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Should We Land on the Moon's Poles or Equator?

Posted by Zonk on from the either-way-cheese-for-everyone dept.

Cujo writes "There is at present a lively controversy about sites for a crewed lunar landing. Advocates for landing near the poles, possibly on a mountain, point out the advantages of much higher sunlight availability and possible water resources in nearby cold traps. However, there may be more interesting geology and better mineral resources near the better-explored equator. NASA's Exploration Systems Architecture report lays out some of the tradeoffs."

7 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Dark Side of The Moon by Rei · · Score: 4, Funny

    Quite true. But at the poles, there are craters which are permanently dark.

    Really, the poles seem an obvious choice to me - constant light, constant dark, potential ice, new ground to explore - why not? Besides, it would be neat to have a simple pole near your complex plane.

    --
    It's time for Operation Crazy Plan.
  2. Well that brings up the question... by suitepotato · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...when did the Poles get to the moon ahead of the Americans and why are we considering landing on them? Let's make it the equator and take second place. Go Poland!

    Huh? Oh.

    Nevermind.

    --
    If my grammar and spelling are off, I am [distracted/tired/careless] (take your pick)
  3. Heh by aftk2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    At first I thought this was an "Ask Slashdot" entry, at which point I thought, "I'm not sure I want to trust NASA with a shuttle program."

    --
    concrete5: a cms made for marketing, but strong enough for geeks.
  4. Re:Land near the cheese deposits by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    We need to do a study of where the richest cheese deposits are and land there.

    Already found it.

    Look here zoom in completely on point D.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  5. Re:an unpopular opinion by vertinox · · Score: 4, Funny

    However, I don't think we should go to the moon at all. I think we should get our house in order first.

    "The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!"
    -- Larry Niven, quoted by Arthur Clarke in interview at space.com, 2001

    --
    "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
    -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
  6. Re: Mars by Witchblade · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think you meant Olympus Mons. Mons Veneris is something completely different...

  7. Rockets don't work in a vacuum by bobbuck · · Score: 4, Funny
    Rockets don't work in a vacuum because they don't have any air to push against. Therefore, you can't go to the moon. We have proof in the form of this venomous editoral from the New York Times:

    http://it.is.rice.edu/~rickr/goddard.editorial.htm l