2010 really isn't that far away.

[Infernus]

Its called Ares you dumbfuck.

Get it motherfucking right.

[porksteak]

The original LEM (Lunar Excusion Module) had a tin-foil hull. It was the lightest thing we could use. I think it is safe to say, whatever we end up sending again, will probably use carbon fiber composites. Very strong and durable.

We are not stepping back in time using proven technology. I am amazed that the apollo guys made it to the moon using a 4-bit analog computer. Remember the original bid went out around 1961-62, even though by the late 60's we started entering the digital age. They still were not small enough to put in a 1'x1'x1' space.

I think we need a viable "space-plane" before we even think about more space exploration with humans. We need to be able to launch the thing within hours, not weeks.

[TX3RN0BILL]

Originally Posted by Infernus

The moon is practical, the CEV is safe.

I haven't ever questioned the safety of the CEV.

As for the practicality of the moon, in the long run, when Mars's atmosphere has been acclimatized for human presence, then oxygen supply will not present a problem. On the moon however, the oxygen supply will always be a concern. And with current technologies Mars may be still so far away, time-wise, but I'm confident that in the future technologies will enable us to travel faster around space. It's all right to use the moon until Mars becomes "available" as the second planet colonized by Man, but when that happens the moon will probably be forgotten as a stepping stone, and Mars will rule as next place after Earth to be of convenient use to Mankind.

[kurushio95]

the next deep space probe we send out will be testing ion propulsion. supposedly 10 times faster than what we currently have