Infrastructure - The moon is a great place to locate infrastructure for both further space exploration, earth monitoring, staging for satellites above LEO. From a scientific perspective it’s also an opportunity to learn about ourselves, plants, and space.
Mining - He3 is used for a lot more than fusion, and might be the basis of future technologies that improve lives (think in the directions of MRIs, Maglev, Quantum computing, etc.). Also if He3-He3 fusion turns out to be the most viable path to fusion then it having access to it on the moon might make it break the most important project we have for both CO2 emission reduction and increase of welfare.
Colonisation - The moon probably will never be more self-sufficient than Antarctica, it might produce a lot of value in having heavy materials that are already in orbit, but it won’t be independent. Still it’s a learning opportunity for humanity, and I personally like the thought of us as a species not being erased if earth is hit by an asteroid.
As for your points on addressing our problems on earth first I’d say space exploration is the smallest of worries. We as humanity are more capable of multitasking, and there is already a lot of progress happening.
I don’t know if capitalism requires infinite material growth, though I think Economics Explained on YouTube had a great video on the topic. Made me almost want to study economics.
poliprism t1_ixboqiz wrote
Reply to Artemis is cool, but there really isn't a good reason we're going back to the Moon (or to Mars and beyond). by [deleted]
I disagree.
Addressing the list of points:
Infrastructure - The moon is a great place to locate infrastructure for both further space exploration, earth monitoring, staging for satellites above LEO. From a scientific perspective it’s also an opportunity to learn about ourselves, plants, and space.
Mining - He3 is used for a lot more than fusion, and might be the basis of future technologies that improve lives (think in the directions of MRIs, Maglev, Quantum computing, etc.). Also if He3-He3 fusion turns out to be the most viable path to fusion then it having access to it on the moon might make it break the most important project we have for both CO2 emission reduction and increase of welfare.
Colonisation - The moon probably will never be more self-sufficient than Antarctica, it might produce a lot of value in having heavy materials that are already in orbit, but it won’t be independent. Still it’s a learning opportunity for humanity, and I personally like the thought of us as a species not being erased if earth is hit by an asteroid.
As for your points on addressing our problems on earth first I’d say space exploration is the smallest of worries. We as humanity are more capable of multitasking, and there is already a lot of progress happening.
I don’t know if capitalism requires infinite material growth, though I think Economics Explained on YouTube had a great video on the topic. Made me almost want to study economics.