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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 Ziff
  Exhibit Developer

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

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