NASA readies Discovery for liftoff on Thursday, December 7 and unveils a plan to establish a permanent base on the moon by 2024.
Shuttle Countdown Has Begun
The liftoff of STS-116 aboard Discovery is scheduled for 9:35 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 7. If all goes as planned, it will be the first night launch in four years. Don't worry about missing Grey's Anatomy to catch the launch on CNN: it's a repeat.
The shuttle crew will be delivering a new two-ton addition to the International Space Station and a station member to replace one who gets to return for the holidays.
Moon Base Proposed
NASA has announced its plan to establish a permanent lunar base by the year 2024. The most likely location for the station would be near the South Pole where sunlight shines for nearly three-fourths of the year, providing a good source of solar power. Mountains in this region also may provide a key ingredient for lunar occupants. It is possible that the deep shadows on the moon cast by these mountains have sheltered water ice from ever being exposed to sunlight. Having a source of water on the moon would be a critical resource.
The moon base proposal comes at the same time as a report that the moon is being struck by meteorites about four times more frequently than previously believed. Because the moon has no atmosphere, occupants on the moon are at a greater danger to impacting debris than earthly inhabitants. NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office recently reported seeing the flashes of Leonid meteors striking the moon. They estimated the meteoroids as being two to three inches across.
NASA spent a year speaking with 13 of the world's space agencies, discussing the reasons to have a station on the moon and what they would hope to accomplish. The following list details six objectives.
- Human Civilization: The goal of eventually settling humans on the moon. No word on if Fido gets to join the party.
- Scientific Knowledge: To answer fundamental questions about the history of Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Your history class was never this cool.
- Exploration Preparation: The moon base provides a testbed for future missions to Mars and beyond. Maybe they will name the base The Kubrick.
- Global Partnerships: Providing a peaceful endeavour for countries around the world. Will the National Space Agency of Ukraine can provide the nuclear fuel?
- Economic Expansion: The lunar base will foster innovation and new technologies. Also, it's an untapped resource for more billboards: "Only 238,000 miles to Wall Drug"
- Public Engagement: This can best be described as "getting people excited about space again beyond the disastrous explosions."
