Comment Re:It was too easy (Score 1) 460
To go to Mars, we need to know the effects of long term duration of humans in a low (NOT ZERO) gravity environment.
We have 1G on earth, and zero G at the ISS.
What happens with Mars gravity? We have no idea.
Where is the nearest place to test that? The moon.
We need to see the effects of long term radiation exposure does to humans in space. The ISS is protected by the earth's magnetic field.
Where can we test this, and get back fast if there is a severe problem? The moon.
We should test robots that can build a shelter remotely in a hostile environment.
The earth will do at first, but to test in a low gravity and low atmosphere environment, you need the moon.
I keep seeing arguments that the moon is the stepping stone to the rest of the solar system and I just don't buy it. Why spend all the energy to get out of one gravity well just to fall down another one? If you're looking for raw materials, you can get them from asteroids for less delta-v than landing and taking off from the moon. I don't think we know if they have any significant amount of water but we'll find that out as we develop our deep space capabilities instead of a new generation of moon landers. Once you have deep space transport and mining capability, you really are most of the way to anywhere.
As to your specific uses for the moon, a deep space craft heading out beyond the moon would rotate for artificial gravity. No need for 1G so you'll get plenty of data on fractional gravity environments. Long term radiation exposure? Sure. Same deal with a true deep space craft and there are unlikely to be sudden-onset effects that would necessitate quick return. And I'd like to test my robots in a truly low gravity environment where the resources I mine and structures I build will not have to be lifted back up the well.
I knew the day the return to the moon was announced it would never be sufficiently funded to succeed. For all the reasons mentioned by others, I'm glad it was canceled. I'd prefer NASA be working on truly innovative propulsion and materials technologies including seriously funded work on a space elevator. Materials science is bringing us close to the strength we need but there are some, er, other details to be worked out.