Post by Radrook Admin on Dec 30, 2019 12:04:11 GMT -5
Why such a long wait to attempt a return to the moon?
Strange that they preferred to stay in low Earth orbit for 50 years while the moon was within easy reach isn't it? That is half a century. Now there is talk of bypassing the moon and going to Mars instead. It can't be the hostility of its environment. Mars isn't less hostile at all. Mars permits the same death-dealing radiation through to its surface. It presents the same low-gravity-related health-threat of osteoporosis. It presents a far greater endurance challenge to the crew which must be cooped up like sardines for six months just to get there. In contrast, the moon is a mere three days away. Mars can't be readily exploited economically. The distance alone makes it unfeasible with our present technology. In contrast the moon's distance makes it ideal for commercial purposes.
Even a colonization of Venus' habitable Earth-like temp atmospheric level has been suggested and is being planned. Venus is approx 32 million miles away. Meanwhile, the moon stands just a mere 245,000 miles away.
Even a colonization of Venus' habitable Earth-like temp atmospheric level has been suggested and is being planned. Venus is approx 32 million miles away. Meanwhile, the moon stands just a mere 245,000 miles away.
So what gives? What really is it that makes us reluctant to set foot on our nearest neighbor AGAIN?
All this gives e impression that far more than meets the eye is going on and we are being kept in the dark about it. Why? Simple, because any other explanation doesn't make sense. Was it the near disaster of Apollo 13 that convinced NASA to terminate any serious attempt at moon exploration? Really? Well, that was a mere near disaster. In contrast, there were real disasters in relation to the Space Shuttle program in which lives were lost and that effort was not abandoned. Adjustments were made and the program continued with the same zest as before. So that explanation is flawed due to the crass inconsistency of policy it involves.
So the crucial question remains: if not returning to the moon for fifty years wasn't due to fear of a disaster, then what really happened to the initial interest in exploring it?