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>
>I'm still confused by how going to the moon will help us go to Mars.
>
>As Jonah pointed out:
>>No offense, but this still seems a little science fiction-like to me. How
>>much of that ore is economically recoverable? Even if there's lots of
>>iron and titanium on the lunar surface, where's the infrastructure to
>>mine it? And refine it into useable material? And craft said material
>>into equipment? And....
>
>The launch is only cheaper for materials actually mined from the Moon--and
>then only after making up the deficit of sending equipment, personnel, and
>life support systems from Earth. I have trouble seeing how the balance
>sheet can come out in our favor. Would we really be able to use enough Moon
>material to be worth it?
>
>I love the idea of going back to the Moon and having humans live and work
>there, but this seems like a squirrelly way to do it. Can anyone explain
>what I'm missing?

Kay;

Perhaps the 1/6 th gravity would allow larger payloads? It is a proof
of engineering/technology?

Martin

>
>   Kay Ziff
>   Exhibit Developer
>
>   Bay Area Discovery Museum
>   557 McReynolds Road
>   Sausalito, Ca 94965
>   Phone:  415/339-3922
>
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--
Martin Weiss, PhD
Director of Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Flushing Meadows, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356

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