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martin weiss wrote:

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


1/6th gravity allows for larger payloads launched from the moon,
but....most of the payload would originate from the earth.  It has
already been stated that escaping the earth's gravity is the most
expensive aspect of this sort of mission. So something doesn't seem to
jive:  We are going to first pay to get the payload off earth, then land
it safely on the moon.  Both are challenging and expensive.  Then we are
going to launch the same payload from the moon, which will be less
costly, but more challenging given the lack of infrastructure on the moon.

Everything I've heard, and taught about the ISS pointed to
multinationalism as the driving lesson behind it.  A mission to Mars was
to be done in the same manner.  But we've seen how well GWB cooperates
and collaborates with the rest of the world.  It shouldn't be a suprise
that we would close shoppe on the ISS and go it alone to Mars.

Ben Randell
Science City Educator
Science City @ Union Station


"So What's Happening at Union Station?"
-Visit www.unionstation.org
and find out for yourself

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