Message-ID: <145@entropy.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 24-Feb-85 08:09:41 EST
Article-I.D.: entropy.145
Posted: Sun Feb 24 08:09:41 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 07:01:50 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: UW MathStat, Seattle
Lines: 26

This is the first time I've posted something to the net, but I'm
just wondering if anyone has had any qualms about the US or
the USSR, or anyone, setting up permanent bases on the moon, or
doing the kinds of activity that has been mentioned frequently,
such as mining.  It seems to me that an extensive discussion is
in order before anyone does this.

The reason for this is that the moon has no weather and whatever
you do stays around essentially forever.  Similarly, whatever
happened in the past that is recorded geologically (lunalogically?)
there is extremely valuable scientifically.  This kind of
information should not be thrown away thoughtlessly (or perhaps
at all).

Exploration of the moon can be contrasted with that on Mars.  On
Mars there IS some weather and so the geological record is
constantly changing and so the results of fiddling around
are not so drastic.  Nevertheless I would suggest that we
have the same qualms about Mars.

People I have mentioned this to seem to think I am being silly.
Am I?

Bob Mauritsen
uw-beaver!rhm@entropy

Message-ID: <824@ames.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 13:53:50 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.824
Posted: Thu Feb 28 13:53:50 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 08:15:58 EST
References: <145@entropy.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 22

> This is the first time I've posted something to the net, but I'm
> just wondering if anyone has had any qualms about the US or
> the USSR, or anyone, setting up permanent bases on the moon, or
> doing the kinds of activity that has been mentioned frequently,
> such as mining.  It seems to me that an extensive discussion is
> in order before anyone does this.
> 
> The reason for this is that the moon has no weather and whatever
> you do stays around essentially forever.  Similarly, whatever
> happened in the past that is recorded geologically (lunalogically?)
> there is extremely valuable scientifically.  This kind of
> information should not be thrown away thoughtlessly (or perhaps
> at all).

I doubt that it is necessary to reserve the entire Moon for scientific
purposes, after all, there are other important things in life.  The
Planetary Society has proposed that portions of the Moon and the planets
be set aside as wilderness preserves - much as we have done in this
country - and that this be done before people have much time and
effort invested in mining and the like.  This seems to be a sensible
approach.  The next step is to choose the specific areas that should
be preserved ....  Nominations?