See my post here, http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=76206&postid=1610236. ;-)

Cheers.

Opinions can differ. When I see a photo of Mars surface sent from Opportunity or Curiosity I agree with Carl Sagan, who wrote "Mars is a place like Arizona or New Mexico". The surface of the Moon looks like an alien place.
Tullio

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Everybody seems to be saying that unless thay find water or ice on the moon a moonbase isn't viable. Well they seem to manage OK on the ISS

NASA isn't worried about water Chris, they're thinking about what they need for fuel and other things to get further penetration to the outer limits of our own solar system. ;-)

Cheers.

arr but wiggo your forgetting about all that helium 3 on the moon which can be used as fuel as well as fusion power stations but to get the stuff we need a base there so the moon would be very profitible and why the Chineese are going back .

Then there is the security thing . He that has a base on the moon will control the Earth . National Security for god sake .

No worry's if the commy's get the moon there good and won't try and use it to there advantage will they ...............BOOOOOOOOOOM no more Earth

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Once someone has a base on the moon the rest of the solar system is theirs for the asking or taking. It will probably be a long time before an economical and reliable means of getting raw resources back to earth from space is developed so storing them on the moon or using them in space to build the vehicles needed for more complete exploration seems to me to be a good plan. There is also a lot of good science that can be done from the moon. The far side of the moon seems to me to be an ideal place for a better seti search. Absolutely no interference from stray signals generated on earth. Not to mention being a perfect platform to search for earthbound asteroids and comets. Also any type of deflector system would not have to contend with atmospheric conditions when aimed at an incoming object.

Also as Glenn mentioned, tourism on the moon would be a viable source of income. Who would be able to take a 3 year vacation to Mars? On the other hand a three week trip to the moon to stay in a low G hotel would be within the financial means of a good portion of the wealthy class. That would also require the services of a substantial number of service staff personnel who would have to rotate back to earth every couple of months so as to not loose too much muscle tone. All of these things would require a fleet of space vehicles with skilled and eventually very experienced pilots and crew. This would be where the necessary crew members for deep space missions would be recruited.

And it all starts with going back to the moon on a regular routine basis, not some one-off glory seeking three man ride to Mars or an asteroid that only gets repeated once every twenty years or so or never.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The Russians also had a secret one called Peter the Great with 16 missiles trained on the USA.

If i remember right Chris that ones not there any more the Cowboy rode it all the way to the moon . yeeeehaaaa !!

And he finally got his wish to go to the moon :-))

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Everybody seems to be saying that unless thay find water or ice on the moon a moonbase isn't viable. Well they seem to manage OK on the ISS

NASA isn't worried about water Chris, they're thinking about what they need for fuel and other things to get further penetration to the outer limits of our own solar system. ;-)

Cheers.

of course it's not worried about a water...it's worried about a eating & raising crops on Moon...sending food from Earth is not so cheap...and I don't see any plans for sending pigs, cows & gardening in the Moon's dust!

unless Moon dust is nutrition enough for humans? :/

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non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU

of course it's not worried about a water...it's worried about a eating & raising crops on Moon...sending food from Earth is not so cheap...and I don't see any plans for sending pigs, cows & gardening in the Moon's dust!

Hey Klik! They would use a hyroponic laboratory.

Both the American Army and the Royal Air Force opened hydroponic units at military bases during WWII, and USA nuclear subs use them today as does the ISS.

one thing is sub on 3month schedule...or ISS, which can be delivered daily with evacuation within 5min!

another thing is 2day delivery to the Moon, if sthg fails...and image how much would they need of a garden?
It is duable...but, at what expence...

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non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU

of course it's not worried about a water...it's worried about a eating & raising crops on Moon...sending food from Earth is not so cheap...and I don't see any plans for sending pigs, cows & gardening in the Moon's dust!

Hey Klik! They would use a hyroponic laboratory.

Both the American Army and the Royal Air Force opened hydroponic units at military bases during WWII, and USA nuclear subs use them today as does the ISS.

one thing is sub on 3month schedule...or ISS, which can be delivered daily with evacuation within 5min!

another thing is 2day delivery to the Moon, if sthg fails...and image how much would they need of a garden?
It is duable...but, at what expence...

Two days is better than nine months, which is the time it takes to get to Mars with an 18 month return trip.

And no, initially it won't be cheap to set up a base on the moon. But the evidence is strong that a moon base would eventually be self sufficient. Especially if one of the goals is to establish a moon resort where the uber rich could go and play.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The best reason to establish a Moon base may simply be to learn and advance a variety of new technologies.

It would be refreshing to have something other than warfare to drive these developments.

I've read that some Australian scientists have reached a 46% efficiency in photovoltaics. That is a good news.
Tullio

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Well, like late A.C.Clarke said - it would be great if we open another vault on Moon for the seeds...maybe even viruses?! ;)

Of course, everything has to be underground...and that will be expensive endeavour...but also, Moon has some geo-thermanl energy...so it would be safer & warmer under the surface... ;)

I've read that some Australian scientists have reached a 46% efficiency in photovoltaics. That is a good news.
Tullio

Yes, they did...link: http://phys.org/news/2014-12-sunlight-electricity-percent-efficiency.html
Nice one! A new news...wondering how much would that PV panel be efficient in Space? ;)

Of course, there is also the project on the grid for https://secure.worldcommunitygrid.org/research/cep2/overview.do, a biodradeble PV panels... ;)

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non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU

The best reason to establish a Moon base may simply be to learn and advance a variety of new technologies.

It would be refreshing to have something other than warfare to drive these developments.

+1

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures

I'll give that a +2

And I'll add LOADS to that... honestly if you think of how much time and resources and destruction we've wrought upon each other and our only home in the short time we've plodded about on it - we come out... beyond pathetic. Just as well I sort of like humans... or... or... I'd stop talking to myself AND everyone else... *note sudden air of excitement breezing round seti* you're not getting off THAT easy peoples :)

On the subject of the potential of various orbiting bits, this is an excellent diagram to show where we stand in our solar system:


XKCD: Gravity Wells scaled to Earth surface gravity


May take a while to appreciate!


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

It appears Venus is similar to earth.

Venus is just a tad smaller than earth and has the same composition. The temps on Venus can rise up to 462°C!

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures

It appears Venus is similar to earth.

Hopefully we are not silly or corrupt enough to make that the case!

Venus is just a tad smaller than earth and has the same composition. The temps on Venus can rise up to 462°C!

All a part of that misnamed "greenhouse effect"... And of a deeper heavier atmosphere.


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

It appears Venus is similar to earth.

Hopefully we are not silly or corrupt enough to make that the case!

Venus is just a tad smaller than earth and has the same composition. The temps on Venus can rise up to 462°C!

All a part of that misnamed "greenhouse effect"... And of a deeper heavier atmosphere.


Keep searchin',
Martin

+1

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures