Have you always be fascinated by space and its exploration?

@mina no, I don't find it pointless - I was alive for all the moon landings (though not quite born for the first!) but I'm too young to remember any of them happening. I remember learning about them early, and I've been waiting literally 50 years to be able to watch people do something like it.

That said, I found the entire process of choosing SLS etc profoundly disappointing, and I wish that the entire enterprise was handled more sensitively. Also, that it WASN'T HAPPENING DURING THE REIGN OF THE ORANGE TYRANT (but I digress)

@jeffrizzo

I don't think going to the moon was pointless at all.

It advanced science and technology in a tremendous way, even though the motivation was just beating the Soviets.

But what is this?

There will be no mining on the moon.

There is no real scientific purpose that cannot be achieved by probes.

This is not the technology that will bring us eventually to Mars.

@mina I don't really see "eventually to Mars" as a great next-step goal, TBQH. You're not wrong, but just because you don't agree with something doesn't make it pointless.

You're obviously welcome to your opinion, but hey, you asked for ours!

@mountdiscovery

I see it as pointless.

We already know, it is possible to go to the moon.

Would it be a stepping stone on the way to Mars, I'd say: OK, let's do it!

But it's not. No human is going to set their foot on Mars for at least 50 years, if ever.

There is no sensible roadmap to get there, and even if there would be one, it wouldn't be with this technology.

@mina important to critize if projects are not sustainable or otherwise bad. It's crazy how long they already burn money for Artemis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program

Earning money: We shouldn't forget that the first moon landing was also one of the biggest marketing- promotion-, and money-earning programs on Earth - we only didn't hear so much about it.

@mina That's not true. They have a roadmap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program#SLS_missions

It's not for showing that you can land on the moon. It's for showing that you can live there in a space station like you can in the ISS. It's also for research about the moon (we don't know so much).

Mars stays probably pure SciFi, as @sundogplanets recently recommended good books.

@mountdiscovery

@mina That's not true. They have a roadmap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program#SLS_missions

It's not for showing that you can land on the moon. It's for showing that you can live there in a space station like you can in the ISS. It's also for research about the moon (we don't know so much).

Mars stays probably pure SciFi, as @sundogplanets recently recommended good books.

@mountdiscovery

@NatureMC @mina @sundogplanets @mountdiscovery

There's a lot we don't know about the moon and it's a good place for further observation and research of the universe, so going back makes some sense.

But Mars is still far far away...

@NatureMC

I didn't say, there wasn't a roadmap, I spoke of a "sensible roadmap".

However: I'd be happy to see the next steps, if they happen, though I'm afraid it's going to peter out over time.

Actually: A successor to the ISS would make sense, if we weren't in a situation always closer to a Kessler event.

@sundogplanets @mountdiscovery

Have you always be fascinated by space and its exploration?

Do you find stories about the Apollo program deeply inspiring?

Then you and me are on the same page.

So: Do also you find the knowledge that in the next few months there will be a crewed moon flyby just not interesting or inspiring at all?

I sincerely don't see what this is for, aside from filling the contractors' companies' pockets at the expense of actual research.

Is it my age or is this just pointless?

#Space #Moon #Artemis

@echopapa

Wouldn't it make more sense to send just probes, for a fraction of the cost?

@NatureMC @sundogplanets @mountdiscovery

@NatureMC

There is a huge difference between companies making money on a program and a program that is essentially made to funnel money into billionaire's pockets and certain congressional districts, whilst NASA's real science programs get defunded left and right.

I make a prophecy now: In our lifetime, there will be no permanent settlement on the moon and no human will set their foot on Mars, unless there is some game changing technology breakthrough which will *not* come from this program.

@NatureMC

There is a huge difference between companies making money on a program and a program that is essentially made to funnel money into billionaire's pockets and certain congressional districts, whilst NASA's real science programs get defunded left and right.

I make a prophecy now: In our lifetime, there will be no permanent settlement on the moon and no human will set their foot on Mars, unless there is some game changing technology breakthrough which will *not* come from this program.

@NatureMC @mina @sundogplanets @mountdiscovery

There's a lot we don't know about the moon and it's a good place for further observation and research of the universe, so going back makes some sense.

But Mars is still far far away...

Have you always be fascinated by space and its exploration?

Do you find stories about the Apollo program deeply inspiring?

Then you and me are on the same page.

So: Do also you find the knowledge that in the next few months there will be a crewed moon flyby just not interesting or inspiring at all?

I sincerely don't see what this is for, aside from filling the contractors' companies' pockets at the expense of actual research.

Is it my age or is this just pointless?

#Space #Moon #Artemis

@echopapa Yes, the aspect of watching the universe from the moon is an important one! Perhaps @knud can tell more about that?

@mina @mountdiscovery

Have you always be fascinated by space and its exploration?

Do you find stories about the Apollo program deeply inspiring?

Then you and me are on the same page.

So: Do also you find the knowledge that in the next few months there will be a crewed moon flyby just not interesting or inspiring at all?

I sincerely don't see what this is for, aside from filling the contractors' companies' pockets at the expense of actual research.

Is it my age or is this just pointless?

#Space #Moon #Artemis

@mina the flyby is a test flight for the rocket systems. Btw they did the same thing with the Apollo rocket.

The rocket is a NASA one which is owned by the US government.

@mina @NatureMC @sundogplanets @mountdiscovery

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress...

look at the number of failed moon missions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missions_to_the_Moon

@mina May I give you the facts about the NASA budgets: https://ourplnt.com/budget-of-nasa-year-by-year/ (1958-2024). And please don't forget the budgets of ESA and CSA.

Economically, the earnings are mostly indirectly: with the first moon landing it was the "birth" of the modern computer industry and the hegemony of the US in these areas. We feel the consequences today in our dependence!
ESA + CSA are connected to this program also for more independance, even if this might sound contradictory.