How We'll Get Back to the Moon. How We'll Get Back to the Moon Before the end of the next decade, NASA astronauts will again explore the surface of the moon. And this time, we're going to stay, building outposts and paving the way for eventual journeys to Mars and beyond. There are echoes of the iconic images of the past, but it won't be your grandfather's moon shot. Image left: NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle and lander head for lunar orbit.
Click to enlarge. Artist's concept by John Frassanito and Associates. This journey begins soon, with development of a new spaceship. The centerpiece of this system is a new spacecraft designed to carry four astronauts to and from the moon, support up to six crewmembers on future missions to Mars, and deliver crew and supplies to the International Space Station.
The new crew vehicle will be shaped like an Apollo capsule, but it will be three times larger, allowing four astronauts to travel to the moon at a time. The new ship can be reused up to 10 times. Safe and reliable. Why The Moon? <center><div class="site_errors"><div class="floatType_site_error_top"></div><div class="floatType_site_error"><table summary="layout table"><tr><td bgcolor="#000000"><font color="#ffffff"><h2><img src="/templateimages/redesign/modules/overlay/site_error.gif" title="Site Error" alt="Site Error"/>There's a problem with your browser or settings. </h2></font><font color="#ffffff"><p>Your browser or your browser's settings are not supported. To get the best experience possible, please download a compatible browser.
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The Scientific Case For A Return To The Moon. It’s almost 40 years since the last humans visited the lunar surface during the Apollo 17 mission of December 1972. Indeed, the last controlled landing on the moon was just four years later when the Soviet Union’s sample-return mission, Luna 24, touched down in July 1976. Since then, nothing (although in recent years both the US and India have crashed probes into the lunar surface). So it’s high time we returned to the lunar surface, say Ian Crawford at Birkbeck College in London and a few buddies. Today, they outline of the reasons why and say they are more compelling than ever. For a start, the Moon is a good place to learn about the Earth. By some estimates there could be as much as 200 kilograms of Earth per square lunar kilometre.
Then there is the argument that the Moon is the only place that certain types of astronomical observations are possible. Below about 30 MHz, the ionosphere does a pretty good job of absorbing or reflecting more or less everything the Universe throws at us. Astronaut Explains Why We Should Return to the Moon. Want to stay on top of all the space news? Follow @universetoday on Twitter Astronaut Ronald J. Garan. Photo Credit: NASA The debate on why humans should or should not return to the Moon has been ongoing for years. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hear astronaut Ron Garan speak eloquently on a subject he is passionate about, water sustainability on planet Earth. On May 10th, 1869, a golden spike joined two railways at Promontory Point, Utah, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed.
There is no doubt that the railroad changed the world. Artist impression of humans on the Moon. Since the Vision for Space Exploration was announced in 2004, there has been an on-going debate about the importance of taking the next step in space exploration, a return to the moon. We should not return to the moon for any one of these reasons, but for all of them and more. Ron Garan ready for an EVA in June 2008. Artists impression of an asteroid flying by Earth. Charles Miller: Back to the Moon—For a Fraction of the Old Price. As a former NASA executive, I am saddened by the media response to Newt Gingrich's proposal that we return to the moon. The mockery and ridicule does America a great disservice. Space exploration and development is an important national issue. It's not only possible and necessary to safeguard our future—it can be a lot cheaper than anybody dreams. To recap: During the Jan. 26 Republican primary debate in Florida, Mr.
Gingrich proposed that we return to the moon within eight years to establish a lunar colony, asserting that the benefits to America would be tremendous. Mitt Romney retorted that if somebody came to him to ask for "a few hundred billion dollars" to return to the moon, he would say: "You're fired. " But what would President Romney say to me if I proposed to return to the moon for $40 billion, not hundreds of billions? But we can also change how we structure our human spaceflight efforts. Moon Express Announces Dr. Alan Stern as Chief Scientist | Hosts Gala Celebration Of New Space Era Tonight | Portal to the Universe. Moonandback21 Jul 2011, 21:53 UTC (200 words excerpt, click title or image to see full post) MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Moon Express, a Google Lunar X PRIZE contender, revealed Wednesday that internationally recognized planetary scientist Dr.
Alan Stern will be the Chief Scientist and Mission Architect for the company. The announcement was made as lunar scientists from around the world gather at the NASA Ames Research Park for their annual Lunar Science Forum, convened by the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Dr. Alan Stern Dr. Note: All formatting and links have been removed - click title or image to see full article. Moon Express Hires Chief Scientist, Hosts Gala Celebration. Moon Moon Express Announces Dr. Alan Stern as Chief Scientist | Hosts Gala Celebration Of New Space Era Tonight MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Moon Express, a Google Lunar X PRIZE contender, revealed Wednesday that internationally recognized planetary scientist Dr. Alan Stern will be the Chief Scientist and Mission Architect for the company.
The announcement was made as lunar scientists from around the world gather at the NASA Ames Research Park for their annual Lunar Science Forum, convened by the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Dr. Named by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people, Dr. “We are honored to have a scientist of Alan Stern’s caliber working with us,” said Moon Express co-founder and CEO Dr. Moon Express To Host Gala Celebration of New Space Era in Silicon Valley Moon Express is the first company to flight test a prototype lunar lander system designed for the Moon, developed in partnership with NASA. Dr. Moon Express Co-Founder and CEO Dr. About moon express.
We Choose the Moon: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing. Lunar Pioneer. Colonization of the Moon. 1986 artist concept The colonization of the Moon is the proposed establishment of permanent human communities or robot industries[1] on the Moon. Recent indication that water might be present in noteworthy quantities at the lunar poles has renewed interest in the Moon. Polar colonies could also avoid the problem of long lunar nights – about 354 hours,[2] a little more than two weeks – and take advantage of the sun continuously, at least during the local summer (there is no data for the winter yet).[3] Permanent human habitation on a planetary body other than the Earth is one of science fiction's most prevalent themes.
Proposals[edit] Concept art from NASA showing astronauts entering a lunar outpost The notion of siting a colony on the Moon originated before the Space Age. In 1954, science-fiction author Arthur C. In 1959, John S. Project Horizon[edit] Lunex Project[edit] Lunex Project was a US Air Force plan for a manned lunar landing prior to the Apollo Program in 1961. The Moon is a KREEPy place. Posted by Emily Lakdawalla Topics: NASA lunar missions before 2005, the Moon, explaining science If you go to a conference about lunar geology, sooner or later you'll hear the term "KREEP" bandied about.
(And almost as soon as KREEP is mentioned, a bad pun will be made. It's inevitable.) The simple definition is that KREEP is an acronym for potassium (chemical symbol K), rare earth elements (the ones that are always cut out of the periodic table and drawn in two separate rows of their own, abbreviated REE), and phosphorus (chemical symbol P). Potassium, rare earths, and phosphorus are lumped together in the term KREEP because they tend to occur together in the lunar crust. Rufus Gefangenen Forming the Moon The molten moon had a bulk composition of rock; more specifically, its bulk composition is of a mafic rock, one that's rich in iron and magnesium. But the way it solidifies is a bit strange.
Some elements just can't squeeze in to the crystal lattices. OK, so that's what KREEP is. Commercial use of Space. Moon Express and Odyssey.