Why haven't we gone back to the moon?

Just wondering. Why haven't we ever gone back to the moon? I would think that in the decades since we were last there, we would have a whole aresonal of new tools and equipment to run all sorts of experiments. Also, we helped build that international space station up there, wouldn't it have made sense to construct a semi-permanent facility on the moon? I guess a little dangerous because with virtually no atmosphere, a meteor strike could be fatal. Still, I"m surprised we never went back.

Of course, with our government pretty much discontinuing our manned space program, I guess we won't be back for a LONG time (unless we hitch a ride with Russia or China).

There isn't really anything there is the reason I imagine.

That money needs to be spent on the starvin' children.

But no, I really have no idea. I imagine there will be a bunch of "What's the point?" responses in this thread, and if that's the case, that might be your answer right there: Lack of public interest.

The moon greatly decreased in popularity when we found out it wasn't made of cheese.

They found out there's actually no man living on the moon.

The moon greatly decreased in popularity when we found out it wasn't made of cheese.

ImaPirate0202

whaaaaa? LIES!

That money needs to be spent on the starvin' children.

But no, I really have no idea. I imagine there will be a bunch of "What's the point?" responses in this thread, and if that's the case, that might be your answer right there: Lack of public interest.

Palantas

It sounds to me like you said that somewhat sarcastically, but isn't that actually a decent reason? With how much the US is in debt, spending has to be cut somewhere...and while space travel is pretty cool it's not as big an issue for the country right now as a lot of other things are.

Why waste so much money and time to go back when there is nothing on the moon?Mehdi-Y

Since other countries now send people into space, don't we as a nation HAVE TO send our guys up there? Just from a national defense point of view. Whoever controls the skies......

Since other countries now send people into space, don't we as a nation HAVE TO send our guys up there? Just from a national defense point of view. Whoever controls the skies......

YellowOneKinobi

[QUOTE="I"]

That money needs to be spent on the starvin' children.

JML897

It sounds to me like you said that somewhat sarcastically, but isn't that actually a decent reason? With how much the US is in debt, spending has to be cut somewhere...and while space travel is pretty cool it's not as big an issue for the country right now as a lot of other things are.

I'm making light a couple things here.

1. Anytime there's an endevorthat will potentially benefit humanity in a very long-term sort of way, people come up with a host of short term social programs that need the money.
2. (My favorite social program here) is more important than (your favorite social program here)! Point 1 above there can be used to argue against anything. Oh, someone wants more money for education? What about the starvin' children? Oh, we need healthcare? What about the starvin' children?

I don't get why more progressives aren't behind the space program. Maybe because NASA looks like the military? Who knows. I think it's good not to have all our eggs in one basket.

[QUOTE="JML897"]

[QUOTE="I"]

That money needs to be spent on the starvin' children.

It sounds to me like you said that somewhat sarcastically, but isn't that actually a decent reason? With how much the US is in debt, spending has to be cut somewhere...and while space travel is pretty cool it's not as big an issue for the country right now as a lot of other things are.

I'm making light a couple things here.

1. Anytime there's an endevorthat will potentially benefit humanity in a very long-term sort of way, people come up with a host of short term social programs that need the money.
2. (My favorite social program here) is more important than (your favorite social program here)! Point 1 above there can be used to argue against anything. Oh, someone wants more money for education? What about the starvin' children? Oh, we need healthcare? What about the starvin' children?

I don't get why more progressives aren't behind the space program. Maybe because NASA looks like the military? Who knows. I think it's good not to have all our eggs in one basket.

Since other countries now send people into space, don't we as a nation HAVE TO send our guys up there? Just from a national defense point of view. Whoever controls the skies......

I'm progressive as they come, but NASA is a big waste. We don't need to send people to the moon anymore, plain and simple. Space Station? Big waste. Deep space exploration, satelites, etc are all great, I love learning about space, but we don't need to send people anymore. We certainly don't need to be launching billion dollar rockets every 3 months either.BrianB0422

You're saying that what NASA is doing to understand the cosmos is not what they should be doing. What do you base that on?

EDIT: Also, no one on OT is more progressive than Palantas.

[QUOTE="YellowOneKinobi"]

Since other countries now send people into space, don't we as a nation HAVE TO send our guys up there? Just from a national defense point of view. Whoever controls the skies......

BrianB0422

Troll? :?

gone back? you never went to moon in the first place :P

[QUOTE="BrianB0422"]I'm progressive as they come, but NASA is a big waste. We don't need to send people to the moon anymore, plain and simple. Space Station? Big waste. Deep space exploration, satelites, etc are all great, I love learning about space, but we don't need to send people anymore. We certainly don't need to be launching billion dollar rockets every 3 months either.Palantas

You're saying that what NASA is doing to understand the cosmos is not what they should be doing. What do you base that on?

EDIT: Also, no one on OT is more progressive than Palantas.

because we didnt go in the first place...o_0

Since other countries now send people into space, don't we as a nation HAVE TO send our guys up there? Just from a national defense point of view. Whoever controls the skies......

YellowOneKinobi

I'm saying that they can do what they are doing, and more, to understand space, but they don't need to be sending manned missions anymore. We already have hundreds of satelites / rockets up there beaming back information from all over. We don't need to be flying in to space just to fly in to space. If they cut the shuttle missions and space station aid, they would have MUCH more money to devote to improving technologies and capabilities of unmanned crafts.BrianB0422

I understand your opinion. I'm asking you what you base it on. Every program at NASA has a goal (or a number of goals). I'm asking: How can NASA's current goals be better met by unmanned missions, and if that is impossible, how and why should its goals be changed. If you weren't thinking along those lines, then what what's your case?

Since other countries now send people into space, don't we as a nation HAVE TO send our guys up there? Just from a national defense point of view. Whoever controls the skies......

Probably financial more than anything else. I'd love to see a permanent "moon base" in my life time, just because it seems/seemed so far fetched and futuristic. Would be good for setting up telescopes n what not on the dark side.

"Why haven't we gone back to the moon?"

Because we can't - and apparently, neither can anyone else.

Make of that what you will.

I find it really hard to believe that the USA could get there 40 years ago and yet no other country has been there to this day.

I find it really hard to believe that the USA could get there 40 years ago and yet no other country has been there to this day.

Davulao

Do you want to foot the bill?

cause the theme park isn't ready yet :|

Do you seriously think they'll tell the masses that they've been back to the moon repeatablyfor some secretive missions? They been there we just don't know about it. Or ... maybe they don't want to reactivate the Transformer there with their repeat visits. :)

Do you seriously think they'll tell the masses that they've been back to the moon repeatablyfor some secretive missions? They been there we just don't know about it. Or ... maybe they don't want to reactivate the Transformer there with their repeat visits. :)

XCyberForceX

Because we're too busy bankrupting ourselves with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and now Obamacare.

Because we're too busy bankrupting ourselves with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and now Obamacare.

Tangmashi

NASA already has all the moon samples they need probably , i just wish i could see man going to Mars , and i want voyager 1 to leave the solar system , i wonder what will happen then , when it exits the bubble thinghy . http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/ I love scientists , too bad i wasn't interested in school when i was little , it's too late for me now :/TaoJeetKuneDo

It's incredibly expensive to go there, and I don't think there is anything of much value on it. At least nothing that could be practically utilized.

Yeah it's kinda sad. I suppose there just isn't enough to justify going back. Even the International Space Station will be deorbited in 2016 apparently.Danm_999

It's too much money to go there plus theres nothing there.