Return to the Moon: Mending Fences Between Exploration and Science

By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 09 December 2006
07:35 am ET

HOUSTON, Texas NASAs new goal of establishing a 21st century Moon base will require bridge building while mending fences between space scientists and exploration technologists.

Space agency planners foresee a step-by-step, module by module buildup of a lunar outpost, one that starts with four-person crews making several seven-day visits to the Moon. That initial encampment will later be fortified by power supplies, rovers and additional housing.

The first lunar live-in mission would begin by 2020, followed by 180-day stayovers to prep for journeys to Mars.

As space engineers hammer out a proposed lunar architecture, the call is coming for lunar scientists to aid in picking the best site for a base. Scientific direction is also needed to define what human explorers can uniquely do on the Moon. Also, theres need for scientists to help catalog and evaluate how best to utilize lunar resources so explorers can live off the land in support of long-term visits to the Moon.

http://www.space.com/news/061209_moon_science.html

> From: Alex Michael Bonnici
> As space engineers hammer out a proposed lunar architecture,
> the call is coming for lunar scientists to aid in picking the
> best site for a base.

The problem is that manned explorers tend to not even notice when their
budgetary demands trample an important mission like JIMO underfoot - but the
scientists do, and don't forget.

Scientists have long made it clear that the best place for a permanant
outpost for lunar exploration is on Earth; controlling probes on the moon by
remote. With few exceptions most exploration can be done with the tens of
thousands of robotic probes the budget of a manned mission could pay for.

The main reason for humans to be on the moon is engineering, construction,
moving across fliffs and mountains (which *at present* they can do better
than robots), testing equipment for settlement, and/or testing what methods
are best at exploiting local materials for later return to Earth, GEO or L1.
Pointless and directionless manned space exploration is a waste of money
best spent on other scientific study.

John

> Scientists have long made it clear that the best
> place for a permanant
> outpost for lunar exploration is on Earth;
> controlling probes on the moon by
> remote. With few exceptions most exploration can be
> done with the tens of
> thousands of robotic probes the budget of a manned
> mission could pay for.

What seems to be forgotten in this point of view is
that if human beings do not eventually go themselves,
then all those robotic missions were pointless.

Ed
http://robot_guy.blogspot.com

From: Ed Minchau
Subject: RE: [spacesettlers] Return to the Moon: Mending Fences Between Exploration and Science

"What seems to be forgotten in this point of view is that if human beings do not eventually go themselves,
then all those robotic missions were pointless."

Human exploration is not forgotten. We have at least three objectives: scientific investigation, resource utilization and human habitation. Those areas which can be most effectively performed by machines should be done by machines.

At the moment, I am unaware of a single objective listed by NASA requiring a human to step foot on luna by 2020. Or Mars. Besides bragging rights, which are nice, but costly. The bragging rights that count are getting a successful manufacturing system working off terra firma using non-terran resources.

If we pursuing human "exploration" without maximizing its potential for long term space infrastructure, wouldn't we be squandering our resources?

It is very likely that by 2020, the potential scientific yeild from a robot mission will exceed that of a manned mission. This is especially if you are spending the same money. (2020 is the year we are discussing.) You could land a dozen robotic units or more for the same price. Some could return to earth with samples. Others could test possible techniques for making lunar solar panels, refining metals and building structures. Which path - race to human bootprints, or strategic robotic missions - would take us to the ultimate goal faster?

To repeat a point, we (nations of earth) have limited resources. How are they best used to achieve space colonization?