The U.S. and Russia will work together to develop a space station orbiting the Moon. Canada, Japan, and the ESA have also expressed interest in the project:
At this year's International Astronautical Congress, NASA and Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, signed a joint statement expressing their intent to work collaboratively toward the development of a space station further out from Earth, orbiting the Moon, as a staging point for both lunar surface exploration and deeper space science.
This is part of NASA's expressed desire to explore and develop its so-called "deep space gateway" concept, which it intends to be a strategic base from which to expand the range and capabilities of human space exploration. NASA wants to get humans out into space beyond the Moon, in other words, and the gateway concept would establish an orbital space station in the vicinity of the Moon to help make this a more practical possibility.
Let's hope that the station, if built, becomes a refueling station that can store and distribute fuel produced on the Moon.
Deep Space Gateway. Also at The Guardian.
Previously: NASA Eyeing Mini Space Station in Lunar Orbit as Stepping Stone to Mars
Related: Moon Base Could Cost Just $10 Billion Due to New Technologies
ESA Expert Envisions "Moon Village" by 2030-2050
Scientists Scout Sub-Surface Settlement Sites on the Moon and Mars
(Score: 3, Insightful) by c0lo on Sunday October 01 2017, @11:07AM (5 children)
Just don't kill Bruce Willis a second time in a thermonuclear explosion, once was enough; he's old enough now, he may not recover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 01 2017, @11:31AM (1 child)
What? Moon Nazis? I think I have seen this very bad movie once before. . .
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday October 01 2017, @11:40AM
Nah, mate, the documentary with Moon Nazis very likely starred Harrison Ford.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 4, Funny) by Thexalon on Sunday October 01 2017, @11:54AM (2 children)
Actually, what seems relevant is this:
"Russian components, American components ... ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!"
"Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday October 01 2017, @12:05PM (1 child)
I was tempted, but... it's no longer. true.
They moved everything in Shenzhen [theguardian.com]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by requerdanos on Sunday October 01 2017, @06:04PM
I feel confident, however, that both NASA and Roscosmos personnel will be able to restore some malfunctioning components to proper functionality by solidly whacking them. This does not, as has been alleged, simply make the whackor feel better. Rather, it resets electrical and physical junctions between parts in a way that can restore lost functionality. AND makes the whackor feel better.
(Related Youtube video, This Is How We Fix Problems On Russian Space Station [youtube.com].)