Posted on 12/06/2013 5:25:38 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee
Americans from Buzz Aldrin to president Barack Obama say it’s a waste of time to put men back on the moon -- so why are foreign countries so eager to take that one small step?
While several private American companies are planning robotic missions to the moon, China launched a man-sized robotic scout to the moon on Monday. The country’s recent manned missions and efforts to build a new space base suggest a future manned mission to the moon, though why is an open question. Speculation has run from the desire to build a military missile base -- a Death Star of sorts -- to national pride to simple economics.
The answer may be far simpler: The moon is “easy” to get to.
“If you’re still trying to test out your space legs, it’s a great place to do it,” said one NASA engineer familiar with the agency’s plans. NASA’s current space agenda includes a highly challenging project to tow an asteroid back to Earth, as well as transporting men to Mars within two decades -- projects of vast technical complexity compared with the moon landings America ended four decades ago. . .
. . .ex-astronauts and policy experts, argue that NASA is making a mistake by ignoring the moon, which still fascinates the Earthbound. Only 12 men have ever set foot on the moon, Americans all of them, the last one 41 years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I think that that UN Moon guy should be targeted....
We’re ceding the high ground.
Control of space can certainly mean control of the planet.
They are going to the moon on the interest we owe them on our debt. We can only watch and remember that, at least, we were the first to land and for peaceful purposes.
If we intend to move out into the rest of the solar system, the moon will be the most likely launch platform. The gravity is low enough that a lot of payloads can probably be launched into lunar orbit with railguns.
FWIW…..It’s still so hard to believe that more men have walked on the Moon over a four year period than had signed up for 0bamacare on the first day of October...
The high ground is exactly what it represents. Whoever controls the high ground controls the engagement. That was true in WWII, in terms of control of Germany’s air space. Newt Gingrich once suggested we build a base on the moon, for which he was lambasted by the supposedly scientifically-minded progressive liberals.
If the Chinese build a military facility on the moon, they’ll probably call it CAMP CLINTON. They received our space secrets for the cost of a few hundred thousand bucks to the Clinton campaign.
Not really. Does China have a national park on the moon?
Sorry, NASA’s much too busy fellating 7th century goathumpers . . .
That was good.
These proposed missions to an asteroid and Mars are just misdirection IMO. Obama has no intention of allowing the US to take a space leadership roll at all and these long range ideas are just red herrings for public consumption. If China or others build facilities on the moon, the US will simply cheer them on. We need completely new leadership in the US before anything bold and real is considered again.
Yep. Newt was laughed at and mocked for this. *sigh*
China will declare an ADIZ around the Moon, if the United States fails to act.
Related and amazing story: http://www.thecredits.org/2013/09/bras-in-space-the-incredible-true-story-behind-upcoming-film-spacesuit/
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