/sci/ - Science & Math

>>12728205
>first, sending humans into outer space is way expensive. massively expensive. and risky. very, very risky.
>sending robots up to do science jobs is cheap and low risk. you lose a robot, you don't lose any lives.

Send one habitat to the Moon every couple of years, just one, is one way trip.
Send robots to do the building and exploration.
Send humans when things are ready as well as they can be.
There, is not that difficult, and they had 50 years, half a fucking century.

I hate modern NASA but i would be infinitely happy iff they set up a moon base

China hopes to build nuclear-powered space shuttle by 2040
>China is hoping to achieve a “major breakthrough” in its space program by 2040 — including the development of nuclear-powered space shuttles that will allow for the mining of asteroids and “large-scale space exploration” — state-run media have reported.
>Developing nuclear-powered space shuttles will “support large-scale exploration and development of space resources, and make mining on asteroids and space solar power plants possible,” Xinhua quoted the report as saying, without adding further details.
>By 2045, with advanced space transportation capabilities, China will be able to carry out the large-scale exploration of planets, asteroids and comets in the solar system, as space exploration enters a stage of rapid development, the China News Service quoted Lu Yu, a senior rocket engineer with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., as saying.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/18/asia-pacific/science-health-asia-pacific/china-hopes-build-nuclear-powered-space-shuttle-2040/

So, yes, that`s great news too, China has picked up the nuclear thermal engine program that USA discarded for political considerations, and planning to use it.
It is refreshing to know, that even if Elon fails (I hope he doesn`t and wish him the best) China will take us to the stars.