I'm genuinely surprised that NASA hasn't been publicising these ideas more openly; they genuinely could open the Moon and near-lunar space up to quite intense human activity, even if only to support a surface or EML scientific facility. Is this another "let's slip this under the radar" like the EML-2 gateway station or is it more the work of a peripheral team who don't really have the support (or budget) to be shouting stuff from the rooftops?
Super article Chris. I can't wait to see more details.(of course having L2 will give me the heads up again...hehehe)
Perhaps they fear that if this idea gains credence, some money could be saved by scrapping SLS?
Quote from: alexterrell on 11/15/2012 11:02 amPerhaps they fear that if this idea gains credence, some money could be saved by scrapping SLS? But according to the internet, NASA did not want SLS and it was forced upon them by a pork-hungry congress. Just confused at which way the winds are blowing today to justify an argument.
Quote from: Go4TLI on 11/15/2012 04:27 pmQuote from: alexterrell on 11/15/2012 11:02 amPerhaps they fear that if this idea gains credence, some money could be saved by scrapping SLS? But according to the internet, NASA did not want SLS and it was forced upon them by a pork-hungry congress. Just confused at which way the winds are blowing today to justify an argument. Heh, according to the internet. I'm going to have to use that! Couple of things for the thread.1) This isn't about SLS cancellation, I simply included SLS in the article to reference the NASA plans.2) Let's get off that "money saving" thing when something is proposed to be cancelled. I'd guess it would waste billions and cost billions to cancel SLS (money spent, contract obligations etc.).Anyhoo, we've been over that endlessly, so maybe we can be constructive on this thread, as there's lots to discuss.
Details on who the “high profile individuals from the aerospace industry” are and how much “big money” is available are thus far lacking. But if a commercial effort to return to the moon is real, it could change the face of space exploration in ways that are beyond calculation. If the effort were to succeed, it would constitute a black eye for both NASA and the Chinese. A 2020 landing date, just past the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, would beat any contemplated government sponsored moon mission. President Obama, who publically ridiculed the idea of a return to the moon as having been there and done that, might have some explaining to do.