Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars
 

Nasa announced that they plan on not only returning to the moon, but also building a lunar base on the moon's south pole by 2020.

How do you feel about this?

Some would say that there's nothing to be gained and the untold billions of dollars this task will surely consume could be put to better use - feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, crushing one's enemies under an imperielistic boot, etc.

Others claim that space exploration is not only the natural progression in man's exploratory nature, but that stepping off the planet adds a perspective that can only be gained by such an activity.

Personally, I'm torn.

I think space exploration is noble and it does elevate humaity as a whole. On the other hand New Orleans is still reeling. I'd rather see the supposed $110 Billion spent on rebuilding the lost homes. But the thought of a lunar base does make me smile.

personally i like it - our government won't spend money on the poor, dying or suffering of this globe (well, not without a major attitude adjustment) any federal money will go to war and corporations who profit off of our ill-spent tax dollars. So, if you're going to rip me off- at least give me the moon in return!

I have to agree with this; Its not liek if they DONT spend the money on a lunar base it will ONLY get spent on good deeds. Im sure ther eis another stealth bomber type idea that it could be getting poured into.

if they managed to pull it off, i would only be 44, and i would love to see that in my lifetime.


Also, I have been working on my sci-fi story recently, so more science is good science :)

yeah, I'm with you.

I'm really curious to see how this will effect the physical evolution of man.

The human body is a product of Earth and, as such, funtions best at standard temperature and pressure and 1 Earth G.

The circulatory system relies on gravity. Muscles (including the heart & diaphragm) atrophy in low gravity. The moon has 1/6 the Earth's gravity. Prolonged exposure has caused all sorts of physiological problems for astronauts. If a colony is goin to have any kind of permanence, there will have to be relationships wich equals...

space kids

Will a child concieved and gestated in low gravity ever be able to step foot on Earth? Will his/her/it's system be able to function at 6 times the Lunar G?

I'm really interested in this one - might be a good short story?

i think we'll need to find a new place to live in a hundred years or so after we've made the earth an uninhabitable junkpile.
The moon will be a good starting place.

if there will ever the technology for interplanetary travel, the moon will be the launch pad.

i dont think we'll survive long enough to see it but it'll give people something to keep them busy.

Space travel is probably the one reason i wish i could live forever... there is so much to see and experience, even if you just took a picture and moved on.

its been done..

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...an/Piscrew.jpg

tell me I'm not insane:

I saw a special on tv about how the moon landing was faked and it had donald rumfield and other's talking about how genius it was. Nobody believes me and they think I'm some conspiracy nut, but I saw it I know I did. :(


Also: I care so little about space...

no - that theory has been bouncing around for a long time ... they even maqde a movie about it (Capricorn 1)

probably a very popular theory with the Flat Earth Society..

National Geographic channel had a show where they debunked the "debunkings" that said it was faked. People need to get a life and find a hobby that is less annoying. Yes, if you think it was faked, you are in fact a crackpot.