The Moon is the Perfect Spot for SETI:

And while it would take slightly more in Delta V to go to the Moon and then to Mars than directly to Mars, a Moon way-station can make sense, particularly if you are planning multiple missions. You park the main ship at the Moon (that way you don't have to keep raising a lowering it in Earth's gravity well. ), then refuel, supply and re-man it using shuttles between Earth and Moon.
You could indeed. However, parking the main ship in Earth orbit would have all those advantages - and few of the disadvantages of doing so on the Lunar surface.
 
Again,
In summing, I envisage a time, commencing with Project Artemis, when humanity will reach a point where we will have permanent habitation on the Moon, by more then one Nation, just as humanity has had a permanent habitation in the ISS since around 2000.
And what a great example of co-operation between Nations, the ISS has obviously been!
The Moon could prove similar I suggest.
 
Yep. There are several versions of Mars Direct that have presupply missions to drop off return vehicles and fuel plants.
And still no certainty of success for the manned landing and the 18 month obligitory stay
Again that is no different than arguing Columbus should have stopped at Iceland and Greenland as necessary to understanding the hazards of a long sea voyage, and to serve as critical "stepping stones" to America.
Again a poor or non applicable analogy. Columbus's voyage was to show a route to the India and that the Earth was indeed round...Was Greenland even known? The America's certainly were not.
That would be pretty wasteful. What would that accomplish that an unmanned mission could not?
Agreed in part, except avoiding the 18 month dangerous stay on the surface that might not be achieved anyway.
Exactly. Thus, a moon mission is poor preparation for a Mars mission. Different risks, different environments, different logistics.

Exactly. Once again, a moon mission is shown to be poor preparation for a Mars mission. Different risks, different solutions.
No, similar risks, similar conditions and similar environments [no breathable atmosphere on both being one]
That's fine. If you have a research goal that can on
ly be accomplished by going to the moon, then I am all for it.
In summing, I envisage a time, commencing with Project Artemis, when humanity will reach a point where we will have permanent habitation on the Moon, by more then one Nation, just as humanity has had a permanent habitation in the ISS since around 2000.
And what a great example of co-operation between Nations, the ISS has obviously been!
The Moon could prove similar I suggest.
It will happen.
 
In summing, I envisage a time, commencing with Project Artemis, when humanity will reach a point where we will have permanent habitation on the Moon, by more then one Nation, just as humanity has had a permanent habitation in the ISS since around 2000.
And what a great example of co-operation between Nations, the ISS has obviously been!
The Moon could prove similar I suggest.
It will happen.
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-nokia-moon-4g-cell-network.html

Nokia to build moon's first 4G cell network for NASA program:

Nokia says it has been tapped by NASA to build the first cellular communications network on the moon.

The Finnish telecommunications equipment maker said Monday its Nokia Bell Labs division will build a 4G communications system to be deployed on a lunar lander to the moon's surface in late 2022.

NASA is awarding $370 million to 14 companies to provide technology for the Artemis moon-landing program. The program's aim is to establish a long-term human presence on the moon as a warm-up for missions to Mars.

Nokia released more details of its involvement after an announcement last week by NASA, which said it was giving the company's U.S. unit $14.1 million for the network. The U.S. space agency is also funding other innovations in cryogenic fluid management, lunar surface innovation, and descent and landing capability.

Nokia's network will provide critical communications capabilities for tasks astronauts will need to carry out, like remote control of lunar rovers, real-time navigation and high-definition video streaming, the company said.

The equipment includes a base station, antennas and software and is designed to withstand harsh launches and lunar landings and extreme conditions in space.
more at link.............
 
https://www.universetoday.com/14838...n-of-the-moon-russia-declined-to-participate/

NASA and Seven Countries Sign the Artemis Accords for the Exploration of the Moon. Russia Declined to Participate
It looks like Russia is thumbing its nose at international cooperation on the Moon. They’ve refused to sign the Artemis Accords, which are a set of rules governing Lunar exploration. NASA and seven other countries have signed on already, with more to come.

Russia is NASA’s largest partner in space exploration. The two countries are largely responsible for the International Space Station, and American astronauts have been travelling back and forth to the ISS on Russian Soyuz spacecraft ever since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011. But Russia doesn’t seem to be happy with the Artemis Accords, saying they’re too US-centric.

The Artemis Accords idea surfaced last May when the US drafted a framework for rules regarding activities on the Moon. They called them the Artemis Accords, after their current effort to return astronauts to the Moon, called Artemis. NASA’s Artemis program will involve other nations as partners. With that in mind, and with all of the commercial partners getting involved, and with the general enthusiasm towards lunar exploration, NASA decided it was time for one set of rules regarding operations on the Moon.

“Artemis will be the broadest and most diverse international human space exploration program in history, and the Artemis Accords are the vehicle that will establish this singular global coalition,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a press release. “With today’s signing, we are uniting with our partners to explore the Moon and are establishing vital principles that will create a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space for all of humanity to enjoy.”

So far, eight countries have signed on. They are:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Luxembourg
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
more at link...............
 
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