Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

NASA to return to the Moon

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 6
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 template Next
  • #46
    Originally posted by reds4ever
    The cost of the fuel is irrevent (to this argument), the cost of launching the fuel is the expense.
    Do the math. NASA is figuring to spend $10 billion or whatever for a heavy launcher to get to the moon, but the overall program will cost $110 billion. IOW, for NASA, launch for this program is not the big expense.

    Now, I agree that the private sector could do everything for about 1/10th this cost. This might change some of the considerations.
    I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

    Comment

    • #47
      Originally posted by shawnmmcc
      Spend the money on a Space Elevator, it is becoming technically feasable. It is just outside our capability and we now could theoretically do it. Cutting the cost of Orbital Improvement by half.
      It'll also allow us to paradrop units with drop pods anywhere in the world.
      B♭3

      Comment

      • #48
        Assuming we are stuck with chemical rockets in one form or another for near-mid term. The manufacture of fuel away from the Earth should be looked at for a long term goal. That way a manned mission to Mars requires enough thrust to get the crew and life support etc to the Moon (with minimal fuel weight), pick up the fuel and off they go. Less fuel/ smaller rockets size etc. Easy!

        Comment

        • #49
          Originally posted by DanS
          Proteus: You're forgetting that it takes extra energy to land on the moon and then you're in a gravity well. Mars has an atmosphere, which gives you a landing for free. There is no reason to involve the moon in any aspect of this, when you have orbital points that could serve more easily.
          Of course,
          Luna has a gravitation, even if it´s much lower than on earth (which would mean that maybe you should park/build the Spaceships in Orbit around Luna).
          The benefit of starting a spaceship from Luna would be, that perhaps you could process some things required (fuel components, oxygen) on Luna (which could mean that the moon could be used as refueling station )
          Tamsin (Lost Girl): "I am the Harbinger of Death. I arrive on winds of blessed air. Air that you no longer deserve."
          Tamsin (Lost Girl): "He has fallen in battle and I must take him to the Einherjar in Valhalla"

          Comment

          • #50
            Originally posted by DanS


            Do the math. NASA is figuring to spend $10 billion or whatever for a heavy launcher to get to the moon, but the overall program will cost $110 billion. IOW, for NASA, launch for this program is not the big expense.

            Now, I agree that the private sector could do everything for about 1/10th this cost. This might change some of the considerations.
            I don't have the breakdown of figures, care to share?

            Comment

            • #51
              I'm in agreement with those expressing doubt as to the usefulness of the Moon as a 'staging area'. Physics alone make such an endeavour impractical.

              Comment

              • #52
                The benefit of starting a spaceship from Luna would be, that perhaps you could process some things required (fuel components, oxygen) on Luna (which could mean that the moon could be used as refueling station )
                What would the benefit be of that? It takes a lot more energy to get from the Moon to Mars than from Earth Orbit to Mars.
                I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

                Comment

                • #53
                  Here's a very good delta-v diagram showing how much it costs in energy to get from one place to the next (Earth, Moon, Mars).

                  Page Not Found The Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
                  http://www.pma.caltech.edu/~chirata/deltav.html
                  I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

                  Comment

                  • #54
                    Originally posted by DanS
                    Here's a very good delta-v diagram showing how much it costs in energy to get from one place to the next (Earth, Moon, Mars).

                    http://www.pma.caltech.edu/~chirata/deltav.html
                    No chance. I finished work earlier

                    Comment

                    • #55
                      Originally posted by reds4ever
                      I don't have the breakdown of figures, care to share?
                      I'm afraid I thought I did, but I don't.
                      I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

                      Comment

                      • #56
                        Originally posted by DanS


                        I'm afraid I thought I did, but I don't.
                        I've been trying to dig them up, and going off at very intesting tangets whilst failing to find them.

                        Comment

                        • #57
                          I wouldn't be surprised to find that much of the cost in that $110 billion was for NASA to keep the rocket team together, even if they don't need it at the time. I haven't decided what to make of that. This money is more of an organizational requirement fairly unique to NASA and the way it has chosen to complete the mission than anything inherently to do with rocketry.
                          I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

                          Comment

                          • #58
                            Lets be real. It will cost over $200 billion by the time US lands on the moon.

                            I wonder how much of this would be going foward if China had not launched a man into orbit and called for plans to land something on the moon??

                            But, anyway, if you're going to invest $$ for a mars trip I think the moon is a good stop for pratice. it's a long way home from mars... better to work the bugs out only 250,000 miles away.

                            Comment

                            • #59
                              Yeah, I suppose hire 'n' fire wouldn't work at NASA!

                              Comment

                              • #60
                                To be clear, they hired well before this program got going. There is no physics that dictates they use an already existing incredibly bloated engineering jobs program in order to do their next rocket.
                                I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

                                Comment

                                Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 template Next
                                Working...
                                X