Moon or Mars? Why not both, acting NASA head Janet Petro says

[Admin]

NASA still views the moon as a stepping stone to Mars, even though Elon Musk has dismissed Earth's nearest neighbor as "a distraction."

Moon or Mars? Why not both, acting NASA head Janet Petro says : Read more

 

[Classical Motion]

I am certainly no expert but Mars is too far. We need more off world experience and the Moon is perfect for that. The only bad part is that dust.

The only thing that can profit us is the location and environment for experiment and measurement. We should learn to use it. But it will cost. And no Moon harvest. Or plunder.

The far side is the only radio quiet area we have left. And that observation time is limited.

It will take years of logistics to go to Mars. Let’s learn on the Moon before riding on Mars.

 

[COLGeek]

I am certainly no expert but Mars is too far. We need more off world experience and the Moon is perfect for that. The only bad part is that dust.

The only thing that can profit us is the location and environment for experiment and measurement. We should learn to use it. But it will cost. And no Moon harvest. Or plunder.

The far side is the only radio quiet area we have left. And that observation time is limited.

It will take years of logistics to go to Mars. Let’s learn on the Moon before riding on Mars.

Agreed and then there is the matter of resources ($$$).

 

[Classical Motion]

Maybe this is a stretch but, we might be able to Moon orbit a rotating space station, with warehouse, crew quarters, fueling and maintenance bays for space taxis, plus a Moon base station…… for the cost of a Mars trip.

Too much?

If only we could fine a new stable element with new properties or some other prize. We need a reward.

Ruff ruff.

If only that dust was magic.

 

[Keithrc]

Going to Mars is an order of magnitude more difficult than going back to the moon. Anyone who says that this intermediate step is unnecessary is a dummy.

 

[George²]

Agreed and then there is the matter of resources ($$$).

Seems like no problem to spend trillions for making crypto "coins" and for "AI". For wars too.

 

[COLGeek]

Seems like no problem to spend trillions for making crypto "coins" and for "AI". For wars too.

Not really relevant in regards to NASA's budget though.

 

[contrarian]

Maybe this is a stretch but, we might be able to Moon orbit a rotating space station, with warehouse, crew quarters, fueling and maintenance bays for space taxis, plus a Moon base station…… for the cost of a Mars trip.

The International Space Station cost well over $100 billion to put into orbit and maintain. And remember this is in LEO.

The cost of a similar station orbiting the Moon would be substantially higher, and that is without all the add-ons you refer to. You are looking at hundreds of billions, one would think.

The low cost of a manned mission to Mars is estimated at over $500 billion. And of course it is always more than estimated.

The minimalist lunar orbiting "space station" Gateway, under construction by Northrup-Grumman et al., is estimated at over $5 billion, and will likely come in at twice that.

Too much?

It is already starting to look that way for anything like a lunar habitation mission. Almost certainly $500 billion. This brings into question a trip to Mars. Likely to cost well over a $trillion. Seems a tad high for the return we get, assuming nothing goes sour..........

 

[George²]

The International Space Station cost well over $100 billion to put into orbit and maintain. And remember this is in LEO.

Because international and bureaucratic and I suppose that big percentage of cost is just to have for stealing by administration.

 

[George²]

It is already starting to look that way for anything like a lunar habitation mission. Almost certainly $500 billion. This brings into question a trip to Mars. Likely to cost well over a $trillion. Seems a tad high for the return we get, assuming nothing

This match with previous explanation. Must ask how much will be price if Mars trip is released from young and aggressive prices company like SpaceX. Older space companies which are used to being fed by the state through the NASA budget and the military budget since the Cold War competition with the USSR, it is natural to point out many times inflated prices.