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HackManDan · 12:39 PM

NASA wants permanent moon base

NASA Says It Plans to Build Permanent Moon Base

It would be an incredible step for space exploration if a permanent base was established on the moon. Although, the costs of such an undertaking is going to be a huge obstacle, especially with Iraq in the picture.

And who knows how China's space plans will play out.

Chuckit · Dec 5, 2006, 04:34 AM

Your second headline made me do a double-take.

Teronzhul · Dec 5, 2006, 05:19 AM

Thats not a moon...

design219 · Dec 5, 2006, 07:16 AM

It's about time NASA starts doing something interesting. I think a new space race with China might be just what America needs, but geez, this will be a hard one for the public to stomach financially. I hope this is not just floated as something to distract from the war.

moodymonster · Dec 5, 2006, 07:18 AM

yay - progress

willed · Dec 5, 2006, 08:03 AM

Moonbases are so retro. I like it. But sorry, what's the point?

11011001 · Dec 5, 2006, 08:49 AM

It's one of those things that takes a more eloquent person that me to discuss. But, the exploration of space, this exploration of our universe and it's mysteries, is critical for the advancement of human civilization. On a personal level, and within a narrow timeframe, it might not make sense, but on the level of civilization, and our species, it does make sense. A lot of sense.

It's one of those things that could unite all of humanity in a common goal. We've never had something like that before.

A moon base is a first step, and it looks to be a partially international first step (minus China?).

Dakar² · Dec 5, 2006, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Your second headline made me do a double-take.

It would be the ultimate weapon! The rebels would never know what hit them...

Sky Captain · Dec 5, 2006, 09:45 AM

Man, I so want to pilot one of these!

design219 · Dec 5, 2006, 09:52 AM

Me too! Oh that brings back memories.

ghporter · Dec 5, 2006, 09:53 AM

I read somewhere that the entire "man on the moon" program of the 1960s cost every American about 5¢ a day. With the way we spend way too much on junk food today, they could fund the project with a 1% tax on Starbucks and Double Whoppers.

(And if they actually do implement this, they won't credit me.

ghporter · Dec 5, 2006, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

Man, I so want to pilot one of these!

The problem with the Eagle is that the interior doesn't fit the exterior; there's not room for what we see as the cockpit in the exterior we see... Otherwise I'M THERE!!!

Y3a · Dec 5, 2006, 10:02 AM

We build a test base on the moon as a stepping stone to Mars. Unfortunatly, many aspects of the moon base won't be very useful on Mars, but it'll be a good start. I wonder what kind of electric bulldozers we'll take to plow up the place?

JohnM15141 · Dec 5, 2006, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Y3a

I wonder what kind of electric bulldozers we'll take to plow up the place?

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Baby!

From all that ice Clementine found

starman · Dec 5, 2006, 10:12 AM

Eagles always had problems. I still have my Eagle model

Dakar² · Dec 5, 2006, 10:59 AM

Let's make it a rocket that turns into a tower...

Rumor · Dec 5, 2006, 12:44 PM

We should just make the moon into a space ship.

macintologist · Dec 5, 2006, 12:49 PM

Anytime the government takes something on it costs them three times as much as a private organization to achieve.

Could you imagine if the government had to invent wiki? Or maintain the Mac OS? Remember the whole grants.gov debacle?.

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 5, 2006, 12:54 PM

If it does come to fruition, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Remember, however, that on the 20th anniversary of the first landing (July 1989) Senior made a wonderful, moving speech about going back to the moon and going to mars and all that stuff. It was wild! And within 6 months, it was entirely dead. Not even a peep. Similarly, every single other huge space launch (whether it be telescopes, crazy space shuttles, etc) has come in massively over budget, years past the intended goal, or not "come in" at all. So don't get your hopes up too much.

As well, a bit of trivia for you: what's the most expensive piece of engineering technology ever built? The answer: the International Space Station, which I believe is over $100 billion dollars of your money right now.

