So when we return to the Moon in 2018ish, and perhaps land close to one of the original Apollo sites, photograph and film the hell out of it, and possibly even return small samples from the spacecraft to see how they've reacted to 45 years on the Moon...

Will all of the conspiracy theorists commit mass sepaku? :rotfl:

Why India? :-?

Russia on the other hand will claim the Moon as there's and construct a tactical inter planetary nuclear first strike platform. ;)

No. They'll claim those were carried onboard the spacecraft and planted there before the photos were taken. That's how those nutcases operate.

My question is will the indian and russian government have to pay for parking permits to land on the moon?

Last Apollo mission on the moon was in december of 1972. :D

Of course from a scientific pov that would have been the correct choice, but by late 1971 the political imperative was just not there anymore.
So what's the next best thing ? : the shuttle of course. :rotfl:
A version 1.0 hardware that has been flying more or less the last 30 years and has kept us in leo.
What a drawback if you think about it, even the Gemini missions went higher than the shuttle. :damn:

As far as im concerned, any exploration of space is a good thing. Just think of the possibilities that can open up from establishing a bit of a foothold in space!

Obviously though, the first trouble comes from what to do with the moon? One reason its meant to be so popular to try get there is there are immense reserves of valuable elements and i believe there is even some sort of extremely-high-energy source that can be mined. Personally though, i think it should be left like Antarctica, with nations staking a claim having a responsibility to the rest of the world to keep it in its pristine state. Policing that, of course, will be next to impossible....:shifty:

If they land on my acre they sure as hell will be!

:shifty:

Reaves
 

I told you we were going to share that acre that I have the deed to....where do you get off maiking it like it's YOUR acre:shifty: . Keep that up and I'm not sharing:p .

haha you have an acre as well? Maybe we're neighbours!!!


btw... GET YOUR DAMN KIDS OFF MY LAWN!!!