Page 4 | Those astronauts must be slightly insane.

thinktoomuchtoooften · 2026-04-01T21:09:43+00:00

I mean obviously they’re highly intelligent individuals and must know what they’re doing… but the risks are so huge and they have families. To me it’s just madness.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:58

PistachioTiramisu · 02/04/2026 08:55

I don't think there will be an awful lot of 'resources' to be obtained from a cold and inhospitable body such as the moon! But even if there is something of use, why shouldn't we harvest it? Nobody else will (not that we know of anyway!).

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There are minerals to be mined, but mostly it'll be about using solar energy and having it as a lauch pad for deeper exploration, namely Mars.

PistachioTiramisu · 02/04/2026 08:55

Dragonflytamer · 02/04/2026 08:47

Not on this trip. But the objective of the Artemis project is to build a base on the moon so that America can exploit the moon's resources.

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I don't think there will be an awful lot of 'resources' to be obtained from a cold and inhospitable body such as the moon! But even if there is something of use, why shouldn't we harvest it? Nobody else will (not that we know of anyway!).

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:55

Mapletree1985 · 02/04/2026 08:54

All that bravery, tech, expense and wonder during the first space race didn't bring humanity to a better place., and there's no reason to suppose it will this time, either. This is all about being the first to claim the moon and get rich off its vast resources. Just wait till they start sending prisoners up to the moon mines.

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I never claimed it brought humanity to "a better place".
I think perhaps you didn't understand my post.

ButterBastardBeans · 02/04/2026 08:54

Sminty2 · 01/04/2026 22:31

Because they want to land and build the base on the poles, which have frozen water and minerals. The previous landing site is barren.

Using the Moon as a testing ground, to live there would enable them to learn more and then move on to other planets.

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But we haven't learned any lessons here on earth yet so what's the point? Even the most basic of care is denied to vast numbers of people on this planet so spending and 'exploration' on this scale smacks of massive vanity projects.

DH says that we need to look to space for other planets to live on. Mankind genuinely cannot survive off this one. It's 'crazy professor' madness, all of it!

Mapletree1985 · 02/04/2026 08:54

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:25

Exactly. Opening up possibilities for humans, developing the technology to go further than ever before, to look upward and outward. To push the limits.

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All that bravery, tech, expense and wonder during the first space race didn't bring humanity to a better place., and there's no reason to suppose it will this time, either. This is all about being the first to claim the moon and get rich off its vast resources. Just wait till they start sending prisoners up to the moon mines.

PersephonePomegranate · 02/04/2026 08:52

Dragonflytamer · 02/04/2026 08:40

I'm not convinced it is in the best interest of humanity to have the "bomb baby bomb" Americans colonising the Moon. Unless we can come up with some international law that says all Americans would have to go up.

Who would you have doing it instead? Russia (not that they can afford it now), China?

All superpowers have questionable ethics, unfortunately. Traditionally, the US has been the lesser evil. Once Trump is out (and he will be), they'll return to that again.

Deerinflashlights · 02/04/2026 08:51

I’m too chicken myself but yes it is super impressive.

Mapletree1985 · 02/04/2026 08:51

Tel12 · 01/04/2026 22:22

I couldn't help but think that we'd be wise to sort our planet out before go looking at the moon.

Humanity has never been very good at fixing things. We prefer to move somewhere new and wreck that.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:49

Dragonflytamer · 02/04/2026 08:47

Not on this trip. But the objective of the Artemis project is to build a base on the moon so that America can exploit the moon's resources.

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Yes, I know. I've read a lot about it. That's not the same as "colonisation".

PersephonePomegranate · 02/04/2026 08:48

You'd definitely have to be a certain personality, wouldn't you? I suppose its the same for any explorer that's ever been.

I watched lift off last night and felt oddly emotional. Not 'weeping' to use a MN fave, bit oddly nervous and a little struck at what was happening. However on earth must their families have felt?!

Dragonflytamer · 02/04/2026 08:47

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:44

They're not going to "colonise" the moon.