Another bit of trivia: why isn't the ISS mentioned in these exciting new plans? The answer: because after a couple decades of planning, $100 billion in building, when it's done around 2010 it's going to be...turned off.

That's right, turned off. Why? Because no one can afford to even upkeep the thing, and despite all the hype about scientific knowledge it hasn't been anything but a more-or-less total waste of time. It takes 3 astronauts just to maintain the freakin' thing, let alone do anything useful. So yeah, think about that: $100 billion dollars, the most expensive piece of equipment in modern human history, for a glorified space construction project that looks like it'll never be used.

There are other things that are on the construction plate at the moment; the James Webb telescope is I think supposed to be put to Congress/Senate within the next year or two for funding – it's got a lens (or collection of lenses) 6 metres in diameter, as compared to Hubble's 2.4 metres. It also costs $4.5 billion dollars to be launched around 2013 or so I think. Again, it's years past the deadline, and far over budget. (My professor is an expert in the history of science and astronomy in particular, so he got to do some research for the Hubble and Webb projects; he was telling me last night that he was at a conference call a while ago where the price of the telescope went up a billion dollars in about 30 minutes, over some delays because of US squabbling about not wanting the telescope to be transported up in the planned European rocket.) Remember, the government has to approve these things...it's all good and well to talk about going to the moon, but when you need probably at least $150-$200 billion dollars in the next 20 years to do so....hmmmmm.

Sooo....yeah. Good luck out there.

greg

demograph68 · 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

We should just make the moon into a space ship.

Wouldn't the planet wobble uncontrollably once it were to leave orbit? I like where it is is. Leave it alone!

VVV I knew about a wobble but I thought the moon helped keep our 23.439� axial tilt. (all I know is from what I see on the Science Channel and Bill Nye)

Also wasn't the moon slowly drifting out of orbit? So maybe a mooncraft could work. I think there was an episode from Invader Zim with that happening and I feel very ashamed for remembering it.

macintologist · Dec 5, 2006, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by demograph68

Wouldn't the planet wobble uncontrollably once it were to leave orbit? I like where it is is. Leave it alone!

It already does

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precess..._the_equinoxes

HackManDan · Dec 5, 2006, 01:06 PM

Maybe if we play nice with the Chinese, and cooperate instead of compete, the costs of this sort of project can be more evenly spread out.

Honestly, at some point, we’re going to have to realize that space exploration of this magnitude is going to require massive international involvement and integration. The US cannot afford to do the bulk of the work and take on most of the costs.

What we need is a truly international space agency…perhaps the United Federation of Space-Faring States

.

Dakar² · Dec 5, 2006, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by demograph68

Wouldn't the planet wobble uncontrollably once it were to leave orbit? I like where it is is. Leave it alone!

Cue one of my favorite images ever.

demograph68 · Dec 5, 2006, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Cue one of my favorite images ever.

I think that's from the Time Machine. I always wanted to see it just for that visual but I heard it was a bad movie so I never did. I'll have to see it anyway.

Dakar² · Dec 5, 2006, 01:36 PM

I'm well aware, as I captured it from the DVD. If I could get a large framed print of that I'd have an erection for days.

Sky Captain · Dec 5, 2006, 01:40 PM

Now THIS would be cool to pilot!

Sky Captain · Dec 5, 2006, 03:14 PM

carp.

Dakar² · Dec 5, 2006, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

carp.

Sky Captain · Dec 5, 2006, 03:46 PM

Yeah, I goofied up a post. Carp.(instead of crap).

The best part of the Moonbase - Tang™!
It'll be popular again!

Dakar² · Dec 5, 2006, 03:49 PM

I know. I thought I'd have some fun with it.

Carp's close enough to crap anyway.

Nicko · Dec 5, 2006, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

I'm well aware, as I captured it from the DVD. If I could get a large framed print of that I'd have an erection for days.

That movie was horrible, but those 'future' scenes with the moon cracking up were pretty good.

