I can't really think of a reason why corporations would go there. On the other hand, people are talking about mining in space already so maybe some rich people are willing to try and invest in that.
Should the moon have a government? should it be run by the UN?If it was a bigger colony with permanent residents then it should probably be run by the people living there, Luna could be a member of the UN though.
The elephant in the room, as always, is sustained budgets -- a long term commitment to do this. The US has spent well in excess of $2T USD to wage wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Syria and even the most lavish plans for Mars wouldn't require that kind of money. Five percent of the Pentagon budget over 20 years would total about $700B and I'd estimate a sustained program would cost closer to $500B USD over that time period or about $25B/year. I might even imagine the USA providing $15B/year and the EU or member of it the other $10B/year.
I don't think people grasp the immense cost of going to the moon and back, it makes going into earth orbit look like a walk in the park.
“Once you get to earth orbit, you’re halfway to anywhere in the solar system.”
— Robert A. Heinlein
No, it's the other way around. The hard part is getting into orbit. Take a look at the Saturn V, the first two stages and part of the third were needed to reach Earth orbit. Only the small skinny part at the top was needed for the rest of the trip. As the famous quote goes, as far as delta V, or energy required is concerned:
I hope the Chinese start sending stuff/people to the moon on a regular basis, it might make the USA get off it's collective butt. Bonus points for putting it on the "dark" side where people can't see it.The elephant in the room, as always, is sustained budgets -- a long term commitment to do this. The US has spent well in excess of $2T USD to wage wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Syria and even the most lavish plans for Mars wouldn't require that kind of money. Five percent of the Pentagon budget over 20 years would total about $700B and I'd estimate a sustained program would cost closer to $500B USD over that time period or about $25B/year. I might even imagine the USA providing $15B/year and the EU or member of it the other $10B/year.
So... less than the pointless F35 program.
why is it pointless? it will work great with countermeasures/decoys to have the f35. no one is just going to fly a f35 some where, there will be a giant swarm of different shit that makes it work well. its going to blend in much better in a EW environment then some big old flying antenna. then you cant target it easily. the other older aircraft will probably have problems trying to fly in a modern swarm of drones, jammers and decoys. Some how they will stand out and be able to become targeted.
why is it pointless? it will work great with countermeasures/decoys to have the f35. no one is just going to fly a f35 some where, there will be a giant swarm of different shit that makes it work well. its going to blend in much better in a EW environment then some big old flying antenna. then you cant target it easily. the other older aircraft will probably have problems trying to fly in a modern swarm of drones, jammers and decoys. Some how they will stand out and be able to become targeted.
Sounds great, when can you fly it?
Tim
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/with-iran-in-syria-israel-launched-world-s-first-air-strike-using-f-35-stealth-fighters-1.6110706
and it does seem to work well
I don't think people grasp the immense cost of going to the moon and back, it makes going into earth orbit look like a walk in the park. We send a small number of guys there a handful of times at absolutely immense expense, there are not enough people who are wealthy enough to pay for a ride there to make it a viable business. There are "only" some 2200 billionaires in the world, and of those only a portion are wealthy enough to conceivably pay for a moon ride, and of that pool how many are going to be interested in it? I just don't see it happening without some kind of major unforeseen breakthrough.
.."although it may be cheaper/easier to try and be the first person to have sex on the moon".
Have you taken into consideration the unpredictable side effects of nearly zero gravitational forces may have on that
physiological activity? Cheers
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/with-iran-in-syria-israel-launched-world-s-first-air-strike-using-f-35-stealth-fighters-1.6110706
Ironic that the first people to get one flying weren't the USA.and it does seem to work well
Yes, but:
a) They're only flying once every five days due to all the maintenance needed after every hour of flight.
b) The airframes are already cracking.
c) Pretty soon they'll be up against swarms of thousands of disposable, unmanned drones.
d) Pretty soon the USA will have unmanned (or remotely piloted) drones for everything the F35 is supposed to do.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II#Maintenance
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a19620889/air-force-may-need-to-cut-a-third-of-f-35-fleet-due-to-high-operating-costs/
This is why a space elevator is so appealing if some way can be thought of to make it a reality, the cost suddenly becomes affordable.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/with-iran-in-syria-israel-launched-world-s-first-air-strike-using-f-35-stealth-fighters-1.6110706
Ironic that the first people to get one flying weren't the USA.and it does seem to work well
Yes, but:
a) They're only flying once every five days due to all the maintenance needed after every hour of flight.
b) The airframes are already cracking.
c) Pretty soon they'll be up against swarms of thousands of disposable, unmanned drones.
d) Pretty soon the USA will have unmanned (or remotely piloted) drones for everything the F35 is supposed to do.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II#Maintenance
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a19620889/air-force-may-need-to-cut-a-third-of-f-35-fleet-due-to-high-operating-costs/
i wanna see where these invulnerable drone armies are.