[fisher22]

When you put it that way, it kind of sounds like a bargain. We’ll get moon rocks, but more importantly we’ll establish a permanent presence similar to the ISS. Why, you ask? In addition to continued science and exploration:

1. Let’s start with China. When it serves them to follow international space treaty, they will use it against us and the other space-faring nations (although mostly they don’t abide). They plan to have their own permanent presence, which will then allow them to occupy, then “own” portions of the moon, complete with drilling and mineral rights. Not to mention the security aspects of a foe nation having a vantage point over us.

2. To create a launching point for Mars missions. It’s much easier to start a trip to Mars from the reduced gravity of the moon then to launch direct from Earth. The plan is to launch pre-fabricated pieces of a future Mars spacecraft from Earth, then assemble them on the moon.

If 1 and 2 sound absolutely crazy, or at the very least make you say “What the heck for?” then there’s a lot more to talk about. But in the meantime, watch a few episodes of Steve Carell’s comedy “Space Force” on Netflix. It addresses the situation pretty well for a silly comedy.