Ok fine No bullet points though. This is just google 101.
Human Civilization
Successful nations of yesterday dared
to explore beyond their borders;
successful nations of today will explore
beyond our atmosphere. Successful
nations of tomorrow will explore even
further into our solar system.
Why Go to the Moon?
National Aeronautics & Space Administration
At the core of NASA’s future in space exploration is a return to the moon, where we will build
a sustainable long-term human presence with new spacecraft, robotics and life-sustaining
technologies. Living and working on the moon will provide opportunities for research and
technology development that will prepare humans for further human exploration to
Mars and beyond.
Economic Expansion
Space research results in applications
that improve our daily lives. NASA has
historically embraced close partnerships
with commercial industry, and the future
holds even more potential for commercial
contributions to space exploration.
Exploration Preparation
Lunar exploration provides opportunities
to test new technologies, experience
living on extraterrestrial surfaces and learn
ways to use resources found in space – all
with the goal of safely preparing crews
for missions to Mars and beyond.
Global Partnerships
Exploration will be most successful
when the shared aspirations of the
international community are realized. A
global exploration strategy maximizes
resources and talent, benefitting
all of us in space and on Earth.
Scientific Knowledge
We can learn about the history of Earth
and the solar system from the moon by
studying its craters and regolith. This
will provide clues about the origin and
structure of the moon and planets and
answer life’s most fundamental questions.
Public Engagement
Lunar exploration will inspire the next
generation of explorers to learn reallife applications of science, technology,
engineering and math. Learning these
disciplines will lead to discoveries and
innovations in space and here on Earth.
www.nasa.gov
NP-2009-05-579-H
Here is an Excel spreadsheet, kind of like bullet points..
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA1 Perform radio astronomy to map the cosmic web and observe other astronomical objects. Radio interferometry antenna arrays, as well as single-dish antennae, located on the far-side of the Moon could provide data on exotic phenomena in the universe: pulsars, black holes, planetary radio emissions, and the remnants of the big bang. Radio astronomy is enabled by being on the far side of the Moon. Low frequencies can not be observed from the Earth because they are absorbed by the atmoshere. High frequencies can not be observed from the Earth because the radio environment on Earth is too noisy. The far side of the Moon, lacking an atmosphere and shielded from the Earth's radio noise, is ideal. X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA2 Perform interferometry on the lunar surface to observe the universe at UV, optical, and infrared wavelengths. Perform interferometry on lunar surface to observe the universe at UV, optical and infrared wavelengths, including observations of extra-solar planets. Interferometry on the Moon is enabled because the Moon is a dark site without an atmosphere. Locating a telescope in the bottom of a crater could have additional advantages for IR observations because of the cold temperature there. However, the Moon offers a harsher environment for interferometry in the UV, optical, and NIR than does deep space. Large thermal variations, mechanical distortions due to lunar gravity, dust, and seismic noise are all absent in deep space. X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA3 Detect gravitational waves to observe a variety of astrophysical and cosmological phenomena that are unobservable in the electromagnetic spectrum. Gravitational waves are created from merging supermassive black holes and binary compact objects. Gravitational waves are expected to be detected by ground and space-based systems in the next decade. The Moon offers another stable platform on which to place detection instruments. The Moon affords a stable base for the widely spaced detectors required to detect gravitational waves. However, the longest feasible baselines for gravitational wave interferometry on the Moon would be about 100 km (e.g. on the rim of the Newton Crater), only one order of magnitude longer than those currently existing on Earth. Although lunar seismic noise could be nullified with existing technology, the thermal requirements (the factor that would ultimately limit performance) on a lunar gravitational wave interferometer would be severe, worse than on Earth or deep space. X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA4 Detect and monitor exoplanets to gain perspective on the uniqueness of the Earth and our solar system. Monitor nearby stars over time to detect transit by planets. Understanding extrasolar planetary systems is critical for gaining perspective on the uniqueness of our own solar system and the Earth within it. Photometric accuracy of instruments on the Moon would be better than could be obtained from Earth because of the blurring