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NASA to get man on the moon, soon
WASHINGTON: US President George W
Bush's fiscal 2006 budget has earmarked funds for developing a new space
vehicle to transport humans to the moon.
 National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) must develop technologies and perform
research that will sustain human and advanced robotic explorers far from
earth, said the budget papers.
Among the key systems NASA must acquire a vehicle that will transport crews
in a safe and reliable manner.
The agency has identified the requirements for a Crew Exploration Vehicle to
carry astronauts to the Moon. NASA plans to perform flight tests in 2008 and
the first manned flight in 2014.
From left to right: Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong,
and that other guy nobody can remember.
The President's Budget also provided NASA with resources to continue to
operate space telescopes such as Hubble, Chandra and Spitzer while planning
for the next generation spacecraft. NASA plans to return humans to the moon
by 2020 to learn how to live over long periods of time, it said.
Meanwhile, NASA will continue to work with other government agencies to
develop nuclear technologies to provide energy sources for extended human
stays on the Moon and Mars.
Equally important to NASA's technology efforts, said the budget papers,
"is improving understanding of how long-duration space flight may affect
human health and physiology. NASA will engage in research on the
International Space Station and on earth to learn about and develop ways to
improve human tolerance of the space environment."
Bush's budget allocated more funds for science and technology and doubles the
Millennium Challenge account for aid to poor countries under strict
supervision from USD 1.5 billion to USD three billion, the papers said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1014595.cms
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My thoughts here…Ok. I can understand
where this is going. Of course…we want to build settlements on the moon.
Sure, why not? Ever since the 50s, we’ve been told bedtime stories of men on
the moon (Fig 1.1) back when we
used to think that the moon had a face like that fat guy off of the “Honeymooners.”
Ah, yes, nostalgia…Our incessant want to explore, conquer, and kill—It’s the
American way. We conquered the new world; we’ve tamed the west; we annexed
parts of Mexico,
and now we are setting our sights on the moon. The only down-side that I can
see to any of this would be the fact that WE DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY! (Fig 1.2) What’s the size of our deficit now? We pay taxes for
programs like NASA, and what do we get to show for it: a few pharmaceutical
drugs that serve no real purpose, science studies to see if potatoes—supplied
by 3rd graders—can grow in outer space, and plenty of moon rocks
to supply your local Space and Rocket
Center. Well, I suppose I should
be happy about this. I mean, at least now I get to use all those real estate
deeds for acres on the moon I bought for about a dollar each from that
internet site. How many would that be...hmm…1, 2, 3…that would mean I would
own half of the moon…? Well, never mind. Why am I complaining? I can make a
huge profit off of this. I can make enough money to probably buy half of the
earth, maybe that space laser I’ve always wanted but never could afford, or
that moon base I’ve always dreamt about. Hmmm… (Fig 1.3) However, I would still have to wait about twenty years
just for the colonies to begin establishing themselves. Until then, I guess
I’ll just go into moon real estate, and I would advise everyone to buy into
moon real estate now! Hurry up! Time may soon be running up.
If you would like to buy into Moon real estate, respond
to this blog and be sure to include in your email
your name, credit card number, and address.
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Figure 1.1
Figure 1.2
Figure 1.3
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