[extropy-chat] FWD [forteana] NASA going back to the moon

[Terry W. Colvin]

Nasa details Moon and Mars plan

The US space agency Nasa is announcing detailed plans for sending humans 
back to the Moon and eventually onwards to Mars.
Nasa wants to send a crew of four to the Moon in 2018 for a one-week stay, 
according to reports.

Humans have not set foot on the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Astronauts on the 2018 mission might return to the Moon in a capsule similar 
to those used in the Apollo programme but using space shuttle technology.

Nasa is charged with implementing the vision for space exploration, laid out 
in January 2004 by President George W Bush.

This vision aims to return humans to the Moon, to use it as a staging point 
for a manned mission to Mars.

Expensive plans

The American space agency briefed congressional committees on Friday on its 
plans to spend a reported $100bn developing the spacecraft and associated 
technology for the lunar programme.

Research aboard the International Space Station is also expected to be cut.


The space shuttle is to be retired by 2010 in order to pay for its 
replacement, known as the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV).
Nasa would begin the lunar expedition by lifting a lunar landing capsule and 
a propulsion stage into space.

It would then launch the CEV atop a new launcher using existing shuttle 
rocket technology.

The CEV would dock with the lunar lander and the propulsion stage and start 
its journey to the Moon.

Nasa also envisions building a semi-permanent lunar base, where astronauts 
would make use of the Moon's natural resources for water and fuel.

Even before the official announcement, there has been recognition that the 
proposals will be tough to see through, given the US government's 
commitments to the Iraq war and recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

"This plan is coming out at a time when the nation is facing significant 
budgetary challenges," Representative Bart Gordon, a Tennessee Democrat on 
the US House Science Committee, said in a statement.

"Getting agreement to move forward on it is going to be heavy lifting in the 
current environment, and it's clear that strong presidential leadership will 
be needed."


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4260396.stm

Hands up if you thought we'd have got to Mars by now?

A bit worried they're using Apollo (1960's tech) and Space Shuttle (1970's 
tech) though.  Why not make soem new stuff?

Gordon 



-- 
"Only a zit on the wart on the heinie of progress." Copyright 1992, Frank Rice


Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1 at mindspring.com >
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