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I have been following this string for a couple of days now and am fascinated
by discussion.  As an observer from Canada it is interesting to see.  The
Canadian Space Agency operates on a fraction of the budget that NASA does
but it too has grad ideas of sending a person to Mars.  We know we can not
do it alone and what it really shows is that this mission will have to be
one of all nations on Earth.  We know that it will be expensive and will
have to be accomplished with technology not yet invented. Just like heavier
than air flight was thought to be impossible, and the need for more than 64k
in a computer was not necessary we dream and continue to expand our
horizons. If we resolve that Mars is the place where we want to go then we
will get there.  All I can say is good luck and I hope to live long enough
to see a human visit Mars.


Max Scharfenberger
VP Programs
Odyssium
11211 142 Street
Edmonton, AB  T5M 4A1
phone: 780-452-9100
fax: 780-455-5882
[log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Kay Ziff [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 11:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Space Pork


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

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 Ziff
  Exhibit Developer

  Bay Area Discovery Museum
  557 McReynolds Road
  Sausalito, Ca 94965
  Phone:  415/339-3922

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