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10 Reasons to Put Humans Back on the Moon
By Robert Roy Britt
Senior Science Writer
posted: 06:09 am ET
08 December 2003
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10. Stepping stone
to Mars
There are those who say
a human mission to Mars is what NASA really needs to reinvigorate itself. Many
would like to go directly, and soon. Louis Friedman, director of the Planetary
Society, worries that a return to the Moon could be a detour, rather than a
stepping stone, to Mars.
But Hartmann, whose newest
book is called "A Traveler's Guide to Mars," sees a progression of exploration,
if NASA is given any directive to leave Earth orbit:
- Return to the Moon "to
demonstrate our capability" and perhaps pursue the science of asteroid impact
history.
- Begin to explore resources
of asteroids, "some of which are easier to reach and return from than the
Moon."
- Explore Mars "with the
big theme of discovering whether life ever started there, and thus whether
life starts easily on water rich planets throughout the universe."
Related Story
International
Declaration Signed Advocating Return to the Moon
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