Save the Moon

[Eric Mc]

That is the goal.

We have to start somewhere.

The current aim of the modern entrepenuerial space explorers is to assess and work out what minerals are on the moon and asteroids and then work out if they are exploitable.

There already are a number of these projects in the planing stage so this is not science fiction. It is similar to what people said when the Wright Brothers predicted that aircraft would one day be flying passengers across the Atlantic.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

There already are a number of these projects in the planing stage so this is not science fiction. It is similar to what people said when the Wright Brothers predicted that aircraft would one day be flying passengers across the Atlantic.

That is not however a valid parallel to justify any crackpot wheeze

You can call me wrong when it happens - but if it happens, neither of us will be around to know.

[Eric Mc]

Regarding a single militarily powerful nation claiming some or all of a sizable body in the solar system, I think we could be talking about sometime within the next ten years - which I certainly aim to be still around for at least another ten years.

[Simpo Two]

Ah, we've gone from private enterprise back to Governments again.

I just claimed the Moon. Now no-one else can have it and the Russians will have to pay me a billion pounds every time they go there.

I'll just print my ownership certificate off now and if they don't pay me, I'll take them to court...

[Eric Mc]

To be fair, we were talking about governments AND commercial operators trying it on.

It's a whole new world (literally) opening up over the next few decades and in my view the rules have yet to be written.

[MiniMan64]

Surely its going to be a case of those that get there first and can defend it from others, are in ownership.

Finders keepers and guns beats any treaty signed on Earth.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

It's a whole new world (literally) opening up over the next few decades and in my view the rules have yet to be written.

Agreed. Or as Patrick Moore would have said 'We simply don't know'.

MiniMan64 said:

Surely its going to be a case of those that get there first and can defend it from others, are in ownership.

Finders keepers and guns beats any treaty signed on Earth.

Yes. A lunar version of 'he with the most tanks wins'. The interesting thing is that Antarctica has been carved up seemingly quite happily with no punch-ups that I'm aware of.

[Eric Mc]

Because it's relatively close to home.

And the various countries that are there are fairly closely matched militarily - so aren't inclined to throw their weight about too much. Having said that, Russia HAS shown signs that it is getting ready to over ride long standing agreements - especially when it comes to the Arctic.

[MOTORVATOR]

Eric Mc said:

Whatever it weighs on earth, it's a lot lighter on the moon. Getting stuff off the surface of the moon is MUCH easier than getting the same stuff off earth.

And get's easier still the more you take off it.

I'm going to leave my purchases for a bit as I have calculated you will get considerably more for your lb the longer you leave it.

[Simpo Two]

MOTORVATOR said:

And get's easier still the more you take off it.

I'm going to leave my purchases for a bit as I have calculated you will get considerably more for your lb the longer you leave it.

I can see an exchange rate for weight emerging, Lunar pounds and Earth pounds.

Maybe mass would be better, or moles.