NASA may go back to the moon during Donald Trump’s presidency
Nov 22, 2016, 4:39 PM
Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot of the first lunar landing mission, poses for a photograph beside the deployed United States flag during an Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the lunar surface. The Lunar Module (LM) is on the left, and the footprints of the astronauts are clearly visible in the soil of the moon. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this picture with a 70mm Hasselblad lunar surface camera. (NASA Photo)
(NASA Photo)
NASA may be changing its direction and could attempt to go back to the moon during Donald Trump’s administration!
Many of those that are knowledgeable feel that the American civilian space agency will once again look to the moon as the main focus of manned exploration.
When it comes to partisan politics, some space experts have stated that the moon is a destination favored by Republicans while Democrats prefer a mission to an asteroid. The Obama administration placed a high priority in seeking out an asteroid to to visit or capture to learn about the nature of these amazing space objects.
The U.S. has not sent a manned mission to the moon since 1972, when Apollo 17 touched down on the lunar surface. That was 44 years ago!
Only 12 humans have ever journeyed to the moon. During this exciting time — known as the Apollo era — these national heroes brought back some 842 pounds of lunar samples to examine.
However, with the nation in a financial crunch — the U.S. is $20 trillion in debt — the future of many NASA manned missions is in doubt.
To help move a manned mission to the moon along, U.S. Rep. James Bridenstine (R-Okla.) has offered up a detailed plan to get there and beyond. His plan is known as the American Space Renaissance Act.
The moon is rich in natural resources and could help in our ability to reduce energy costs on Earth with the harvesting of the helium-3 isotope.
This is a plan that was put forth by former astronaut and moon walker Harrison Schmidt, the only geologist to go to the moon.
If NASA cannot find a way to do these things, it’s possible that private enterprise will move in and create a new and exciting era in space exploration!
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