Emergency Funding

> What are Frank Drake's arguments for a lunar radio
> observatory over a HEO
> one? (And bear in mind that even an accomplished
> scientist like Frank Drake
> can still suffer from planetary chauvinism.)
>

Some of the lunar points in general are the following
(Drake used only some of these points when he talked
at the AAS conference earlier this year):

- Many elements can be placed in perfectly stable
relative positions; they do not need to continually
monitored and have their positions controlled.

- Lunar observatory would last virtually forever by
not being limitted by onboard fuel. (though relay
satellite would need to be replaced)

- Basis for future scientific stations. (help build
infrastructure on the moon arguement)

- There are craters to avoid lunar-surface
interferences (in case of future interference)

- stable enough for interferometry (though recent
advanced in formation flying are starting to catch up
to the point where this is becoming less an arguement,
but for now it holds)

- Sun is blocked half the time.

- long integration time (slow rotation)

- antenna elements wires can be laid directly on
regolith.