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Russia and the US will work together to build a moon base

O

OBias

Member
https://www.engadget.com/2017/09/27/russia-us-cooperate-on-lunar-base

There have been rumors that the US and Russia would be teaming up to build a lunar base. Sources within the country told Popular Mechanics that the head of their space organization, Roscosmos, was set to announce a partnership agreement with NASA this week. Now, Roscosmos and NASA have both released statements saying stating the two countries' shared "common vision for human exploration."

They go on to say that Russia and the US will cooperate on a Moon program, specifically mentioning the Deep Space Gateway by name. That's the base NASA plans to build in lunar orbit starting in the 2020s (the statement sets a mid-2020s goal for beginning the project). The release also mentions that other international partners are considering signing onto the lunar base.

Roscosmos' statement also outlines a rough plan to create a set of international technical standards for the lunar space station and beyond. Specifically, both docking ports and life support systems will be based on Russian design; after all, they have a lot more experience running a space station and the current life support systems aboard the ISS are in the Russian section, Zvezda.

Right now, the ISS has different ports for the multiple vehicles that dock with it. The Russian Soyuz capsule uses a different style docking port than the Space Shuttle did -- the Americans had to install adapters to convert Shuttle docking ports and allow private craft like SpaceX's Dragon to connect with them. Collaboration from the ground up, rather than making our own plans and partnering with the Russians at the last minute (like we did with the International Space Station), means that we can establish, collaborate on and coordinate technical specifications, making things easier in the medium and long term.

NASA's relying on its much-delayed heavy lift rocket, the SLS, to build the Deep Space Gateway, but they're only planning on launching it once a year. That timeline didn't seem feasible, and now Roscosmos's statement sheds some light: Russia's rockets will help out with the construction. Both agencies, as well as other ISS partners, are tasking their countries' respective industry partners with creating concept studies of what the Gateway might look like.

This is a big deal for many reasons; working together, despite political tensions, means that our countries are less likely to descend into outright hostilities. Additionally, NASA's aims have been somewhat unclear for a long time. They laid out ambitious goals without a clear plan on how they were going to achieve them, and without the budget to support them. Since then, the organization has slowly been scaling back. But now, with international agreements of cooperation, it looks like the Deep Space Gateway will happen. And because it's we have international partners, Congress will be less likely to cancel the project; after all, that's how the International Space Station scraped by with just one vote.
Click to expand...

That's great news! Make moon bases, not war.
 
X

Xe4

Banned
It's more of a base in lunar orbit than a moon base. Think of the international space station, but much, much further away. Still really cool though. We also need to get China on board. It's super silly we go into space with everyone but them.

If there's one place all nations of the world should be cooperating, it's with regards to space policy. Hopefully, we're all mature enough to leave our problems with each other on the ground.

I have my doubts about this happening on schedule. A new administration always comes in and changes plans.
 
Jezbollah

Jezbollah

Member
Nothing's happening until the USA or Russia get a heavy lift launch vehicle into service. SLS seems to be the likeliest option for this, and even then that's a few years away.

Unless the US want to subcontract either Space X (Falcon Heavy) or Blue Origin (New Glenn) to do the donkey work.

There's enough of a good working history behind the relationship between Russia, the ESA and NASA to make this moon base a reality.
 
V

Vixdean

Member
giphy.gif
 
X

Xe4

Banned
Sectorseven said:
Why is this better than a station in orbit?
Click to expand...

Having a station in cis-lunar orbit is partly about pushing the envelope and partially about making the journey to further parts of the solar system easier. We need to learn how to deal with ionizing radiation and other problems that come with being in deep space. As it is, we can't learn that in low Earth orbit. On top of that, the velocity needed to attain orbits to Mars and asteroids and more is a lot smaller from a space station in lunar orbit than from low Earth.

Buckle said:
...Can we do with this anybody but Russia?

Literally anybody else.
Click to expand...
Why not do it with Russia? It's not like we already don't work with them on the ISS and stuff. This would hardly be different. I have tons of problems with Russia, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't cooperate with them on space policy.
 
T

Tuck

Member
International Moon Base. Make it so! Before I die, please.

Sectorseven said:
Why is this better than a station in orbit?
Click to expand...

Well, it'd be the first space station on another planetary body other than earth. It might also be able to help us get to mars, as taking off from earth is very difficult, but making off from mars might be much easier.
 
L

LookAtMeGo

Member
Firstly, there are already secret bases on the moon. Secondly, if the US and Russia are in it together then you can be damn sure they will be firing missles from that base. That extra velocity makes for some sweet extra firepower.

They will probably just occupy one of the bases already there if the aliens that built them are OK with it. Im not sure if its alien bases though or just another civilisation that came and went a long time ago thats been lost to time. Either way I dont trust moon bases.
 
T

TAJ

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
We all know how this ends.
 
Z

Zubz

Banned
I love the idea of us building a moon base; this could be a fantastic advancement for us as a species!

Except... I know we work closely w/ Russia on the ISS, so call me skeptical, but I don't really trust anything being pushed by Russia right now to not have some ulterior motive. There's something that makes me uneasy about it.
 
F

Fenderputty

Banned
I know there's some sort of treaty, but to me this feels like a way to prevent a space race for the first to colonize the moon.
 
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