It's happening... China Plans to Build a Moon Base Near the Lunar South Pole China plans to build a scientific research station on the moon in "about 10 years," according to the state news agency Xinhua. The China National Space Administration (CSNA) intends to build the research station in the region of the moon's south pole, Zhang Kejian, head of CSNA, said in a public statement, Xinhua reported. That's a bit of a departure from the six successful NASA Apollo moon landings, which took place closer to the moon's equator between 1969 and 1972. Details of China's long-term lunar plans are still sketchy, but CSNA has made significant steps toward lunar exploration. Earlier this year, the Chinese successfully landed the uncrewed Chang'e-4 on the far side of the moon, and have also placed astronauts aboard two temporary space stations, Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2. Their space agency also plans to put a larger, more permanent station into orbit in the coming years. I've long thought that the future of space doesn't lie with the US, but with China. We couldn't build a lunar base without making sure we had 52 bathrooms for each appropriate gender, and that the station's crew reflect diversity instead of skills. Meanwhile, the Chinese have no such worries, so they kind of win by default.
Are you really so brainwashed that you see everything through the lens of fox noise? Don't be a naive fool. This is about space warfare.
I heard that the moon has dust that can be several feet deep, and it would be like quicksand swallowing things up.
I couldn't agree less. Our scientific exploration of the cosmos is a major and continuing success - especially given the low budget. Sinking our science budget into moonmen is ridiculous in our age of robotic and telescopic exploration. Just the use of "war" shows irrationality.
It is also deadly to machines and men....there is good reason we never went back, and its not aliens. As for China....let them play and learn the same lessons....hell you would think they learned from their little bunny. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yutu_(rover)
Well since the topic is a moonbase, and not telescopes or robots, I'm not sure what your comment has to do with the topic or my comment.
Well, since we won the war you claim is happening in the 60-70's and stayed away from the moon for good reason....Robots and telescopes are a logical next step. Besides we will leave commercial development to our private industry.
First of all, it's the same budget. With manned missions costing large multiples of robotic missions, moonmen would gut NASA's science budget. And, that gutting would include not just exploration of the cosmos, but the work they do to monitor conditions on earth - information used by agriculture, for example. Beyond that, one has to question just how much would be gained by humans on the moon.
You've both made valid points about the usefulness of unmanned exploration, but the topic is moonbases, which as are; as a base, presumes they are manned. I think for both of you, when it comes to the topic, what you are really saying is that we should leave manned exploration to the Chinese, and we'll do the unmanned. Is that about it?
My view is that we should continue doing science with our science budget - which includes NASA. If someone wants a US moonbase, they should work out totally independent funding for it. Maybe Musk would like to go to the moon. Or, Boeing or Virgin Galactic or one of the others who have plans for space.
You should have simply said that in the first place. Going on about the benefits of unmanned scientific exploration had nothing to do with moon bases.
I should just have stated my opinion without justification??? I don't view the opinions of people on this board as amounting to much of anything unless they can back it up. And, that includes me. What I showed is WHY moon bases and scientific exploration are tied - including how strongly they are tied. I'm hoping that you can look at the data and come to a better conclusion than the post where you implied we're losing some space war. I know there are other dimensions, and feel free to present them.
Realistically, NASA isn't hampered that way at all. They achieve diversity without sacrificing anything. I don't mind if the Chinese end up pioneering a permanent lunar presence. We don't have to win every race or even make a race of every endeavor. I trust we will follow China up there in time and do it excellently when we do. I would rather see an international moon base, though, than a national one from either country. Maybe we and China can agree to build a common base. Otherwise, I suppose we could have one some distance away and the two could easily collaborate, or we might partner up with the ESA and possibly other space agencies to do an international boon base that doesn't include China.. Or even one that does, in addition to China's own base. Whatevs.
I have no Idea how you got that from what I have posted, other than it is what you wanted me to say. I have very clearly stated that we (as in America) have and will be the lead in human space activity and that China should go ahead and learn the lessons we did on the moon. I do not appreciate the misrepresentation but rather expect it from you.
The article I posted is about China planning to build a moon base in 10 years, and your complaint seemed to be that it doesn't matter, robots robots robots. OK. I'm just saying that they are going there and we aren't. If you are happy with that, why so bitchy?
I said we have science objectives. And, I included our Earthbound and orbital detection capabilities besides robots - a range of tools. Robots are of interest as they are rapidly becoming capable of actions once limited to humans, lowering the cost of many types of missions. And, the science NASA performs is more than just exploring our universe. We're not "losing a war by default". It's not a war. It's not default. And, what we're doing is important. Let's also remember that science is collaborative. We get the results of the activities of other countries as they get our results. No country can do it all themselves.
Almost. Private enterprise is certainly free to go for it. I'd be willing to add some new tax dollars to help with that, as there are some serious unsolved problems. The diagrams I've seen of the China base look pretty unrealistic to me. I think we should have a good understanding of why we're doing it and I highly doubt that it would justify reducing NASA's science.
Oh my, are people still believing that nonsense? That was thrown out before most in here were even born.