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"NASA has largely been living off the successes of space projects launched up to a decade ago — including the now 'dead' Mars Opportunity rover. It hopes to launch its first manned space flight since the demise of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.
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But now the Trump administration appears to be determined to get a new Moon project off the ground. And it's eager to pay private companies to carry its cargoes.
NASA has been considering the prospect of a 'Lunar Gateway' space station placed in orbit around the Moon, acting as a stopover point for missions to the surface and, perhaps, Mars.
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NASA documents indicate the earliest date for an American to tread the lunar surface again is 2028." foxnews.com/science/nasas-new-grand-space-race-plan
Hopefully we can speed that one up.
(Score: 2) by Username on Thursday February 21 2019, @11:36PM (2 children)
Seems the only goal of most human space travel is prestige, so once you've done it, there is no point in doing it again. There should be a real goal behind it. Like mining or manufacturing.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by martyb on Friday February 22 2019, @02:23AM (1 child)
Or... retiring. Not because of the scenery or the like, but for the lower gravity. Even if the accommodations were no better than that in a cheap hotel, getting weight off one's tired and aching ankles, knees, hips, and/or spine would be a reasonable trade-off for some well-healed retirees. Heavy pain meds only go so far. Removing the burden on worn joints and being relatively pain free? For some, that would be priceless, and there are some who have the money to pay for it. I give it about 10-15 years or so for that to be a genuine possibility. Even if just for a few months' respite... there's money to be made!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 22 2019, @03:50AM
Zero gee isn't going to be good for retirees, too many health problems and new reflexes to learn. So are you expecting lunar or O'Neill?
My guess would be O'Neill for the short term respite visits, could be either for the permanent. Either way they are going to be luxurious habitats for the super-rich to start with. (I would also expect lunar/asteroid mining and a massive SPS program before we get to retirement homes. China has already announced a 1MW pilot SPS and large comfortable habitats are going to require a lot of resources.)