Building a ship in the desert: Just say No to the proposed Earth-

I guess there is a mis-understanding somewhere (perhaps it is mine) on what
NASA is proposing. As I read the press release, it was to use operations at
Earth-Luna L1 and on the Moon to learn how to operate on Mars and elsewhere.
I think that makes sense since I don't think we will be "up to" a crewed
Mars trip for a long time, beyond the horizon of my imagination, as I think
that trip anytime soon would cost $ trillions without significant
infrastructure in cis-lunar space. And I see few benefits from such a trip
that can not be obtained with developing telepresence with robots on Mars.
Us old folks may think we have to go, but we are being replaced with a
generation that played with computers before they could spell. Telepresence
for the next generation may be more real for them than real is for us. A
great advantage for the Earth-Luna L1 and other operations on the Moon, is
that it can provide solar power to the Earth, which can help with many
industrial and greenhouse problems here on Earth. It could generate
enormous wealth, and huge space capabilities in cis-lunar space. So I don't
think we can go to Mars directly (meaning sending humans). One might also
argue that a 2 to 1 resonance orbit with the Moon (about Earth) would be
better than L 1, but I see that as only one detail, though others may not
see it that way. Jay Huebner

to the proposed Earth-Moon L1 station

I'll try to remember to limit my future message titles to no more than
40-50 characters --- I can see from many of the replies that some piece of
software that other people are using seems to be inserting a carriage
return or some such after approx. 50 characters. Sorry.

I don't quite understand your further questions. My understanding of the
NASA proposed station at Earth-Moon L1 is that it would be entirely
comprised of Earth-launched elements, and that it would be constructed
BEFORE any further significant activity on the Moon.

Ron

"Huebner, Jay" jhuebn@...
12/16/02 11:22 AM

Just say No to the
proposed Earth-Moon L1 station

A question is, what does, "Building a crewed station at Earth-Moon L1
BEFORE going to the
Moon ..." mean? It could mean before building anything substantial on the
Moon. I mean we have already been on the Moon lots of times, and lifted
400
kg of lunar materials off, so it can't mean before any of that. So will
any
more of that be allowed? Including lifting shielding dross?
I wonder why such long titles are used for these threads? Shouldn't
the
arguments be made in the text and not in the titles?
Jay Huebner