Quote:
Originally Posted by TLAM Strike
Since they found water on Luna it can be a useful stop over for any Mars mission since water is useful not just for drinking but as fuel. Luna's lower gravity makes it easier to transfer fuel to say a Mars bound spaceship being built a L1 than sending that fuel from Earth.
|
A moon base makes no sense in going to Mars. The energy required to go from LEO to Lunar orbit to Mars orbit is much higher than LEO directly to Mars. It makes as much sense as driving from New York to Washington D.C. by stopping for gas in Dallas. Sure, it might be cheaper to get the gas there, but getting there doesn't make it worth it.
Water has been found on the moon, but not in large enough quantities to make it worthwhile. You'll end up importing it to the moon in much greater quantities than you will producing it on site, using up fuel to haul it there. Imagine using a supertanker to move a single barrel of oil. Quite inefficient. Mars has much higher quantities of water. Technology has already been demonstrated that can produce methane fuel and oxidizer to fuel ships. Mars would also make a better springboard to future missions to the asteroid belt and outer planets. The higher gravity and existing atmosphere, along with a rotational speed giving it a day of slightly over 24 hours, make it much easier for humans to operate. The moon has a 28 day day, with quite extreme temperature variations. The almost standard length day also means that farming would be easier to do on Mars, meaning that you would be able to produce more food locally, instead of having to import it from Earth. The available mineral resources on Mars also make production of building materials much easier than on the Moon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TLAM Strike
Also its strategic, I hope Iran or China get it in their heads that a mass driver there pointed at Earth is a good idea. I think keeping Americans and our allies on Luna is a good way to maintain its demilitarized status.
|
That is one angle to think about. I don't think we'll need to worry about the mass driver for a few years yet, though.