The government does not do R&D. The government funds SOME R&D. The actual work is done by private industry. I've been on both sides. ________________________________ From: "erikhansen@thebluezone.net" <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 5:49 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mars exploration
NASA did a presentation on water sources on the Moon, it requires a mining operation with the machines needed that are only on the drawing board. They certainly should continue research, but we should have something that is workable before spending billions on Moon Bases and manned Mars Mission, NASA has plenty of other science they could do. We are not talking about ending NASA, the science and technology needs to catch up with our imagination. Bush's Moon Base and Mars Mission was political pork, plain and simple.
Sorry, you just don't get to see everything you want, it has to be feasible. How is private industry stepping up? Except in competing for government contracts. It may have profitable applications in the future, but right now government is the only one doing the R&D. Remember, they have ice on the moon. All they need is enough to get
something running for a small crew. We don't need Luna City yet, just started enough to set up a supply base. It's by far the least economical item to bring from the earth. We need a lot, it's heavy, and it doesn't weigh any less when frozen, and gaseous form requires a lot of heat to maintain, so we have to live on what the moon provides until we can figure out how to manufacture it. The good news is that if we use fuel c lls for power up there, water is a by-product.
Either way, I think if we really tried, we could overcome this. It's part of why it's good that private industry is stepping in, they don't let things like this stop them, no political parties and legislation to wade through. It becomes about finding a way to be profitable. On Nov 29, 2012 9:39 AM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
The Space Station is barely keeping supplied to maintain its own astronauts. NASA has said all along that it is not possible to colonize the moon or go to Mars, without finding a source of drinking water on Mars and the Moon.
A large facility like the space station could carry plenty of supplies for
a small crew. But why not launch automated resupply ships that would arrive at certain points in space the same time as the station? And biological waste isn't such a huge problem -- urine is already recycled into water, and the rest could be jettisoned if needed, as nasty as that is. -- Joe
________________________________ From: william baker <baker464b@yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 9:41 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mars exploration
Just a thought here, the ion system I could see, and comments about structural integrity is a valid issue as well. My thoughts are more on logistical matters, that being oxygen, food and water for the crew. Not to mention biological waste during the trip.
________________________________ From: Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 6:09 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Mars exploration
A question for the group: what is the feasibility of attaching propulsion units to the International Space Station and taking it out of Earth orbit, into Mars orbit, and back again?
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