Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS](and SCIENCE) NASA Plans Lunar Outpost

[Stephen Montgomery-Smith <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Mike Miller wrote:
> I'm surprised that they can mine hydrogen and oxygen from the lunar 
> surface.  I hadn't heard that before.

I found out about this a few days ago on the Discovery Science Channel. 
   There seems to be water on the poles of the moon, probably put there 
by some meteorites crashing there.  The idea I guess is to use sunlight 
to convert the water into hydrogen and oxygen.

It seems to make planetary space travel on a regular basis feasible, in 
that it makes the moon a good stopping point.  The energy required to 
get objects out of earth's gravitational field are huge.  Apparently the 
potential energy from the moon is a lot less.

I have this feeling that while the landing on the moon in 1969 was a 
superb technological achievement, that it really stretched our 
technology to stretching point.  Astronauts of the time complain that we 
don't seem to be going back, comparing the moon missions with what 
Columbus did and asking - what if people hadn't followed Columbus.  But 
I see the 1969 moon landings as more like Eric the Red's exploration of 
America - something that came before its time.

The media loves to remind us that the computers used in the space 
program are only a little more sophisticated than digital watches are 
today.  My guess is that in 20 or 30 years time, technology will be in a 
place where space travel to the moon becomes easy enough to be done on a 
commercial basis.  But maybe now is still a little too early.

Stephen

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