Russia Talks Moon Base With NASA, ESA

milbournosphere writes "Russia and NASA are reportedly in talks to create a base on the Moon. They're looking to create either a facility on the Moon itself or a permanent space station in orbit around the moon. 'We don't want man to just step on the Moon,' agency chief Vladimir Popovkin said in an interview with Vesti FM radio station. 'Today, we know enough about it. We know that there is water in its polar areas,' he added. 'We are now discussing how to begin [the Moon's] exploration with NASA and the European Space Agency.'"

Comments

Plan, or just study it to death?

[inhuman_4]

Sounds like a good idea. Hopefully they can actually do something with this instead of endlessly talking about it, and sinking money into studys.

Re:Plan, or just study it to death?

[hedwards]

We can do it, it's mostly a question of whether or not we want it badly enough to do it. Compared with some of the other things we've done lately it should be well within our capabilities. People have been to the moon.

The challenge though is going to be primarily expense, getting the materials to the moon is a relatively well understood problem and most of them can, presumably, be unmanned missions. The real challenge is going to making the base habitable and protected from whatever might fall from the sky.

Re:Plan, or just study it to death?

[Hentes]

This is not about studies but a diplomatic arrangement. Noone could build a Moonbase without the consent of the other major powers.