Everybody's going to the Moon (and Mars): The Reg chats to ESA about 10-year plans and sending Tim back to space

ESA handed out contracts last week, with the usual suspects scooping up awards aimed at lunar exploration and beyond. The Register spoke to David Parker, ESA’s director of Human and Robotic Exploration, about the Moon, Mars and when Tim Peake would fly again. British ESA 'naut Peake took a trip to the International Space …

[amanfromMars 1]

Re: Everybody's going to the Moon (and Mars): ?

What is one to expect ...... Lunatics abound? :-)

Is that anything new?

[Anonymous Coward]

Bartering?

> The agency's seats on visiting spacecraft are picked up via bartering services

5,000 John Deere potato harvesters in return for a Soyuz flight to the ISS?

[phuzz]

Re: Bartering?

How about 17 submarines, a cruiser, frigate and a destroyer for some cola?

[adam 40]

Re: Bartering?

You would need one of the potato harvesters for the Mars voyage, Shirley?

[bombastic bob]

because it is there

why does a man climb a mountain? Or go to the South Pole?

Or why go to the moon? Or Mars? Or the bottom of the sea?

Same reason, yeah. Exploration is a good thing.

Back in the 60's, astronauts were HEROES. Then space became mundane, even boring. A couple of accidents and suddenly we have no space shuttles any more. And no HEROES. Not REAL ones, anyway.

It might be a REALLY GOOD thing to get back to that. And of course, NASA, ESA, UK, Russia's space agency, Japan, Israel, and anyone else who wants to come along. Should be fun.

[Joe Gurman]

Re: because it is there

"Why does Rice play Texas?

"We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills..." — John F. Kennedy

[phuzz]

Re: because it is there

"because it is there"

Although in JFK's accent, it sounds more like "because it is they-ah"

[Joe Gurman]

"After all, big dreams are all well and good, but somebody has to foot the bill."

Or as they say in the US, "No bucks, no Buck Rogers."

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: "After all, big dreams are all well and good, but somebody has to foot the bill."

Not forgetting Wilma Deering

[bombastic bob]

Re: "After all, big dreams are all well and good, but somebody has to foot the bill."

I think that the benefits of NASA-related spending greatly outweigh the cost. Think miniaturized electronics and lightweight aircraft materials, for starters.

[The Count Is Dead]

Not just one Tim

Lets send all the Tim's back to space where they belong.

[Potemkine!]

Re: Not just one Tim

With the exception of Mr Berners-Lee.

[StuntMisanthrope]

A wooden credit card.

Think it's time for our money back. #nodice

[adam 40]

Peak Peake Peek

We we had Peak Peake last time around,

if Tim goes for a second time will it be Twin Peake?