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Not on this trip. But the objective of the Artemis project is to build a base on the moon so that America can exploit the moon's resources.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:44

Dragonflytamer · 02/04/2026 08:40

I'm not convinced it is in the best interest of humanity to have the "bomb baby bomb" Americans colonising the Moon. Unless we can come up with some international law that says all Americans would have to go up.

They're not going to "colonise" the moon.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 02/04/2026 08:43

They are no different from f1 drivers or moter bike skiing snowboarders, all the early explorers of time Man will alway want to push forward. That why we have done so well.

i hope they make some amazing discoveries

inigomontoyahwillcox · 02/04/2026 08:42

I have the same feeling towards getting in a space shuttle that I do getting into a submarine. Both metal (and other materials, I know) boxes thrown into inhospitable (to humans) environments. The claustrophobia would get me within about 30
seconds.

i have the utmost respect for those who strive in their life to get to a point of achieving their dreams - astronauts included. And I very much believe in space exploration - I just wish it wasn’t such a political activity.

usedtobeaylis · 02/04/2026 08:40

They're incredibly brave. There's no doubt that space exploration has advanced humankind in so many ways. Courageous people.

Dragonflytamer · 02/04/2026 08:40

I'm not convinced it is in the best interest of humanity to have the "bomb baby bomb" Americans colonising the Moon. Unless we can come up with some international law that says all Americans would have to go up.

Notmyreality · 02/04/2026 08:37

luckylavender · 02/04/2026 08:25

Not only that but they have enough fuel to fill every car in the US. Utter madness,

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Everything you’ve said here is incorrect.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:36

Hallamule · 02/04/2026 08:35

Lol, not like biological systems them. Nothing biological has ever failed unexpectedly, or acted erratically (or picked up a gun and started shooting, or randomly started a war).

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Quite.

Hallamule · 02/04/2026 08:35

ExBert80 · 01/04/2026 23:41

The thought of space scares the shit out of me. But I would go, not that I would be of any use. Just for something exciting to do.

in China 100 driverless taxis stopped dead at the same time in a city due to a tech issue. Caused mayhem. Tech is not reliable.

Lol, not like biological systems them. Nothing biological has ever failed unexpectedly, or acted erratically (or picked up a gun and started shooting, or randomly started a war).

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:33

JassyRadlett · 02/04/2026 08:32

Part of the point of exploration as you don't know what the benefits will be.

Past space exploration has given us a huge amount - not least the transformation of our world driven by satellite technology, but also incidental discoveries and developments from memory foam to the tech that underpins cameras in phones. NASA has around 2,000 spin-offs.

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Exactly. It's all about the development of human knowledge, what boundaries of science and technology can be pushed, what can be discovered about physiology and space.

JassyRadlett · 02/04/2026 08:32

PollyBell · 02/04/2026 03:58

While I, like most people, find the scientific aspects of space exploration fascinating. Given the environmental impact humans have had on our own planet, why should we be allowed to explore space?

Beyond the simple argument that "it is there," what are the actual benefits of space exploration?

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Part of the point of exploration as you don't know what the benefits will be.

Past space exploration has given us a huge amount - not least the transformation of our world driven by satellite technology, but also incidental discoveries and developments from memory foam to the tech that underpins cameras in phones. NASA has around 2,000 spin-offs.

notimagain · 02/04/2026 08:30

luckylavender · 02/04/2026 08:25

Not only that but they have enough fuel to fill every car in the US. Utter madness,

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With liquid hydrogen?

Additup · 02/04/2026 08:29

Travelling in a small metal box above the earth into space is very unappealing to me. I also think the money could be better spent.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:26

luckylavender · 02/04/2026 08:25

Not only that but they have enough fuel to fill every car in the US. Utter madness,

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It's a completely different type of fuel.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 02/04/2026 08:25

SpaceRaccoon · 02/04/2026 08:20

I think that bravery, wonder and exploration is how we get humanity to a better place, and that this is therefore the vest possible use for the money.

Exactly. Opening up possibilities for humans, developing the technology to go further than ever before, to look upward and outward. To push the limits.