The Moon Blog » Human Exploration http://themoonblog.com The Moon Blog, everything about the exploration of the Moon Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Going back to stay, and the vision beyond http://themoonblog.com/2008/07/going-back-to-stay-and-the-vision-beyond.html http://themoonblog.com/2008/07/going-back-to-stay-and-the-vision-beyond.html#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:52:07 +0000 Trond http://themoonblog.com/?p=40 “We’re going back, and this time we’re going to stay. This is the first step in settling the solar system.” These were the opening remarks at the NLSI Lunar Science Conference from Pete Worden, director of NASA Ames. In a time where the top NASA officials seems to be more interested in talking about politics, the statement from Pete Worden is refreshing. WIth two simple sentences he has set the long term course for US human space exploration, and clearly defined the ambitious and visionary goal that NASA Ames will work towards in the future.

By saying that we are “going back to stay,” Pete Worden not only confirms his support for the Vision for Space Exploration and beyond, but also presents a belief that the Moon is the Earths deep space harbour, the first stop on our trip to explore the habitable solar system with humans. Because staying does not only imply to go to the Moon to do science and research, staying means to create an efficient and reliable transportation link between Earth and Moon, to open up for private investments, to establish a legal regime for the Moon, and to create a local Moon infrastructure capable of producing its own resources, supporting the humans living there.

By saing “setteling the solar system” Pete Worden categorically removes any doubt about his long term goals. Settlement not only means that humans will use the Moon as a stepping stone to explore the solar system, it means that humans will live and thrive at the Moon. With this he signals that people will call Moon home in the not too distant future.

It is good to get a confirmation that the visionaries at NASA still exist, and that they are not afraid to voice their opinion.

]]> http://themoonblog.com/2008/07/going-back-to-stay-and-the-vision-beyond.html/feed 0 Taking the first steps a second time http://themoonblog.com/2008/07/the-first-steps-again.html http://themoonblog.com/2008/07/the-first-steps-again.html#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:45:16 +0000 Trond http://themoonblog.com/?p=7 36 years have passed since we last saw humans walk on the Moon. Since then it has been quiet. What happened? How could we fly astronauts to the Moon in 1972, but not today? Why was the Apollo program cancelled? The tremendous costassociated with the Apollo program was certainly one major factor, and the focus within NASA shifted towards what they strongly believed would be the future: Reusable spacecraft. The massive Saturn 5 rockets were scrapped and the Space Shuttle took over.  To make a long story short: What followed was a complete focus on human access to low earth orbit for 30 years.

Artist impression of lunar base. Credits: NASA But the important thing to focus on today is that we are going back to the Moon again. In the US, NASA has already been working for several years to prepare a new transportation system capable of safely bringing astronauts into space and all the way to the surface of the Moon. NASA says they will be able to put humans on the Moon before 2020. Officially China denies that they have any plans to fly taikonauts to the Moon, but there are some that believes that China actually are capable of going there, even before the US in 2020. Europe and ESA has no immediate plans to go to the Moon with their own astronauts, but seeks to cooperate with NASA and whoever else will be able to provide them with reasonable access to the Moon through the Aurora programme.

Exiting times lies ahead, and themoonblog.com will follow the development from day to day!

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