Can't keep 'em down
Hats off to the teams over at NASA that are making the steps to roll out clear plans to get humans back on the moon by 2018. Sure that seems a long way off but there are several factors to consider. They want to retire the shuttles. Sad, yes but it's a step that is necessary to move towards the future. Or is it a step back to the days of Apollo? Either way, the new space vehicle is going to draw heavily on the technology tried and true at NASA to develop the next step in human space flight.
Also, NASA announced today that returning to the moon would have a $104 billion price tag. "The $104 billion price tag, spread over 13 years, represents 55% of what the Apollo moon-landing program cost measured in constant dollars, Griffin said. Apollo spanned eight years. The objective is to pay as you go and what you can afford, he noted." And in the very same article I would also like to direct your attention to this: "Unlike Apollo, the new lunar lander would carry double the number of people to the surface of the moon — four — and allow them to stay up to a week, or twice as long. It also would haul considerably more cargo, much of which would be left on the moon for future crews." A week on the moon? How cool would that be? Imagine the copious amounts of information we could gather and hopefully make strides to understanding our planet and our moon not to mention other planets in our Solar System.
Mars might be a little bit farther off than previously thought much to the chagrin of space enthusiasts. But as the article points out "If you don't have money to go to the moon before 2018, you sure as hell don't have money to go to Mars" as said by John Logsdon, director of George Washington University's space policy institute.
All in all, remember the amazing fact that members of my generation may actually witness first hand a moon landing. That would only add to our portfolio of life experiences: two Bushes in the White House, economic expansion under Clinton, the hey day of the Gipper, Challenger and Columbia, September 11, Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Katrina, and so much more...
Take stock, we will return to space flight and we will rebuild. It's just a matter of patience and time.
(This post was re-edited for your reading pleasure and the new time reflects the most recent changes)
Also, NASA announced today that returning to the moon would have a $104 billion price tag. "The $104 billion price tag, spread over 13 years, represents 55% of what the Apollo moon-landing program cost measured in constant dollars, Griffin said. Apollo spanned eight years. The objective is to pay as you go and what you can afford, he noted." And in the very same article I would also like to direct your attention to this: "Unlike Apollo, the new lunar lander would carry double the number of people to the surface of the moon — four — and allow them to stay up to a week, or twice as long. It also would haul considerably more cargo, much of which would be left on the moon for future crews." A week on the moon? How cool would that be? Imagine the copious amounts of information we could gather and hopefully make strides to understanding our planet and our moon not to mention other planets in our Solar System.
Mars might be a little bit farther off than previously thought much to the chagrin of space enthusiasts. But as the article points out "If you don't have money to go to the moon before 2018, you sure as hell don't have money to go to Mars" as said by John Logsdon, director of George Washington University's space policy institute.
All in all, remember the amazing fact that members of my generation may actually witness first hand a moon landing. That would only add to our portfolio of life experiences: two Bushes in the White House, economic expansion under Clinton, the hey day of the Gipper, Challenger and Columbia, September 11, Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Katrina, and so much more...
Take stock, we will return to space flight and we will rebuild. It's just a matter of patience and time.
(This post was re-edited for your reading pleasure and the new time reflects the most recent changes)
Midnite Raven said it at 3:00 PM
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