The President's Space Initiative Speech

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
One of the most laughable parts of Bush's speech was when
he said that a human base on the moon would make space
exploration cheaper? Yep folks, according to the president,
a moon base is going to SAVE us some money.
Oooookaaay.

The science behind interplanetary space travel dictates that
a moon base WILL make space exploration cheaper.

The main cost of space exploration is in the booster system
required to escape Earth's gravity. Launching from the
moon's lesser gravitational pull is much easier, requires
smaller rockets, and is thus much cheaper.

Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

We will have to fund two spaceports, one of which will have to be
resupplied by rocket ships. How is this going to be cheaper?
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
One of the most laughable parts of Bush's speech was when
he said that a human base on the moon would make space
exploration cheaper? Yep folks, according to the president,
a moon base is going to SAVE us some money.
Oooookaaay.

The science behind interplanetary space travel dictates that
a moon base WILL make space exploration cheaper.

The main cost of space exploration is in the booster system
required to escape Earth's gravity. Launching from the
moon's lesser gravitational pull is much easier, requires
smaller rockets, and is thus much cheaper.

Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

We will have to fund two spaceports, one of which will have to be
resupplied by rocket ships. How is this going to be cheaper?
--

The only way one can avoid this to have a moon colony which can produce
stuff for the 2nd launch instead of getting it from earth. That means
setting up a self-sustaining moon colony plus more. How long is that going
to take? The ISS is not done, and space shuttle program is in remission.
Wow, talk about pipe dreams. This will be a 50-100 year program. It's
probably a good long term goal, but the timing is a bit suspect.

"S Narayan" wrote in message
...

The only way one can avoid this to have a moon colony which can produce
stuff for the 2nd launch instead of getting it from earth. That means
setting up a self-sustaining moon colony plus more. How long is that going
to take? The ISS is not done, and space shuttle program is in remission.
Wow, talk about pipe dreams. This will be a 50-100 year program. It's
probably a good long term goal, but the timing is a bit suspect.

Really? Think about what you are saying. It is quite absurd. What are they
going to do? Head down to the Moon Home Depot and pick up supplies or what?
Everything, except dirt, is going to have to come from earth. And last time
I checked, dirt is not on the materials list to build a space ship.

So tell us what can be manifactured on the moon at a cheaper cost than on
earth. Really, I'm clutching my chair in anticipation to hear how this will
be done.

Plumb Bob

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 23:23:13 GMT, "plumb bob"
wrote:


Really? Think about what you are saying. It is quite absurd. What are they
going to do? Head down to the Moon Home Depot and pick up supplies or what?
Everything, except dirt, is going to have to come from earth. And last time
I checked, dirt is not on the materials list to build a space ship.

So tell us what can be manifactured on the moon at a cheaper cost than on
earth. Really, I'm clutching my chair in anticipation to hear how this will
be done.

Plumb Bob


There are many raw resources on the moon. It wont make sense
at first to try to use them all. but eventually............


http://www.crystalinks.com/lunarmining.html

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/s...ish_603711.htm

http://www.permanent.com/l-mining.htm

http://www.permanent.com/l-overvw.htm

http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0397/0397gaz2.html

"plumb bob" wrote in message
news:BhFNb.75868$I06.331400@attbi_s01...

"S Narayan" wrote in message
...

The only way one can avoid this to have a moon colony which can produce
stuff for the 2nd launch instead of getting it from earth. That means
setting up a self-sustaining moon colony plus more. How long is that
going
to take? The ISS is not done, and space shuttle program is in remission.
Wow, talk about pipe dreams. This will be a 50-100 year program. It's
probably a good long term goal, but the timing is a bit suspect.

Really? Think about what you are saying. It is quite absurd. What are they
going to do? Head down to the Moon Home Depot and pick up supplies or
what?
Everything, except dirt, is going to have to come from earth. And last
time
I checked, dirt is not on the materials list to build a space ship.

So tell us what can be manifactured on the moon at a cheaper cost than on
earth. Really, I'm clutching my chair in anticipation to hear how this
will
be done.


We are on the same side. If you read my post carefully, I said this would
take the establishment of a moon colony which could take decades with
cooperation from many countries. Power generation, housing, plants, food,
mining etc..all need to be set up as in those science fiction movies. This
will involve massive "transfer" of resources from earth. Once that happens,
the next step can take place. I am not saying it is going to be cheap or
quick.

"Dan Luke" wrote:

Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Materials for radiation shielding,
perhaps fuel or oxidizer are available on the moon.
Construction is likely to be easier than on-orbit, and a
Mars mission is likely to be heavier than a single boost can
accommodate.


Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
___
Make a commitment to learn something from every flight.
Share what you learn.

In article , "Dan Luke"
wrote:

Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

Not true.

--
Bob Noel

"Bob Noel" wrote:
Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from
Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

Not true.

True unless you posit a moon base that mines raw materials, refines
them, and manufactures Mars shot equipment from scratch - an absurd idea
in the time frame of Bush's plan.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

"Bob Noel" wrote:
Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from
Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

Not true.

True unless you posit a moon base that mines raw materials, refines
them, and manufactures Mars shot equipment from scratch - an absurd idea
in the time frame of Bush's plan.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)


Bush has it all figured out. He is going to trade the Martians green cheese
for fuel.

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
...
Bush has it all figured out. He is going to trade the Martians green
cheese
for fuel.

No way. If he thinks the Martians have fuel, he'll announce evidence of WMD
as a pretext to invade them.