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US plans for Moon base
BBC ^ | December 5, 2006

Posted on 12/05/2006 11:17:13 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu

US plans for Moon base

US space agency Nasa says it is planning to start work on a base on the Moon after astronauts begin flying back there in 2020. The maps and graphics below show how and where man could live on the Moon.

Moon base plans


Nasa scientists say the best approach is to develop a solar-powered moon base and to locate it near one of the poles of the moon - such as the Shackleton Crater near the South Pole.

The poles offer moderate temperatures, high percentage of sunlight which means greater potential for solar power and more opportunities to launch.

Nasa says they are also exciting options as they are not as well known as other areas and offer "unique, cold dark craters".

Moon base plans


Nasa wants to have returned to the moon by 2020, with 30-day residential missions by 2024, increasing to six months by the end of that year.

Nasa says the global space community has identified six key aims for lunar exploration:

  • to extend human presence to the Moon to enable eventual settlement.

  • to pursue scientific activities that address fundamental questions about the history of Earth, the Solar System and the Universe.

    MOON TIMELINE

    2008: Launch Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

    2010: Last Space Shuttle missions

    2014: Deadline for Crew Exploration Vehicle

    2020: Return to Moon

  • to test technologies, systems, flight operations and exploration techniques to reduce the risks and increase the productivity of future missions to Mars and beyond.

  • to provide a challenging, shared and peaceful activity that unites nations in pursuit of common objectives.

  • to expand Earth's economic sphere, and conduct lunar activities with benefits to life on the home planet.

  • to use a vibrant space exploration program to engage the public, encourage students and help develop the high-tech workforce that will be required to address the challenges of tomorrow.

By 2025, Nasa hopes to have developed the capabilities required to enable further steps into space - possibly expanding lunar exploration and/or manned missions to Mars.

Infographic, BBC

(1) The heavy-lift Ares 5 rocket blasts off from Earth carrying a lunar lander and a "departure stage"

(2) Several days later, astronauts launch on an Ares 1 rocket inside their Orion vehicle (CEV)

(3) The Orion docks with the lander and departure stage in Earth orbit and then heads to the Moon

(4) Having done its job of boosting the Orion and lunar lander on their way, the departure stage is jettisoned

(5) At the Moon, the astronauts leave the Orion and enter the lander for the trip to the lunar surface

(6) After exploring the lunar landscape for seven days, the crew blasts off in a portion of the lander

(7) In Moon orbit, they re-join the waiting robot-minded Orion and begin the journey back to Earth

(8) On the way, the service component of the Orion is jettisoned. This leaves just the crew capsule to enter the atmosphere

(9) A heatshield protects the capsule; parachutes bring it down on dry land, probably in California



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: colonisation; colonization; exploration; moon; moonbase; nasa; science; space; spacecolonisation; spacecolonization; technology
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To: Parmenio
We can't get into orbit consistently any more. I hope we don't kill the brave people who go.
21 posted on 12/05/2006 11:36:00 AM PST by bmwcyle (The snake is loose in the garden and Eve just bit the apple.)
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To: Parmenio

Great! If the Chineese build theirs first, it means that we can get take out when we get there!


22 posted on 12/05/2006 11:36:07 AM PST by catman67
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
A moonbase would be neat, but everone is ignoring the elephant in the room of deep space interstellar exploration.

Propulsion.

If you want see other stars and other worlds, rockets aren't going to cut it. Neither is any other sublight propulsion system. Research should be into determining if lightspeed can be exceeded and, if it can't, if there's a way around that barrier. We will never leave our solar system until that problem is solved.
23 posted on 12/05/2006 11:36:50 AM PST by JamesP81 (If you have to ask permission from Uncle Sam, then it's not a right)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

More wasted money.


24 posted on 12/05/2006 11:37:30 AM PST by US Navy guy
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

In ten years the moon will be full of illegals from Mexico - doing the jobs some lazy American Astronaut refuses to do.


25 posted on 12/05/2006 11:37:43 AM PST by Condor51 (Tagline Under Construction - Kindly Wear Your Hardhat)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Where are they going to launch it from, all of Florida is supposed to be under water by then, isn't it?


26 posted on 12/05/2006 11:40:03 AM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: From One - Many

?????????????????????????????


27 posted on 12/05/2006 11:40:56 AM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu; All
Although not mentioned in this article, the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) has an interior volume 2.5 times the volume of the three-man Apollo capsules used for earlier lunar missions.

In the Apollo lunar missions, two astronauts descended to the lunar surface in the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) while one astronaut stayed onboard the Apollo capsule orbiting the moon.

The Orion CEV will carry four astronauts to the moon and all four will descend to the lunar surface while the empty Orion orbits the moon under robotic control. That doubles the man-hours of work and exploration possible on the lunar surface.

Furthermore, the Orion CEV will be designed to support missions up to six months long eventually.

28 posted on 12/05/2006 11:41:31 AM PST by Unmarked Package
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To: COBOL2Java

"I wonder where the Muslim Prayer Rooms will be?"

On the screened-in porch, hopefully.


29 posted on 12/05/2006 11:44:37 AM PST by Frank_Discussion (May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
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To: Unmarked Package

Then they'll have to make a new ship for traveling to Mars, and it'll have to have stronger shielding from radiation, too. Even from a solar flare.


30 posted on 12/05/2006 11:45:36 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( For the Republic.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
Can someone explain why we're not taking the materials to build a real base out of local materials?

That "base" is a micro or meteorite accident waiting to happen.

When on a vaccuum surface and planning to live there ... DIG IN.

31 posted on 12/05/2006 11:45:51 AM PST by Centurion2000 (If the Romans had nukes, Carthage would still be glowing.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
...wouldn't it be cheaper if we just rented from the grays?
32 posted on 12/05/2006 11:46:14 AM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: COBOL2Java

This would be a perfect place to re-deploy our troops from iraq. Easy access to saturn and mars.


33 posted on 12/05/2006 11:47:11 AM PST by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: taxed2death

Is that some space alien?


34 posted on 12/05/2006 11:47:42 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( For the Republic.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1748778/posts

Above URL is humor about the moon base!
35 posted on 12/05/2006 11:48:47 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
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To: Centurion2000
When on a vacuum surface and planning to live there ... DIG IN.


36 posted on 12/05/2006 11:50:46 AM PST by Constitution Day (Cue the spooky music)
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To: COBOL2Java

That was funny!


37 posted on 12/05/2006 11:54:45 AM PST by Holicheese (Beerfest could be the greatest movie ever made!)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
to expand Earth's economic sphere

That one is BS. That is to say, Total Bull.

If someone wants the economic sphere expanded he needs to repeal the Treaty and duck.

38 posted on 12/05/2006 11:55:11 AM PST by RightWhale (RTRA DLQS GSCW)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
Us in the future, Parallel time line. http://www.eaglesdisobey.net/wm_corner.htm
39 posted on 12/05/2006 11:56:02 AM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

I wonder if it will be Moon Base Alpha like in Space 1999.
That show rocked!


40 posted on 12/05/2006 11:56:41 AM PST by Holicheese (Beerfest could be the greatest movie ever made!)
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