Sammi14h ago

I feel I need to say something about Artemis as a former NASA employee, Space scientist and engineer.

I hope more than anything that the astronauts get back safely. But let us not be fooled by what this is.

Is it spectacular, yes. Is it a feat of engineering, yes. Does it make any advance in science, no. Does it help mankind explore the universe, dubious at best.

Why exactly are we sending humans to the moon? With our technology we will never send humans much further than Mars. The only way humans can possibly go further is through a scientific breakthrough. Good luck with that when Trump is gutting science.

Human exploration needs money spent on long-term advances - not using the same technology to do what we did before, however, glamorous it is.

So why do this and why do it now? Political theatre, a win for a Trump led NASA if it succeeds.

So I hope all works well and all return safely. But let us be clear what this is and why it is being done.

This is my opinion, I do not represent anyone.

Show threaddick_turpin  12h ago

@SamanthaJaneSmith This has nothing to do with "Getting to Mars" or expanding space travel, and everything to do with land grab.

They're going to the side of the moon that cannot be seen from Earth, perfect for ensuring nobody can physically see what you are up to. NASA has already said it intends to build a base on the moon, and let's not forget why NASA was created. It was created in response to the Russians and Sputnik. Now, America is in a new race with China just about everywhere.

Show threadSammi12h ago

@dick_turpin I didn't even get into the rationale behind manned space as a whole. Too long a post.

But we know the US military wants to know about dominating space.

Show threaddick_turpin  

@SamanthaJaneSmith I suspect you know more than me but I beleive the moon is a dead planet. All this talk of ice and minerals is a load of old rubbish, but the Russians have proved humans can survive in space for a long time with Mir, so building a structure on the moon is probably trivial by comparison.

Imagine the horror that would sweep through America if NBC broadcast images of the Chinese flag on the moon?
🇨🇳

10:42amWeb