Yes, very true, but in a way it's already happened. Whenever I look at the Moon, there is a difference from the time before men landed there. I always think of the Apollo flights when I look at it. To have a permanent manned moonbase would encourage this more.
I met with Robert Zubrin in 2001 and Jack Schmitt exactly one year after, at the same place.
There were many more people for Bob than for Jack, but to my eyes, Jack was much much more interesting than Robert. Jack had been there, while Robert can only promise us Mars.
Mars requires a political effort that simply isn't there. We know there is nothing for life on the Moon while there might be something on Mars. Even if not, there is all that's needed for a confined enclosed Marsbase. But I'm not at all sure that the public will support a permanent manned Mars base, even if life is discovered. Mars, while being very different from the moon, isn't enough Earthlike to attract the people. Astronauts will still need bulky spacesuits on Mars, there is still a lot of dust on Mars (even dust storms and countless dustdevils) And spacesuits just don't like dust, especially if they are meant to last years.
One great thing about the Moon (that Mars canot offer): the view of Earth as a fragile, lonely, bright planet, not just a blueish star (as from Mars) nor a world taking half our field of view (as from Earth orbit) but a small globe in a totally dark sky.
Raoul
Space/Science » in reply to Well that's nice,
Re: Well that's right
The whole thread (42 posts)
- EP and John Young, kindered spirits?
- Moon vs. Mars: barking up the wrong trees
- Is today "National Astronauts Speak Out Day"? (n/t) (n/t)
- A Moon first stratagy only makes sense.
- Re: Worden
- Along with many others