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ESA Holds Workshop On Lunar Base Design
plasticpixel writes "Space.com is reporting that a workshop is underway in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, to discuss and plan extraterrestrial bases for human settlement of the Moon. Full story is online. Reminds me of the lunar base I designed when I was about 9 years old for a school project. Too bad I didn't have the backing of NASA or the ESA back then. "
you're going to need solid, long-term business applications
You're also going to need solid support from the tax paying, voting public. That, sadly enough, will probably wind up being the bigger hurdle. Slashdotters and SF con geeks (that may be a redundant grouping, actually) aside, the general populace seems less than enthused about space. Tragically so, IMO.
I won't dance in a club like this...All the girls are slags, and the beer tastes just like piss! -The Specials
If you have problems, and it turns out you are having problems extracting water/whatever, you're a LOT further (let's see: 20 light-minutes vs. 250,000 mi, so 15 times) away. So it takes a months and a half instead of three days for the supply ship to get there... not good if you're running low.
"International Team Explores Lunar Base Proposals", sounds great, but the teams are composed entirely of students with no power to do anything except study ideas. So, a better headline might be "International students discuss lunar base proposals."
I wish it was as good as the headline sounds.
The story has nothing on real-world issues like funding, design, lobbying, private sector support - nada.
The biggest stumbling block to a true lunar base is political. Many (mostly conservative) lawmakers think that any money spend on space (other than defense spending) is a total waste. Many of those that are interested in space seem to think that the Moon should be completely ignored in favor of Mars, no matter what, no discussion, period. The former head of NASA was one of these. And we haven't been to the moon in about 25 years.
If I had a wish, it would be that these students study and publicize the politics behind those groups that are keeping us from funding a legit moon base.
=brian
1. Quicker Internet Connection. It takes light about 20 min or so to get from the earth to Mars. imagan waiting 40 minuts to get slashdot. Give up any chance of having a first post.
2. Debugging extraterestral bass designes. I much rather build a base on the moon first then on mars. Any problems with the mars base can mean a slower death. And the getting extra suplies would be almost out of the question.
3. You can get a really good tan. A moon day is about 2 weeks or so you can get plenty of sun tan time. Plus with no atmosphere to block those tan helping UV rays it just helps even more.
4. A good start towards the next mars base. Making ships that lift off of the moon is a lot easier then Earth. and cheaper too. So if you can collect the raw materials to make the Mars ship on the moon and the IS there there is a lot less extra conserns that are needed.
5. Help humans to get over this gravity problem. By using the moon we can help bread people better suited to living in lower gravity enviroments. and may take longer space travil better.
6. A quick and easy way to improve you golf game. with a moon base and golf course you can really hit the ball.
7. Incorages more comericalm in space. A moon base when made more complete may be used for the tourism market and even some mining companies. With more comericalism and comptition it can help create a better faster cheaper space travle and make it open for the common man
8. Atronomy reasherch. No atmosphere make it great for ovservations.
9. Imagin life in those bouncy things.
10. Colonalzation is what we do. If we can conization a place in space as barron as the moon then we can defently do mars
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
the LAST thing we need is "moon base" designs. we need important people with big enough balls to shame the US government into funding it. you can design until your head falls off, it means squat if you cant build it.
How about getting together a coalition to figure out how to get the funding to build a moonbase instead of wasting time and money.
I cant remember who said it back in the 80's... but he was right... "The only way to get the human race to the stars in a big way is to have a war with another species where we have to go to space.. until then the morons that run the government will do nothing."
So, can we declare war against Alpha Centauri yet?
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.