance is all it's cracked up to be, it's worth a billion dollars per gram or something crazy like that. If a country found this and exploited it they could become a superpower overnight. Nice theory anyway.

Answer 4

It's more likely the statute of limitations on the restraining order on going to the moon have expired or soon to be expired.

The USA, the USSR, and the PRC stopped their manned moon mission programs at roughly the same time and they restarted them also at roughly the same time.


"Boys, take a good look at the Moon. It's going to be a long time before anybody gets up here again." - Jim Lovell

While the quote was often use officially in the public as a sign of despair on the fate of the program, but is it possible than mission after Apollo 13 are nothing more than pretend missions?

Answer 5

This is the grace of GOD.
Importance of human is up to heaven.
W e are progressing in all field.
We must feel the universe as a global village.
All are brothers and sisters ,no discrimination on the basis of country ,re legion ,caste or co lour
Progress of science is the wealth of the nation.
We are happy that it is our progress.

Answer 6

They aren't. The U.S., Russia, China, Japan, and a few European countries are the only ones who are planning to. I personally think it is a waste of time. Flights with humans on board are far more expensive, take longer to build, and gather far less information than one manned by robots and machines.

Answer 7

now they have the money they can see if the Apollo XI astronauts really put a flag on the face of the moon.

Answer 8

I guess they are tired of climbing Mt. Everest. And the moon is higher.

Answer 9

not to be too profound but... because they can.

countries like Japan and China and India and the Duchy of Grand Fenwick all want that feather in their cap of a successful space program.

guess it will help them sell more refrigerators and get enough money to buy more Senators.

Answer 10

Because they all want to stake their claim for the mining rights before the US$ does.