We know that NASA is planning on having a moon base on the moon in 2020. My question is, what good is happen from it. I'm not saying its useless, I just don't know whats going to happen when its built.
Increase of space travel?
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The goal is less about having a base on the Moon and more about learning how to build long-term surface habitations on planets other than Earth. When we explore Mars we'll need to build some sort of habitat. And the time to learn how to do that is not when you need it. Because the Moon is only a comparatively short journey away from Earth, we can try out different things, work through different versions, and teach ourselves how to do it.
This is little different from practicing the lunar orbit rendezvous techniques we'd need for Apollo Moon landings by practicing them in Earth orbit. The goal is not so much to get two spacecraft to hook up together, but to learn how to do it in an environment that lets you land quickly if something goes wrong. You work out the kinks there, then you know what do to when you really need to know it.
This is little different from practicing the lunar orbit rendezvous techniques we'd need for Apollo Moon landings by practicing them in Earth orbit. The goal is not so much to get two spacecraft to hook up together, but to learn how to do it in an environment that lets you land quickly if something goes wrong. You work out the kinks there, then you know what do to when you really need to know it.
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Other Answers (4)
- It's a start.
Supposedly, there will be people living on Mars within the next 150 to 200 years.
When that day comes, people will be saying, "It all started with the first moon base built in the year 2020". - astronomical observation will be easier
because the atmosphere of the moon is thinner
compared to that of earth
more discoveries in astronomy will be made - There are 2 major factors - no atmosphere to get in the way of astronomical observation which has already been mentioned.
The other is that the moon has far less gravity, so it is an ideal start off point for intrasolar travel and expansion. The idea is to get humans living on Mars. A vehicle taking off from the Moon requires far less speed to break out of the Moon's gravity well and doesn't require an aerodynamic shape. - The whole thing was a political ploy by Bush administration. The scientific community in general has made it clear that the enormous expense is not justified because much more info can be obtained much more cheaply and safely with unmanned probes.
In the new administration and future administrations, wiser heads are likely to prevail and the manned moon/Mars program will die a quiet death.
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