NASA Plans Permanent Moon Base

[LoungeMachine]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6208456.stm

US plans permanent base on Moon

US space agency Nasa has said it plans to start work on a permanently-occupied base on the Moon after astronauts begin flying back there in 2020.

The base is likely to be built on one of the Moon's poles and will serve as a science centre and possible stepping stone for manned missions to Mars.

The US has already said it plans to build a new lunar spacecraft to succeed the last Apollo mission in 1972.

Funds will be moved from space shuttle flights, due to be scrapped in 2010.

The structure of the base and the exact duties of the astronauts stationed there have not been decided.

Nor is it clear when the base will begin functioning.

Lunar outpost

"We're going for a base on the moon," Scott "Doc" Horowitz, Nasa's associate administrator for exploration, said.

The agency's deputy head, Shana Dale, is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying that the "fundamental lunar approach" will be very different to earlier Moon missions.


A lunar spacecraft has already been commissioned by Nasa

Nasa has elected to build a lunar outpost rather than operate brief trips to the satellite as it did in the 1960s.

Nasa is also expected to ask other countries - and businesses - to help it build the base.

The permanent base will be built near one of the two poles, as these are felt to have a moderate climate and more sunlight - essential if the base is to use solar energy.

"It's exciting," Shana Dale told the Reuters news agency. "We don't know as much about the polar regions."

According to Reuters, funds for building the lunar base will be diverted from the space shuttle programme, which is to be phased out by 2010.

After the Columbia space shuttle accident, US President George W Bush announced plans to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020.

Nasa announced in August that the Lockheed Martin Corporation will build the next US spaceship to take humans to the Moon.

[sadaist]

The new space travel vehicles NASA will be using sure look like a step backwards.

[BrownSound1]

Originally posted by sadaist
The new space travel vehicles NASA will be using sure look like a step backwards.

For moon missions we really have no choice but to use a traditional launch vehicle. The shuttle cannot make the trip nor carry the payload required for such a mission. The unfortunate thing is we are having to reinvent the wheel because all of this work has been done before..as in the Saturn V. I for one am glad we are getting away from the shuttle fleet. Too much can go wrong with that damn thing...and the technology is early 70's for the most part. A traditional type of launch vehicle is safer...well as safe as a rocket can be, and you don't have to spend the millions on refurbishing the damn thing for the next flight. That was one HUGE misconception about the shuttle, it was never cheaper to use than the old Saturn rockets...in fact it was much more expensive.

This is definitely the way to go for space travel. Also, on a more selfish note it really helps the economy here in where I live. (All of NASA's propulsion is designed here at Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as the entire Saturn V back in the old days.)

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

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[FORD]

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[Nitro Express]

We sure got a lot back from the Apollo missions technology wise. I would like to see such a program go towards energy independance. Solar panel technology of course came from space exploration as did fuel cell technology which was used on the Apollo missions.

I don't see anything wrong with a moon base as long as the country bennefits from it. We need to get back some of the creative, forward thinking we used to have when the old Soviet Union was the threat.

Now it's Islamic fundamentalism and nothing says fuckoff better than not needing their oil anymore.

[ODShowtime]

Originally posted by sadaist
The new space travel vehicles NASA will be using sure look like a step backwards.

Until we develope gravity drives, rockets are the only way off this rock, and they are pretty limited in design.

It's about time we did something cool with the tax money instead of just killing people.

[svrwthr]

The step backwards is actually a step foward. They know how to build them better than before. The shuttle is a disaster waiting to happen again and very costly. On top of all that, China announced they are going to the moon and planning a base well before the US announcement. This is just another scheme y us Americans to try and show we are better than the world. Time to stop being egotists NASA and US Government and start working together with the world.

[Seshmeister]

Seems like a bad idea after the last time...

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[Seshmeister]

I thought Bush said you were going to Mars?

[Nitro Express]

Originally posted by svrwthr
The step backwards is actually a step foward. They know how to build them better than before. The shuttle is a disaster waiting to happen again and very costly. On top of all that, China announced they are going to the moon and planning a base well before the US announcement. This is just another scheme y us Americans to try and show we are better than the world. Time to stop being egotists NASA and US Government and start working together with the world.

It's called the international space station. You know the one the Russians had to get the people off of because our shuttle program had to stop because of an explosion.

[Nitro Express]

Originally posted by Seshmeister
I thought Bush said you were going to Mars?

LOL! We are going to take Mars with AK-47's? I guess we wore all the M-16's out in Iraq.

[BITEYOASS]

Fuck man, with all the shit we spent on this damn Iraq war--it could have easily been used to explore metorites and other planets for the sole pupose of mining, rather than rape the arable land here on eather for minerals. Fuck we can even dispose all of our most toxic and radioactive material into the SUN with enough funds!!!! But nope ole' chimp's friends need to make more money for closeted crystal meth enduced ass sex in a gold plated room wearing a pelt made from an endangered species while we all suck in lead filled air, all to a an EPA regulation change near you.

[Nitro Express]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
Fuck man, with all the shit we spent on this damn Iraq war--it could have easily been used to explore metorites and other planets for the sole pupose of mining, rather than rape the arable land here on eather for minerals. Fuck we can even dispose all of our most toxic and radioactive material into the SUN with enough funds!!!! But nope ole' chimp's friends need to make more money for closeted crystal meth enduced ass sex in a gold plated room wearing a pelt made from an endangered species while we all suck in lead filled air, all to a an EPA regulation change near you.

Many experts figure the whole Iraq fiasco will cost the US a trillion dollars. Now let's put this in perspective. Our national debt increases a trillion dollars every 14 months. We are so ass fucked in debt. the cost of Iraq is a little blip.

I agree though, we could have put that trillion dollars to better use like offering $1 million for every lawyer killed.