Commerical trip to Moon

[Mark Miller]

Just read this article on www.discovery.com that the gov has ok'd a private venture to the moon. First for a 90 day photo survey the who knows. I think it's great, we should be getting of this rock and exploring. Most great moves foward come from two things, war, or trying to make a buck. beam me up Scotty!!
Mark:D :D

[Mark Miller]

Quick follow up. After getting on discovery, click on the discovery channel. Sorry I wasn't clearer.
Mark

[steveo]

Why would any private venture have to get the US government's permission to map the moon? I can understand wading through the red tape of launching a space bound vehicle out of Earth's atmosphere but once that is achieved then you should be able to go anyplace in space you choose without anyone's permission. Does this mean the US government owns the moon? Being Nasa was there first (as far as we know), in that Nasa is a public company which is financed by American tax dollars then doesn't the American public own it should you wish to go down that road?

I question verifiying previous moon shot landing areas because "there are still a few people out there who believe the Apollo program was a hoax". Huh...? For the sake a few people suddenly this needs to be verified? Why even mention it? Who cares?. Apparently somebody suddenly cares.

"I will gladly and happily cheer them on," said planetary scientist Paul Spudis of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Texas. He also pointed out that there are many potential commercial uses of the moon, but all involve tremendous up-front investment. "The resources on the moon are worth billions," he said."

So if there are billions to be reaped from the moon why hasn't say, Nasa, started years ago despite the up front investment? Sure it cost's a ton a cash to get it up and running but how much does it cost to launch a shuttle and bring it back? I heard about 700 million a go around with payload (could be wrong but it's not cheap). Multiply that by every shuttle launch. For the amount of tax paying dollars spent on the shuttle they could've been on the moon years ago reaping those billions instead of endlessly spending it.

"There is also the isolation. Research involving radiation or dangerous biological agents could be done on the moon with little danger of releases to Earth's environment."

I shudder to think what those dangerous biological agents might be and eventually used.

"Trailblazer's commercial uses will be a lot simpler, Laurie said. "The main application is toward general public appeal." Appeal for what? Why must the general public's appeal need to be satifised at this time?

On one front this whole thing stinks of hidden agendas. On another I'm all for space exploration and hope more private companies come forward and get into the space exploration game. But if Trailblazer suddenly disappears from the radar screen the day before it reaches the moon like its Mars counterparts I guess I shouldn't be surprised....or surprised no other companies ever step forward.

[Mark Miller]

Hey Steveo,
I agree to a certain point, but I am glad someone is takeing the first step. Free Enterpise and the chance to make profits will help drive this and other endevors.
Regards Mark





:)