effects of the Earth's atmosphere. There may be no improvement over space-based telescopes in this regard. X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA5 Perform long-duration measurements of energetic particles at the Moon's surface to gain understanding of nucleosynthesis processes in supernovae and other stellar sites. Perform long duration measurements of energetic phenomena such as cosmic rays and solar energetic particles. Cosmic rays could be measured by large arrays of high-energy cosmic ray detectors placed on the lunar surface. Studying the lunar regolith could provide information on solar energetic particles. Because the Moon is outside the Earth's magnetosphere and lacks an atmosphere, energetic solar particles and cosmic rays of all energies and types reach the lunar surface without attenuation or degradation. Installing large detector arrays would enable searches for very rare cosmic rays, such as the ultra-heavy cosmic rays (those in the iron-group to the trans-uranic group). Such searches would inform us of the nucleosynthetic processes that occur in supernovae and other stellar sites. X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA6 Search for exotic states of nuclear matter to understand the composition of the universe. Theordtically predicted to be the stablest form of matter, but never observed, is Strange Quark Matter. Such matter might exist in the form of "nuggets," produced primordially or from neutron stars. These would have large nuclear densities and be capable of passing through the Moon, leaving behind a linear seismic signature. A network of*seismometers evenly spaced on the Moon could identify a Strange Quark Nugget event. Strange Quark Matter is theoretically the stablest form of nuclear matter, and may exist in the interior of neutron stars. It might have also been produced during the Big Bang, but it has never been directly detected. The relatively low seismic noise on the Moon may make it an attractive location to search for Strange Quark Nuggets that leave a linear seismic signature. Seeing this signature on the Moon would constitute a discovery of profound importance to nuclear physics and astrophysics. X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA7 Make precise measurements of the Moon's position to test Einstein's theory of general relativity. Placing lunar laser transponders at a number of sites on the near side of the Moon would allow the relative motion of the Moon with respect to the Earth to be measured to the millimeter level of accuracy. Laser pulses sent from the Earth to the Moon would trigger coherent return pulses from the lunar laser stations. The responding pulses would be received and timed at Earth tracking stations providing unparalleled orbital positional accuracy. The Apollo retroreflectors have been used for this purpose, but these yield a very small signal that limits accuracy. Laser ranging measurements of the Moon’s position have given us some of our most accurate tests of Einstein’s theory of gravity (which has so far passed all its tests). Placing laser transponders on the Moon would significantly enhance the power of these tests. X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA8 Detect and monitor Near Earth Objects (NEO) to discover threats to the Earth and Moon. Conduct sky surveys from the lunar surface to detect NEOs, determine their orbits, assess their physical characteristics, and evaluate the potential hazard to Earth and the Moon. The long lunar night and the absence of atmosphere make the Moon an attractive location for discovering NEOs that might otherwise go undetected from Earth or Low Earth Orbit. Earth's impact crater history and the ever increasing catalog of newly discovered NEOs demonstrate the importance of NEO research for global protection. X X
Astronomy & Astrophysics mA9 Evaluate the Moon's potential as an observation platform to maximize investments in astronomy and astrophysics. Carry out a site survey of the Moon and characterize aspects of the lunar environment to determine the best locations for various telescopes. Consider dust contamination, seismic environment, thermal environment, radio environment, and other variables. Emplace a small telescope in a representative location before investing in a larger, more expensive telescope. A lunar telescope will be very expensive. Studying the lunar environment will bring better understanding of the observations that can be most effeciently conducted from the Moon, as well as which sites are best suited to different telscopes. This information will inform the telescope selection and siting and help to optimize the scientific return. X
Link to random information.
http://www.outofthecradle.net/archives/2008/06/25-good-reasons-to-go-to-the-moon-2/
Another article..
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f34/need-opinions-guidance-building-space-elevator-913214/index6.html
This is good stuff from a previous page on this thread.
You guys can take all that and turn it into bullet points if you like.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f34/need-opinions-guidance-building-space-elevator-913214/index6.html
