Jun 28, 2009

Posted by in Mars, NASA, current, moon, private

Second thoughts on Ares

Just a few days ago, in this space, I defended NASA’s Ares booster against opponents testifying at the Augustine Commission—the committee that is re-evaluating America’s manned space program.

After reading an interview with Buzz Aldrin, I’m having second thoughts.

Aldrin: Skip the moon. Been there, done that.

Aldrin: Skip the moon. Been there, done that.

Moon rocket, not Mars rocket

Ares is designed to return to the moon. Aldrin thinks this is unnecessary—no, actually he thinks it’s a waste. He wants the country to aim for Mars, skipping the moon entirely.

Do we remember how to get to the moon?

I had felt that, although America had been to the moon, we’d lost the expertise and needed to get it back. From that standpoint, a return seemed necessary, even if it would be redundant.

But maybe not. Maybe I am underestimating the expertise we have. Maybe we need to learn something new—how to get to Mars—and not simply re-learn how to get to the moon.

In any case, Ares is a booster to the moon, not Mars. And Aldrin opposes that. What puzzles me, though, is he doesn’t seem to oppose the capsule. Orion, too, is designed for a lunar flight. People couldn’t live in that small vehicle for the 2 year round trip to Mars. It’s also “the wrong vehicle.”

NASA should be done with humans in earth orbit

Like me, Aldrin thinks that earth orbital flights should be using SpaceX’s vehicles. I agree that we shouldn’t waste NASA resources—which should be breaking new ground—on looping around the earth. We are on the verge of having alternatives.

I’m still leaning towards Ares and a return to the moon. We’ve been working toward that, and spent billions toward making that happen. It would be an advance from where we are today, and from the earth-looping flights of the last 30 years.

And I disagree with Aldrin on adapting existing heavy-lift vehicle to carry human passengers. That strikes me as a dangerous short-cut.

Still, Aldrin has a point: why return to the moon? Why not try to get to Mars instead. I’m sure Werner von Braun would favor the latter. He’d also be very disappointed that we hadn’t done it yet.

  • http://twitter.com/danzi94 Danz94

    We as a race need to go to the moon before Mars!

    1) Why go to Mars before we have fully conquered our own planetary system!

    2) Getting to the moon would make getting to Mars cheaper and easier. Especially building the space ships there and launching them off the moon! Less fuel needed etc!

    3) Getting to the moon after lift off is quit quick, lets use that to our advantage, rather then going straight to a 2 year trip!

    4) The moons resources could help solve problems back here on Earth, e.g Silicon for harnessing solar energy, which could dramamtically help with global warming.
    Also, Ferrying resources from the moon to Earth is easier and quicker than Mars to Earth. It would take years before you see any material returning from Mars that could benefit us back here!

    I greatly respect Aldrin, but think skipping straight to Mars is a waste of money and makes very little sense!

  • Ray Katz

    I think Aldrin is also interested in intermediate steps before going to Mars…but not the moon. For example, trips beyond lunar orbit to the vicinity of an asteroid. Frankly, I’m happy with anything that gets us beyond earth orbit.

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