We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things...

Tupin · July 16, 2009, 07:49:15 PM

Forty years ago, the first humans were on their way to land on the only other celestial body man has set foot on. The actual anniversary of the landing takes place on Monday, but I figured it would be a good way to get discussion started.

We haven't been to the moon since 1972, so do you think it's time to go back soon?

Gwen Khan · July 16, 2009, 07:51:38 PM

is there any reason why we haven't gone back yet?

Nayrman · July 16, 2009, 07:56:22 PM

Quote from: Tom Servo on July 16, 2009, 07:51:38 PM
is there any reason why we haven't gone back yet?

money, lack of interest, no one to compete with.

I say we got to Mars next. 8 months isn't too bad! We could always make our own version of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel with the food paste to pass the time. (stupid reference ftl)

Tupin · July 16, 2009, 08:05:46 PM

Quote from: Nayrman on July 16, 2009, 07:56:22 PM
money, lack of interest, no one to compete with.

I say we got to Mars next. 8 months isn't too bad! We could always make our own version of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel with the food paste to pass the time. (stupid reference ftl)

NASA wants to build a base on the moon to launch a Mars rocket from there, but wouldn't it be better to use suspended animation? Probably because there would have to be someone/something not in suspended animation to watch the astronauts and equipment.

Gwen Khan · July 16, 2009, 08:06:55 PM

Quote from: Tupin on July 16, 2009, 08:05:46 PM
NASA wants to build a base on the moon to launch a Mars rocket from there, but wouldn't it be better to use suspended animation? Probably because there would have to be someone/something not in suspended animation to watch the astronauts and equipment.

also it's not really possible to put someone in suspended animation and have them live, at least not yet

Tsumaru · July 16, 2009, 08:22:40 PM

What's the point of going to the moon?

It's just a rock.

Flying Chickens · July 16, 2009, 08:28:05 PM

Quote from: Tsumaru on July 16, 2009, 08:22:40 PM
What's the point of going to the moon?

It's just a rock.

Progress. Also, people can't wait to go into outer place and screw over other planets without fixing their own.

JrDude · July 16, 2009, 08:40:42 PM

The only reason we haven't is because when you go there, there's no privacy, you either have someone near you or a camera watching you. So you can't fool around. And even if you could, there's no where to flush it. Imagine 8 months without ANY FORM of sexual pleasure whatsoever (besides in your dreams)

Jono2 · July 16, 2009, 08:48:54 PM

there's no real point in visiting the moon. Everything we need to know can be figured out in other ways.

For example, I believe a few weeks ago, a probe was dropped onto the surface of the moon. This probe was designed to crash into the moon at high speed and at a specific place. This dropping would spew up particles into the... let's call it, atmosphere, of the moon. Another lunar module is due to orbit above the crash site some time within the next few months, i believe. This is to check for minerals, but more importantly, to check for water particles.

There's no current point in going to the moon. If we want a moon base, we need a space station big enough to get there from. We don't have that yet. The ISS is about the size of a four bedroom house (iirc).

Tupin · July 16, 2009, 08:52:27 PM

Yeah, and the ISS will be at full operation just in time to be decommissioned.

Captain Justice · July 16, 2009, 09:14:31 PM

Quote from: Nayrman on July 16, 2009, 07:56:22 PM
money, lack of interest, no one to compete with.

I say we got to Mars next. 8 months isn't too bad! We could always make our own version of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel with the food paste to pass the time. (stupid reference ftl)

what was that movie called again? Rocket Man?

PsychoYoshi · July 16, 2009, 09:15:40 PM

Quote from: Tupin on July 16, 2009, 08:52:27 PM
Yeah, and the ISS will be at full operation just in time to be decommissioned.

Worst money sinkhole ever. The US should have never gotten involved and should have simply pressed ahead with its own moon base or Mars exploration.

Quote from: Tsumaru on July 16, 2009, 08:22:40 PM
What's the point of going to the moon?

It's just a rock.

The moon is a stepping stone towards deeper space. We need to learn how to stand up before we can learn how to walk. Or run. Or travel between stars.

The point? We're going to eventually need to leave this planet or be incinerated by the Sun. Or we can just sit here and wait while the government and business gobble up more and more of daily life, watch TV, fap to porn, etc.
The point? Tons of experimental technology developed in the space program has become instrumental to civilian life.
The point? We can see how commonplace life and intelligent life are in the universe. If there are other civilizations out there, there's a lot that we can learn from each other.
The point? Space is a tabula rasa; it offers humans the opportunity to better themselves and each other (or continue to intercourse up, but the opportunity is what counts, not the outcome).
The point? Exploration is philosophically appealing.

Quote from: Nayrman on July 16, 2009, 07:56:22 PM
money, lack of interest, no one to compete with.

I say we got to Mars next. 8 months isn't too bad! We could always make our own version of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel with the food paste to pass the time. (stupid reference ftl)
Quote from: Echo on July 16, 2009, 09:14:31 PM
what was that movie called again? Rocket Man?

Yes.

Jono2 · July 16, 2009, 10:10:33 PM

we will be eventually incinerated by the sun.

in a few million years.

HTA! · July 16, 2009, 10:55:03 PM

Exactly.
A few million years.
Plus, intergalactic travel is humanly impossible.

Sci-fi and all that poop poisons peoples' minds.
Getting to Mars, and possibly the moons of Jupiter, are the only thing we can really hope for as a race.

Unless, and this is a huge stretch, we fully uncover the Theory of Everything.
Then, we could hypothetically uncover the secret to instantaneous travel, should it truly exist as speculated by the details of the Big Bang.

We could go to the moon, we could live on the moon.
But what is the point.

Unless water is found and greenhouses built, the moon is too uninhabitable to be worthwhile.

Silverhawk79 · July 16, 2009, 11:12:15 PM

Quote from: PsychoYoshi on July 16, 2009, 09:15:40 PM
Worst money sinkhole ever. The US should have never gotten involved and should have simply pressed ahead with its own moon base or Mars exploration.

The moon is a stepping stone towards deeper space. We need to learn how to stand up before we can learn how to walk. Or run. Or travel between stars.

The point? We're going to eventually need to leave this planet or be incinerated by the Sun. Or we can just sit here and wait while the government and business gobble up more and more of daily life, watch TV, fap to porn, etc.
The point? Tons of experimental technology developed in the space program has become instrumental to civilian life.
The point? We can see how commonplace life and intelligent life are in the universe. If there are other civilizations out there, there's a lot that we can learn from each other.
The point? Space is a tabula rasa; it offers humans the opportunity to better themselves and each other (or continue to intercourse up, but the opportunity is what counts, not the outcome).
The point? Exploration is philosophically appealing.

Yes.

uh-oh you got uncle PY all riled up again
get the tranks