Moon Base: the future, or a future disaster?

ballz2wallz · 12-05-2006, 08:30 AM

So I'm sure you've all heard about NASA planning on creating a Moon Base by the year 2020 or something, ot at least that's when it's self-sustaining, supposedly having a permanent staff by 2024.

So supposedly they asked all kinds of people why they should put a base on the moon, and I guess they got enough good response they figured it would be ok.

So I know the moon seems rather big when you're on it...a lot bigger than we imagine, but let's face it, it's rather small in comparison with the earch. Now, imagine that we have some sort of accident on the moon; that's to be expected right, since we do have accidents here on earth? Perhaps some landing accident where the shuttle slams into the moon, or a large explosion happens somewhere on the base camp. Yes, I'm imagining the worst, but it's bound to happen, especially as we're first learning about lunar base camps.

So what happens if one of these accidents knocks the moon out of orbit, even just a little bit? Is the moon even small enough to affect in that way?

If this happens, the world could die.

Scrum · 12-05-2006, 10:15 AM

No, the Moon is way to big for an explosion to affect it that much.

Look at the size of the craters already there. I doubt we could match some of those with a nuke.

And the moons orbit is already unstable. It gets an inch further away every year.

ballz2wallz · 12-05-2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Look at the size of the craters already there. I doubt we could match some of those with a nuke.

That is a good point, although seeing what a nuke would do would be interesting.

motivez · 12-05-2006, 05:18 PM

I think it's a great idea. Looking at the history of the eventual impact of technology that was once [and first] employed by NASA I think the money they spend is worth it.

I know some of the Libertarian crowd will say that there's no evidence it wouldn't have been developed eventually anyway, but I'd say the opposite is true as well.. and for the millions of lives that have been saved by the practical applications of NASA technology in the medical field, I'm sure it's worth it to them as well.

If Stephen Hawking is right, getting started now will serve us well in the future as we become better at colonizing other planets that can't innately support human life.

AVengeance · 12-06-2006, 04:54 PM

I think it's a great idea. We need to get a base on the moon, with underground living quarters and some landing strips. Gravity is low enough that a "space shuttle" style design could take off airplane-style instead of rocket-style.

It's the first step to Mars!

Diamond Cross · 12-06-2006, 05:31 PM

And have the commander Wiliam Shatner.

But I'd love to see one up there.