NASA's Moon Plans Shift into High Gear

space.com ^ | 07/04/05 | Brian Berger

[KevinDavis]

Finally NASA doing something usefull...

[KevinDavis]

[Brett66]

Up to six lunar flights a year, that will be incredible if they pull it off.

[JoeA]

Yes, finally. But why is that JFk proposed putting a man on the moon in ten years, we did it in nine, and now it'll take us 15 years to go back?

[Moonman62]

Yes, finally. But why is that JFk proposed putting a man on the moon in ten years, we did it in nine, and now it'll take us 15 years to go back?

Well, it's a government project. What a surprise, huh? And this time they even get to reuse existing hardware.

[cripplecreek]

I just hope that people are willing to accept the fact that there will be accidents and deaths. It's the nature of exploration.

[JoeA]

Hire Rutan, he'd do it in 5 years, at half the cost.

[KevinDavis]

I think it was short term than a long term...

[Phsstpok]

But why is that JFk proposed putting a man on the moon in ten years, we did it in nine, and now it'll take us 15 years to go back?

because, as of right now, we are not dealing with a super power contest for control of the "high fronteir." If the news about Chinese ambitions is accurate it will be evident in very few years and we'll be able to mount the Apollo / Manhatten Project type effort to get us there sooner.

We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the 'good enough.'

Though I probably won't be around for the climax in 15 years I really don't think it matters if it's 10 or 15. So long as we're going.

And I agree with you: "finally!!!!!!!"

[Moonman62]

I just hope that people are willing to accept the fact that there will be accidents and deaths. It's the nature of exploration.

Hopefully they won't accept gross mismanagement as was the case with the two shuttle disasters.

[cripplecreek]

"Hopefully they won't accept gross mismanagement as was the case with the two shuttle disasters."


Absolutely.

[crz]

Whats the gravity compaired to Earth on the moon? That will determine the structure they can set up..unless they put it underground, which is the best idea.

[buccaneer81]

Moon gravity is roughly 15% of Earth's.

[KevinDavis]

Basically if you weight 400 pounds on Earth, you will weigh 15% of 400 on the moon...

[so_real]

Thanks go to China for reminding us that we put our flag there first.

[feedback doctor]

Basically if you weight 400 pounds on Earth, you will weigh 15% of 400 on the moon...

So, Michael Moore would weigh only 400 lbs on the moon.

[KevinDavis]

Yep

[boris]

Har de har har. Not in a million years.

--Boris

[NormsRevenge]

But why is that JFk proposed putting a man on the moon in ten years, we did it in nine, and now it'll take us 15 years to go back?

New math :-?

[boris]

"Yes, finally. But why is that JFk proposed putting a man on the moon in ten years, we did it in nine, and now it'll take us 15 years to go back?"

Let me explicate. Apollo cost $27 billion, in ~1969 dollars. Nixon devalued the dollar in 1971; a dollar was 1/35 of an ounce of gold; now gold is over $400 per oz; every dollar in your pocket is worth less than a dime. All the suppliers are gone or out of the space business. Our technology is better but all the greybeards are retired or dead. Summary: to return to the Moon a la Apollo: $250 billion in 2005 dollars. Ain't gonna happen while the WOT is absorbing billions.

--Boris