Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins have urged NASA to scrub its lunar ambitions and set its sights on Mars, the BBC reports.
Speaking at an Apollo 11 reunion of the pair and Neil Armstrong at Washington DC's National Air and Space Museum, marking the 40th anniversary of the first Moon landing, Collins said: "I worry that the current emphasis on returning to the Moon will cause us to become ensnared in a technological briar patch, needlessly delaying for decades the exploration of Mars - a much more worthwhile destination."
Aldrin, who recently roundly condemned the current NASA plan to return to the Moon by 2020 as "a glorified rehash of what we did 40 years ago", said: "Apollo 11 is a symbol of what a great nation and a great people can do if we work hard, work together and have strong leaders with vision and determination.
"The best way to honour and remember all those who were part of the Apollo programme is to follow in our footsteps; to boldly go again on a new mission of exploration."
Their call is backed by former White House spokesman Bob Weiner and policy analyst Zoe Pagonis, who last Friday released a statement calling on NASA to "focus on the dream of travelling to other planets and reverse [its] satisfaction with the mundane".
The pair said: "The news for NASA now is a pale comparison to 1969. Forty years later, we have to ask, what happened to man and woman on Mars and Venus? By now we thought we'd even reach Pluto."
They added: "Commuter shuttles to a space station close-in and use of robots have been a sad substitute. It wasn't and isn't all we can do - we saw that's nonsense with our own eyes. Man on the Moon was the most profound scientific achievement of our lifetimes - and was too long ago."
While NASA has pulled out all the stops to celebrate its 40th lunar anniversary, it is arguably bogged down in the expensive Constellation programme, which promises little more than the "glorified rehash" of past triumphs.
Neil Armstrong, though, was on hand to remind the Washington audience of just how great an achievement the Apollo programme was. He said: "It was the ultimate peaceful competition: USA vs USSR. I'll not assert that it was a diversion which prevented a war, nevertheless it was a diversion.
"Eventually, it provided a mechanism for engendering co-operation between former adversaries. In that sense, among others, it was an exceptional national investment for both sides."
Source...
I remember when the media would have all day coverage of a space lauch during the Mercury, Gemini and Appolo missions. Now your lucky to catch a shuttle launch on any network other then the NASA channel.
It seems that the advances of space flight slowed considerably after the last moon mission. Along with the deep cuts to NASA in the 80's and early 90's.
As much as I love space exploration and support those that push for additional research, I am afraid that economic crises give rise to the new priorities for the nation and the people. Spending billions towards new space vehicles or new space frontiers does not seem as important when you have 40 million+ people without health insurance.
With the current administration, I think military and space exploration will most likely take the back seat over "more" important social issues, which I fully support.
I think Space exploration is one of the most important things for the Human race to focus on. Stephen Hawking even said Humanity will die if we don't expand and colonize other planets. Why are we trying to send Humans back to the Moon? It's been done before, many times in fact! There is nothing there!
People say sending Humans to Mars is a suicide mission. Sadly, they are correct. At least in the sense that they would never be coming back to Earth. They would spend the rest of their lives on Mars. Really though, that is no different than the colonization of the New World. Those explorers knew they would never be able to go back.
Seriously, it needs to be thought about.
NO ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!!!
MI-BA-BLA-BA-SPLOSIONS!!!!
ZP'S MODDIN' MANATEE!
man is running out of time due to the environmental horrific changes which will ultimately grow in scale and magnitude.
For the changes to occur in sufficient time, I think the model of capitalism would have to be shelved and a better system would have to become an accepted standard. I don't think we have that kind of time anyway.
Unless, of course, we already have advanced alien technology. Think about that! :scratchchin:Originally Posted by Hath
“La patria es dicha, dolor y cielo de todos y no feudo ni capellanía de nadie.”
- José Martí
Have heard this story being reported in various places over the last couple of weeks.
From an early age I have dreamed of humans going to Mars. I even did a project in school about it. I think it would be amazing!
This is what I am afraid of>>
oh dear god, no....
with the way the economy is going right now, there are better ways to spend the money.
if, however, they're planning on putting sarah palin on a rocket headed for the sun, i'll make a contribution for that.
we're here for a good time, not a long time- so have a good time, the sun can't shine every day.....
I'm not necessarily saying more funding. I simply mean focusing as much of the current space budget(s) on the goal of reaching Mars. I also believe I read that US spends around 5% of GDP on defence and around 50% of US scientist work for Military. I also believe US Military funding accounts for nearly 50% of the total amount spent on Military worldwide.
As for cooperation between nations; that is something we should be striving for in all things. Wouldn't it be great if this time Russian and American astronauts (and other nations) went to Mars together. That would be progress. That would be an indication that 40 years on, how much the world has changed for the better.
I'm not saying it will happen, it's just a little hope.
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