Why Return to the Moon?

Thinking of our most recent decision to return to the Moon after 51 long years has made me wonder why we should return to the Moon. It has been half-a-century since we last set foot on the Moon, and now, after all of this time, we have decided to return. It makes me wonder why we are returning after all of this time. Are we not going to have to reinvent the wheel all over again? After 51 years of technological progress, we still have to return to the Moon the same way we went to the Moon 51 years ago? Why is this the case? That is what I would like to know, besides the reason for our return.

Is this newest Moon mission going to be like the last, or are we finally going to establish a base on the surface of the Moon? I would like to have these questions answered, and I have not yet heard the reasons for our return. However, I suspect it is because both Communist China and India have designs to land on the Moon's surface for the first time in the near future.

Would it not be an embarrassment for our nation if either of these two world powers beat us there first? It certainly would, and yet we are on the spot to try to return to the Moon before either of these two world powers makes it there and lands on the Moon successfully before us. They will undoubtedly put on a good show for the world after landing successfully on the surface of the Moon, and we will be standing there with egg on our face simply because we could not duplicate the technology fast enough that took us to the Moon 51 years ago.

Why do we not instead go to Mars and forget this side-show? What will we do after we return to the Moon? Will we establish a Moon colony, or will we build another Shuttle to nowhere? The Shuttle was to take us to the Moon and back from a space-based platform such as the International Space station; however, it is said that never happened, or did it? Why have we suddenly abandoned the Space Shuttle? Could it be that a new and better spacecraft has replaced it?

Actually, the space vehicle called the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle will replace the retired Shuttle. It completed its fifth mission recently. Having been in near-earth orbit for nearly two years, having only recently returned to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However, NASA revealed little of its capabilities. Supposedly, only one-fourth the length of the Space Shuttle, it is referred to as the mini-Shuttle. It is said to be an unmanned Shuttle having no pilot. Most of its test flights and missions have been kept top-secret.

I would like our Congressional leaders and specifically President Trump, to announce that we have decided to refocus our efforts on a mission to Mars and not waste our time and money returning to the Moon unless they can reveal an excellent reason to return. Going there just to try to beat Communist China or India to the Moon after winning that honor 51 years ago would be a tremendous waste of money.

We have the technology in place as we speak that could take us to Mars and back in a matter of days; however, that technology is super-secret without any justifiable reason. We must demand from our illustrious leaders that it is now time to come out-of-the-closet and reveal the new space technology developed over the past half-century. This new technology would change the face of this planet if it were only allowed to help humankind instead of destroying it with space-based weapon systems.

We need to introduce to the world the technology that we and our allies have developed over the past 51 years when we have seemingly done nothing in space except fly a few deep space probes into the far reaches of our solar system. Why do we not demand of President Trump the technology and know-how that he is aware of, and the reason the President wants to go to Mars instead of the Moon? Can we all get behind this effort now, since we have a President who listens to the people for once? He will listen if we all shout loud enough to be heard over all the rhetoric that we will surely hear, saying, what a wonderful thing the United States is doing returning to the Moon again after 51 years. It will probably be fantastic for those of you who were not yet born when the United States first set foot on the Moon's surface; however, it would be like kissing your sister for those of us who have already watched that happen.

For me, it was indeed an exciting day that happened! I was only 14 years old at that time. Today I am 66 years of age. That should tell you even better how long it has been since we last visited the Moon. Do you not think it is time to take another 'Giant Leap for Humankind' by going to Mars instead of the Moon?