Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: DERYN on 02/02/2010 15:54:53

Title: No more moon exploration ?
Post by: DERYN on 02/02/2010 15:54:53

Hi guys,  it seems that Obama is turning his back on moon exploration and diverting funds elsewhere.

Just what would we achieve by further exploring the moon ?

Has moon exploration provided any beneficial knowledge of our earth and solar system/universe ?

DERYN

Title: No more moon exploration ?
Post by: LeeE on 02/02/2010 23:09:31

Moon exploration has provided some very significant knowledge re the origin of the Earth and Moon but further exploration isn't likely to add much at this point in time, and almost certainly not in proportion to its cost. 

However, in the more distant future the Moon will become an important staging post for long distance exploration and may also become widely used for manufacturing, where its lower gravity and reduced pollution problems might offer significant advantages (just in case anyone's wondering why there would be reduced pollution problems on the Moon it's because any dangerous by-product wastes produced by manufacturing will stay where they're put; there's no wind or rainfall to disperse it.  There's also the fact that anyone living on the Moon will need to be doing so in artificial habitats anyway, and so aren't likely to unintentionally encounter hazardous by-product waste).

Title: No more moon exploration ?
Post by: DERYN on 03/02/2010 08:35:53

Hi Lee,  at 52 years old it is interesting to hear that man may one day inhabit the moon in some form as I well remember all such notions being purely science fiction. And I remember all those great Apollo missions.

BUT, does anyone own any parts of the moon ? I assume there are areas on the moon more ideally suited to habitation than others. So these areas will be targeted. At the moment there is probably only the USA that could handle such a project, so what happens if a country like Russia or another European country decide it is in their interest to put people on the moon ? Can they just pitch up tent anywhere ?

And, do you think the moon is valuable in military terms ?

DERYN

Title: No more moon exploration ?
Post by: syhprum on 03/02/2010 09:17:08

The moment anything valuable is found on the Moon the Americans, Russians and Chinese will start fighting over it, we should be developing a Moon transport system so we can aid our American allies.

Title: No more moon exploration ?
Post by: Namel on 03/02/2010 09:52:40

Currently I don't see any real use for inhabiting moon ever. Why would we want to use moon as staging post for further exploration? It is much better to use Earth's or even Moon's orbit for that. Same goes for manufacturing. Why would we ever want to first send raw materials to moon and then finished products back to earth. If low gravitation is needed orbit is much better place.

Of course if Moon is studied further some useful raw materials might be found so there is point in exploring it more. I think biggest benefit of moon mission would be that it would awake public interest in space exploration again. There is now many of us who weren't alive when Apollo missions were done so it would be some "real" space exploration for us instead of just shuttles to orbit or robots to space that has become routine.