Now, we have to wait 20 years for this???? Colour me unimpressed.

Y3a · Dec 5, 2006, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by HackManDan

Maybe if we play nice with the Chinese, and cooperate instead of compete, the costs of this sort of project can be more evenly spread out.

Honestly, at some point, we’re going to have to realize that space exploration of this magnitude is going to require massive international involvement and integration. The US cannot afford to do the bulk of the work and take on most of the costs.

What we need is a truly international space agency…perhaps the United Federation of Space-Faring States

.

Ya think, given 20 years it'll be a corrupt as the UN??? Then how expensive will it be?

Why not charge 'em PLENTY to use the facilities?

Rumor · Dec 5, 2006, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Nicko

Looks like a moon igloo.

Kerrigan · Dec 5, 2006, 10:39 PM

Washington Post said that the moon base would be the size of the Mall (by which I assume they mean the DC Mall).

I wonder, if further down the line, this becomes an issue of human evolution, with the smartest, fittest, and (maybe) wealthiest individuals colonizing other planets.

Chuckit · Dec 5, 2006, 11:03 PM

If we actually made civilian colonies, those places would be subject to credible terrorist threats 24/7.

Kevin · Dec 5, 2006, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

Man, I so want to pilot one of these!

I had that toy and model in the early 80s

Kerrigan · Dec 5, 2006, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

If we actually made civilian colonies, those places would be subject to credible terrorist threats 24/7.

The smartest and fittest people would be living there, not Muslims.

OH SNAP!

SpaceMonkey · Dec 5, 2006, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

The smartest and fittest people would be living there, not Muslims.

OH SNAP!

Uh, Moon Muslims are totally different from Muslims. That's like Moon Bases 101. Moon bases always have special moon boots, moon toilets, moon wrenches, moon DVDs, moon MacNN. Everything "moon _________." Because they have to make it special--for the moon.

TheWOAT · Dec 6, 2006, 12:23 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Uh, Moon Muslims are totally different from Muslims. That's like Moon Bases 101. Moon bases always have special moon boots, moon toilets, moon wrenches, moon DVDs, moon MacNN. Everything "moon _________." Because they have to make it special--for the moon.

The Mooninites are angry

demograph68 · Dec 6, 2006, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

If we actually made civilian colonies, those places would be subject to credible terrorist threats 24/7.

Sad this isn't about Mars so we could be cracking Total Recall jokes

Eriamjh · Dec 6, 2006, 08:35 AM

Let the "It's impossible to go to the Moon discussion begin!"

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 08:56 AM

Tang™! Let's not forget about Tang™!

Dakar² · Dec 6, 2006, 09:12 AM

I suppose the reason its taking longer to get there the second time round is because we faked it the first time.

Y3a · Dec 6, 2006, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

Tang™! Let's not forget about Tang™!

Are you referring to the drink or the Chinese Astronaut?

Y3a · Dec 6, 2006, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

I suppose the reason its taking longer to get there the second time round is because we faked it the first time.

We're taking more stuff this time, so it will take longer to pack.

Tiresias · 09:54 AM

But what about the alien city of pink, mushroom-shaped buildings on the dark side of the moon?

You think I'm kidding, but Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 Astronaut and eye-witness for Dr. Greer's Disclosure Project swears it is true. And he's been there.

Dakar² · Dec 6, 2006, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Y3a

We're taking more stuff this time, so it will take longer to pack.

Geez, get a sense of humor.

dcmacdaddy · Dec 6, 2006, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

Tang™! Let's not forget about Tang™!

Is that moon-tang you are talking about?

moodymonster · Dec 6, 2006, 10:20 AM

how does it take 20 years? there's one guy making the stuff or what?

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy

Is that moon-tang you are talking about?

Frost: Hey, I sure wouldn't mind getting me some more of that Arcturian ********! Remember that time?
Spunkmeyer: Yeah Frost, except the one you had was MALE.
Frost: It doesn't matter when it's Arcturian, baby!