Today, NASA announced it’s plans for man’s first expedition to the Moon since 1972, and it includes a permanent settlement on the Lunar South Pole:
NASA unveiled plans today to set up a small and ultimately self-sustaining settlement of astronauts on the South Pole of the moon sometime around 2020, the first step in an ambitious plan to resume manned exploration of the solar system.
The long-awaited proposal envisions initial stays of a week by four-person crews, and then gradually longer visits until power and other supplies are in place to make a permanent presence possible.
The effort was presented as an unprecedented mission to learn about the moon and places beyond, as well as an integral part of a plan to send astronauts to Mars. Under the NASA plan, the moon settlement will be a way station for crews headed to Mars, and would provide not only safe haven but also hydrogen and oxygen to make needed water and rocket fuel.
If the project goes ahead as planned, it would return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.
So, after 35 years of pointless orbital expedition, the manned space flight program is back on the track it should have been on from the start. It’s about time.
December 5th, 2006 at 2:56 am
“Self-sustaining”? There will be agriculture on the moon? Perhaps dairy farms to produce some green cheese?
December 5th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
So, after 35 years of pointless orbital expedition, the manned space flight program is back on the track it should have been on from the start.
Don’t ya just love government.