Lunar Exploration Plans

NASA has begun sharpening its strategy for future manned exploration of the lunar surface. One new emphasis will be on getting scientifuc results that can be useful to space commerce firms early in the effort. That emphasis has the effect of giving NASA political allies for its lunar exploration plans, but it also bases those plans, at least partly, on economic grounds.

To accelerate the rate of scientific data, NASA is now looking at delivering perhaps three large habitats on unmanned cargo flights instead of slowly building up a base over several manned missions. With that approach, astronauts will be able to begin exploring more quickly.

And explore they will. NASA plans call for pressurized rovers that will allow astronauts to drive across the surface for up to two weeks. Two of the rovers will be used per expedition, so if one breaks down, both crews will be able to make it back to base in the remaining one.

Another emphasis will be on securing international partners. Japan has expressed interest in such participation, as have-- in varying degrees-- Russia, China, and Europe. All of those, plus a few others, would be able to make substantive contributions to such a program-- technologically, financially, or both. Of course, partners would mean U. S. taxpayers wouldn't have to foot the bill for the whole shebang, which should make Congress more willing to support the project.