Thread: Could recent discoveries on the Moon be a boost for human spaceflight?

Hello,As we all know, human spaceflight is in big trouble. No funding, Orion/Ares fate uncertain, the ultimate goal - Moon/Flexible path uncertain.But could the recent discoveries on the Moon (i.e. hydrogen, possibly water - more to be announced on a pressconference tomorrow) - be a boost for human spaceflight? I believe so. Mars has water and favorable conditions, but it's too far and too difficult to reach. The Moon however is a different case. We thought that it's lifeless, no water, a harsh environment. But now we are going to change our views.

Water is one of several essentials, but expectation of sufficient water obtained on the moon is definitely a plus for the Moon. We think humans can travel to Mars, but there are several areas of reasonable doubt, but we have gone to the Moon 6 times without disaster, which is another big plus for the Moon. Are there any volunteers for a one way trip to Mars or the Moon or the moons of Mars or an asteroid that is very briefly closer than the Moon? Neil

Our problem is not that spaceflight is in trouble. Our problem is that or society is coming apart at the seams. We're spending our spaceflight dollars on birthing and educating the children of illegal aliens. And fewer and fewer people pay the taxes that more and more people collect to live off. There are amazing technologies at our fingertips but we've got to solve our societal and political problems first. Even if we could turn the moon into cash we'd just spend it all and go into debt some more. We have to have concrete solutions, no more pussyfooting around. As McCain has said, "finish the da**ed fence".

Hi Krueger: I can't add anymore to your other two posts, but I agree the illegal aliens need to be reduced in number. I have a serious problem with killing lots of them, but that would be an effective deterrent, such as 10,000 volts on the da**ed fence, and volunteer marksman shooting at those who might be (no due process) trying to destroy the fence.
We also need to tell our trading partners that 100% imports of many products is unsatisfactory, and we will take steps to fix that, unless they licence competitors in the USA, and assist the competitors in getting the products to market. I think they would respond favorably, as they do not want to see large import duties and difficult standards imposed. We would have to convince them that we are sufficiently serious that we will withdraw completely from both GATT and NAFTA, if necessary. There are many more problems. Neil

Going to either the Moon or Mars is certainly appealing. However, it's exceptionally costly. Would the materials recentlly discovered on the Moon, such as water, significantly reduce the expense? Absolutely not! In fact, it will in all likelihood increase the cost, as technologies for mining frozen water in a vacuum have yet to be developed.

Only decades after a viable colony has been established (which is itself decades away), and the use of that technology has become routine, will its cost drop below the per-gallon cost of simply hauling additional water to the Moon.

Am I missing something here? No one's talking about the Martians taking our jobs. The question was about us going to Mars. In that case, wouldn't we be the illegal aliens? Turnabout's fair play. I say give the green men green cards.

Krueger and Neil: I don't think that illegal aliens are the least of soceity's problems right now (actually, I completely object to your views, but that's off point). We are facing a very large crisis. Our fuel and material reserves are dwindling and depleting quickly, forests and rainforests are disappearing every day, over a billion people live in the desert or land that's been desertified, almost 2.6 billion people do not have access to clean water, and 5.1 billion people live on less than $10 a day (and I'm not even mentioning overpopulization, pollution, war, civil rights issues, public debt, the recession, and who knows what else!). Our whole situation sucks, which is why nobody is paying any attention to the solutions of spaceflight and colonization. I personally think that a colony on Mars or an asteroid is one important step out of many to improve our condition, but we still have a ways to go before most of the public will give much serious thought to it.