Despite NASA’s tireless efforts for a manned Mars mission and more Mars exploration missions, its partner has decided to go a different way. The European Space Agency has decided to return interest to the moon, which is the same thing that China and Russia are doing with their own space agencies.
NASA and ESA Used to Be Faithful Partners
The two agencies used to go hand in hand, but it looks like those days are just about over. The European Space Agency has released the details of their efforts in a video called ‘The Moon Awakens’. It tells the story of the ESA’s efforts to build a colony on the moon by 2020, and trips will be taking off from the ISS very soon.
This is not meant to be a competitive mission. ESA has expressed that they believe this mission should be ruled by cooperation, harmony and ‘peaceful coexistence’. The details on what exactly will be built will be released after some serious research and development. Regardless, it’s an exciting time for the agency.
Is Moon Exploration No Longer Exciting? China, Russia and ESA Don’t Think So
It wouldn’t be fair to say that we know everything we can know about the moon. If humans are to migrate anywhere out of planet Earth, the moon will most likely be the first stop. Mars is still too vague a conquest for the idea of a colony. Right now, it is more like a checkpoint to get further into the solar system.
ESA, CNAS and Roscosmos have different plans in mind. They want to know every particle of the moon and prepare it for potential human migration. This is no less ambitious a task than it is to venture off to Mars.
NASA Faces A Tough Time
United States presidential elections are just around the corner. Whatever president gets the seat this year will assign a new NASA administrator. This could also mean a new budget, new direction and new goals. President Obama was all for the Mars efforts, but the new commander-in-chief could have different things in mind.
Members of the Republican Party, for example, have expressed interest in the moon’s resources. A leader from this party would likely be inclined to drill and mine the moon rather than spend money on Martian efforts. It looks like NASA is pretty much alone in wanting to get to Mars.
