http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 9:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
There's plenty of food for everyone. There's plenty of cultivatable land to grow even more food for everybody. Its the leadership of certain poor nations that is to blame.]]>Mar 1st 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
Any colony requires enormous quantities of external resources to survive. Even the Earth itself gets external energy from the sun to keep going. Shut down the sun or block its radiant energy and you shut down all life on the planet.]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
People starve in 1st world nations. The emergency national food supply for the US itself will only feed its population for about 1 day. 50 years ago it was good for more than a month. Poor nations are not the only ones with problems.]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
Nothing, not even science will save humanity from itself. Our future is not in life but in death, and we cannot hide from death. ]]>Mar 1st 2009 5:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
Its the leadership of certain poor nations that is to blame and also the leadership of certain wealthy nations...]]>Mar 1st 2009 7:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/


Can i cash in now?

See you on the robot reservation!]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
So this is how it begins... ]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 5:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 9:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
no?]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 8:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
Hehe, those are probably Wall-E's ancestors.

First shoveling dirt for humans now, then packing our trash in the future.

I love technology!]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 9:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/catch phrase... "our girls are out of this world!"

hmm..sorry...]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
EARTH ]]>Mar 1st 2009 7:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
....so what happens when more stuff comes to replace the plowed and built-over craters? There isn't an atmosphere for meteorites and the like to burn up in. I don't think this was thoroughly thought out...]]>Mar 1st 2009 4:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
This seems like a sensible idea - now whether there's actually any point in a manned moon base is a much more controversial question... (my opinion: no.)]]>Mar 1st 2009 1:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
They need to be working on impulse drives (ie: 50th generation ion drives)]]>Mar 1st 2009 6:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 6:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 6:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 8:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 7:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
End spam-in-a-can spaceflight until we find serious evidence of life somewhere. Then, if it's on Mars, send humans. Until then, send the far less expensive probes whose developement result in the perfection of highly useful technologies for use here on Earth like robotics and artificial intelligence.

]]>Mar 1st 2009 10:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
Yes, other things are marginally important, but think of it in terms of the big picture. Try explaining to the taxpayers why you're tossing millions into propulsion when there's no destination to propel to. Try explaining to the taxpayers why you're working on anything else, when we have no general location to get to. With this base, NASA now has an "excuse" to double-back and work on the propulsion, to work on the AI, to work on closed habitat atmospheric production and maintenance, to work on a more robust information infrastructure, to work on a way to minimize delay in communications between the Earth and the Moon. With an outpost on the moon, not only do we have that "excuse," but we also gain the ability to test some of the things we can't here (minimizing communications delays, etc.), and the ability to take theoretically tested devices and put them to a practical, long-term test in a real environment. Without that destination, however, there's no drive, there's no goal. The point now is, we're creating our goal, we're building that drive. Now we just need to keep moving in the right direction and get it done.

And before the argument comes up, "Well, we should fix things at home with tax money before going to space." You're right. We should eliminate this abomination of a government as it stands and bring everything back to the Constitution, and make people accountable for their actions instead of playing the "blame game" and expecting the government to bail everyone out. But that doesn't mean NASA's budget has to be cut to do what I just explained.

@ webmotiva: Oh, and as for dumping money into the education system here in the good ol' US of A, no. The problem isn't lack of funding, although they would like you to believe so. The problem is corruption inherant in the system. You have administrators that are making upper-six-figure salaries a year, while teachers themselves are lucky to be at the poverty line. You have a bunch of controlled textbooks that simply teach propeganda and half-truths. You have a bunch of kids who aren't being parented by their parents because the teachers expect to take the parents' places. You have a bunch of kids who aren't doing the homework, aren't doing what's necessary to get by not because of the lack of funding in the education system, but rather because their baby-boomer generation parents, most of whom indulged heavily in some form of drugs or another during the time of "free love", can't grow up and actually be parents. The problem lies embedded in society as a whole, and with each generation, society is degenerating further and further, with no hope in sight. Our current president intends to "raise high school graduation rates." Last time we tried that, a passing grade for public schools in NY dropped from 70 to 65 to help people pass. Things like "no child left behind," etc. are a bane to human existence. 65% as passing is already PATHETIC. It's like saying, "Okay, you're smarter than a rock, but not quite as smart as the moss that's growing on it. Here's a diploma, get out." If we push to "raise graduation rates" again, and subsequently lower standards to do so, a graduation would be equivalent to saying "Okay, you're dumber than a freaking rock. Get out and go be useless to society. Here's your sign...err...diploma."]]>Mar 1st 2009 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 11:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
BOT the builder
can we fix it?
BOT the builder
yes we can!

]]>Mar 1st 2009 3:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 5:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 8:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 1st 2009 7:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 2nd 2009 3:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
Exploration and Progress will CONTINUE. Long Live the Humanity!
]]>Mar 2nd 2009 4:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/
The moon gets more sunlight than we do, due to lack of atmosphere. That means more energy for a self-contained ecosystem. Granted, you'll have to recreate many aspects of the ecosystem that we already have here, like regenerating atmosphere and water systems. But it will be a great experience for creating space systems before actually heading to deep space.

Buildings will be easier to make larger, because they won't need as much structural reinforcement for weight. Large buildings can be used for factories, office complexes, or indoor resorts like casinos or indoor amusement parks.

Once earth-moon bulk transportation costs have reduced (as will come with increased use), moon-based manufacturing can come into play. Factory equipment can make do with much lighter-weight transportation equipment, conveyors, motors, cranes, etc. Facilities can already be mostly automated (think Jetsons), without unions mandating over-staffing, meaning most areas won't need to have a livable environment. Cooling will be much less of a problem; there's less need for water if there's no need for water cooling. And all the equipment can be solar-powered, giving almost a free-energy environment. These will make heavy manufacturing on the moon cost less than here, in time.

Like anything else, as use goes up, costs come down, both due to economy of scale and improved methods. And as costs come down, use goes up, creating a cycle of improvement. It may not be long until day trips to the moon may be practical.

We've had the ability to go to the moon for forty years. It's about time we made use of it.]]>Mar 2nd 2009 11:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/01/nasa-ruminating-a-robot-built-lunar-outpost-to-make-way-for-mann/Mar 2nd 2009 11:50AM