Should the U.S return to the moon? An exciting goal--or a money?In December 1972, the last U.S. lunar explorers blasted off from the moon. No one has been back since. Instead, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), (NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. ) has put its money and research into other programs, including the space shuttle space shuttle, reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and an external tank. . Now there are reports that President George W. Bush wants to send astronauts back to the moon. He hopes this will give the U.S. space program a boost. NASA might even try to establish a lunar base. What do you think? Should the U.S. return to the moon? YES Returning to the moon is an exciting, reachable goal. And after last ycar's Columbia shuttle disaster, the U.S. space program needs such a goal to restore its confidence. Men and women have explored the unknown since the beginning of time. Setting up a moon base could even be a stepping-stone to Mars. Colonel Eileen Collins Eileen Marie Collins (b. 19 November, 1956 in Elmira, New York) is an American astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle. , a shuttle astronaut, imagines a time when humans will build space stations on the moon and Mars, and people will take vacations on shuttles the way they now do on cruise ships This is a list of cruise ships, both those in service and those that have since ceased to operate. Both cruise ships and cruiseferries are included in this list. (Ocean liners are not included on this list, see List of ocean liners. . "Maybe there are new discoveries to be made since our last moon trip," says Paul Paddock, 13, an eighth-grader from Virginia, "discoveries that could lead to another turning point in history." NO A new moon mission would cost billions of dollars. The U.S. cannot afford that right now. Instead, we need to put our money into improving schools, protecting the environment, and preventing terrorism. So far, no one has provided a good scientific reason for returning to the moon. "A moon shot alone seems more like reaching for past glory than striving for new triumphs," says Buzz Aldrin Colonel Buzz Aldrin, Sc.D (born January 20, 1930 as Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr.) is an American pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 11, the first lunar landing. , an astronaut on the 1969 Apollo X1 mission. Also, consider the views of Evan Staley, 13. He fears that humans will treat outer space as a mere extension of planet Earth. "I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if we'll be responsible," says the eighth-grader from Illinois. "I worry that we would turn the moon into a gas station, or a spot to launch missiles." ** This Week Online www.scholastic.com/juniorscholastic * Cast your vote for the Democratic nominee for President! * Get the latest on the silver screen with Scholastic's winter movie lineup. * Scholastic Student Reporters talk to the candidates' kids. |
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