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Top Ten Reasons to Inhabit Outer Space
By Yasha Husain
Special to SPACE.com
posted: 01:51 pm ET
21 July 2000
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reason_05_000723 5. Better Quality Images of the Universe -- and More of Them Madhu Thangavelu, a professor at the University of California, said another reason for beginning off-world settlements in space is to place large optical telescope arrays around the equator of the moon, and telescopes nearer to the poles that can be focused on areas of special interest. These telescopes would provide 24-hour coverage seven days a week. Thangavelu said the moon is a very stable place. Telescopes placed on the moon would also enable scientists to further their study of weather patterns on Earth. We will also be better able to detect Near Earth Objects (NEO) that could endanger life on Earth if not discovered on time. Richard Godwin, executive officer of THE WATCH, an organization that funds research of NEOs internationally, said the moon would make a perfect observatory for us in space. Its blacked out from Earth, especially on the far side. According to Godwin, there is a good possibility an asteroid will eventually hit us hard enough to seriously damage the ecology and the economy -- but Godwin doesnt think our planet will be destroyed any time soon. He argues that it only will cost a few million dollars for his research teams to get the lead-time to find the dangerously close NEOs like asteroids and meteorites. "If we know something is going to hit in 2040 we can move it in time," he said.
To Secure a Future for HumanityTo Build a New FrontierTo Find New Energy SourcesTo Build an Industrial Settlement On the MoonBetter Quality Images of the Universe -- and More of ThemThe SETI EffortMiningLearning the History of Our Universe On the MoonEnvironmental BenefitsMeeting the Challenge
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