English
...ave more important domestic issues to deal with. The best response to these objections is to look at all the benefits that will be gained by exploration of the moon. Many scientific benefits can come from moon exploration. One major benefit would be the ability to place a telescope on the far side of the moon to get one of the clearest pictures of the universe ever seen. This telescope could be much larger than the Earth-orbiting Hubble telescope that has given scientists and astronomers splendid pictures of far away galaxies. It would be shielded from solar and earth radiation (Silver, 2004; Britt, 2003). With little atmosphere on the moon, less light would be scattered given a clearer picture of the deep universe than a telescope from Earth. This would allow scientists to see deep in to space to learn more about the formation of the universe as well as search for other life forms (Britt, 2003). Another major scientific advancement that can come from exploration of the moon is the ability to study geological evidence about the Earth’s past. Scientists want to look at rocks on the moon that were blasted from Earth by meteors during the formation of the Solar System. These rocks, unlike those on Earth, have been changed very little because of the lack of an atmosphere and the lack of geological change. Also, scientists want to study the impacts caused by meteors on the moon. This could help them better understand such things as whether or not the extinction of dinosaurs was caused by a meteorite. This geological study would help scientists understand how the Earth was formed and how it has evolved over time (Britt, 2003; Silver, 2004). Also, exploration of the moon could help scientists gain a better understanding of solar energy. This could help scientists better understand how to create and use this unlimited and free supply of energy. While this could not be achieved in one day or even one decade, enough solar energy could be produced to provide power to the entire world’s population (Britt 2003). Using the silicon oxygen and metals found in rocks and the soil on the moon’s service, solar energy plants could be created at a very low cost. Microwave transmitters could be used to transmit the energy back to antennas here on the Earth’s surface (moonbeams, 2000). This would help support humans on the Earth for many generations to come. As the President’s space initiative calls for, the moon could be a “stepping-stone” for missions on to Mars. Missions to the moon could provide time for scientists and engineers to test the effects of long-term space travel on astronauts as well as living environments, space ships, and space suits (Britt, 2003). Also, it is believed that the soil on the moon contains many resources that could be used for such things as rocket fuel. If this is the case, space ships could be launched from the moon’s surface easily and would not have to overcome the Earth’s high gravitational pull. This would decrease the amount of fuel needed to launch the large amount of resources needed for a long term flight to Mars (Q&A, 2004). Overall, this would make a mission to Mars easier than going directly to the “red planet.” While providing much scientific and technological advancement, this endeavor will provide social and economic benefits at the same time. On the economic front, this initiative will produce many new jobs. As the technology is created to return astronauts to the moon, many private companies will be involved in its creation and therefore a need for more workers will exist. Private companies are involved in the space program in every area—from the creation of the space ship to the creation of the food astronauts eat. Also, once on the surface of the moon, the mining industry would benefit highly. Since the soil on the moon is believed to contain many resources, mining industries would be able to experiment with new technology with the hope of one day going on to the even-more enriched asteroids. Asteroids, often believed to be more accessible than the moon, are believed to have enough resources to support their own colonies. With both the extraction of resources from the moon and later on from asteroids, the mining industry will have an economic boom and therefore, as the demand rises, be able to hire more workers. The production of new technology and the exploration of new terrain for natural resources will provide more jobs to the ailing economy in the U.S. (Britt, 2003). Socially while implementing the President’s initiative the U.S. and other nations will be able to build stronger ties. In a time when international ties are strained because of war, this would allow countries to come together for a common good—for once, the international community would be one against the heavens. Also, this would allow the pooling of money and resources thu...