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[–]SoylentCapitalist 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Isn't it strange for them to head for mars, but not even send a manned mission to the moon or set up a lunar base? Plus, nothing has really been gained on that front. A lot has been gained on the military reconnaissance front.

This is the only point I disagree with but since people have already landed on the Moon, it would be more prestigious to have the first person to land on Mars. This is why it isn't that strange, and going to the Moon is so expensive, just to do what has already been done. Although I do think it would be amazing to set up lunar bases maybe we just can't do that yet.

[–]casparvoneverecBig tiddy respecter 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

No one has gone to the moon since 1969. Even assuming the official story is true(which I don't believe), it would mean no one has gone to the moon in 51 years. Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to revisit the moon with more advanced scanning technology? Science has advanced greatly in the last 50 years. Surely, the data gathered would give great insights into prospects for a lunar base, space mining and astrobiology?

Its certainly more feasible than sending a manned mission to Mars which is vastly more distant.

[–]SoylentCapitalist 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Science has advanced greatly in the last 50 years. Surely, the data gathered would give great insights into prospects for a lunar base, space mining and astrobiology?

If we have the technology to make space mining profitable, it would no doubt be a better option to go to the Moon. It just isn't worth it from what I've read due to the high costs of shipping anything to and from Earth.

[–]casparvoneverecBig tiddy respecter 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Well you're right and wrong. The costs of shipping would be great but the rewards are enormous. A single asteriod of 1 mile diameter has more iron ore than what was mined in the entirety of earth in 2005. Space mining will have to be developed eventually to sustain industrial civilization due to the coming shortage of rare earth metals. It won't be long before the planet runs out of it as population keeps growing and standards of living sharply spike across the globe.