APOLLO ANNIVERSARY BACK TO THE MOON

MANY NATIONS ARE INTERESTED IN RETURNING TO THE MOON TO EXPLORE AND MINE IT

- Ian Parker

Since the first humans evolved in east Africa about 3 million years ago, people have been conflicted between the pressures of dealing with problems at home and the excitement and possibilities offered by exploration. There will always be problems at home, but it’s not a good enough reason for staying put, so people venture forth, often reaping the benefits.

There is much historical evidence to show that exploration produces solutions which can be employed back home. Columbus struggled to fund his expeditions because few could see any benefit. But after Europeans reached the Americas they brought back potatoes, which became a hugely important crop, feeding millions because they thrive where other crops fail.

Discoveries are made not only at the destination but along the way, too. When sailors began to explore the world’s oceans, they needed a way of determining longitude, something which requires accurate timings. Since pendulum clocks are wildly inaccurate on rolling ships, major scientific and engineering advances were made in coming up with a timepiece solution. Your wristwatch, albeit probably electronic, is a direct descendant of that.

We discuss all of this for a reason. Since moonwalkers Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt splashed down on Earth along with Command Module pilot Ronald Evans (and five mice) on 19 December 1972, humans have never again put boots on the Moon. Several return programs have been proposed and aborted, with none being successful because of funding problems and a lack of enthusiasm from the public and politicians. Earthbound problems have been seen as more pressing.