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The reason you seek to explore what you don't know is because you don't know what you don't know. In general I don't think people really appreciate how ridicul

The reason you seek to explore what you don't know is because you don't know what you don't know. In general I don't think people really appreciate how ridiculously little we know about everything outside of our planet. Like for instance it was only in 2013 (!!!) that it was discovered that Mars' soil is relatively 'moist', about 2% water by mass. And that's just the topsoil layer - it's suggestive that below the surface it could well be even more moist. But the Moon's much closer, so we must know more, right? Well water ice on the Moon was only confirmed in 2018!! [1] So actually starting to get surface samples, and explore more of the Moon, ideally with a rapid return to humans on it is so exciting because who knows what we'll find out next? The unknown is precisely what makes exploring the unknown so enticing, rewarding, and fun! [1] - https://www.space.com/41554-water-ice-moon-surface-confirmed.html https://www.space.com/41554-water-ice-moon-surface-confirmed...

1234554321a 2y ago
[flagged]
- porphyra 2y ago
  Let's not bring sinophobia and geopolitics into a scientific mission to the moon.
  - pc86 2y ago
    No, but can we bring realism into it? The explorers may be exploring for the sake of it, but the people paying for it definitely aren't. Many - perhaps even most - of the people at NASA would have probably done the job for free if they were able, but the people allocating NASA's budget in the 50s and 60s were doing so for geopolitical reasons first and foremost.
    - darkwater 2y ago
      So if it's "us" it's good, and if it's "them", it's bad?
      - Dalewyn 2y ago
        At the end of the day? Yes. No, the world ain't fair. Whoever makes a permanent presence on the Moon first gets to decide what everyone else can do there.
        deleted 2y ago
        [deleted]
      - pc86 2y ago
        Feel free to quote from my comment where I said anything that could be construed that way.
    - hifromwork 2y ago
      Personally I don't care much who sponsors scientific missions. I wish we would all collectively spent more on science. If China is going to help science, I'm happy to cheer for them.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
vasco 2y ago
> Well water ice on the Moon was only confirmed in 2018 Thats for surface water, we confirmed a while longer the moon has water underground.
poulpy123 2y ago
> The reason you seek to explore what you don't know is because you don't know what you don't know. In theory yes, in practice it's never the case, you have to justify hard why you want to do the experience and what you expect. Especially with multi million dollar experiences like these

1234554321a 2y ago

[flagged]

porphyra 2y ago
Let's not bring sinophobia and geopolitics into a scientific mission to the moon.
- pc86 2y ago
  No, but can we bring realism into it? The explorers may be exploring for the sake of it, but the people paying for it definitely aren't. Many - perhaps even most - of the people at NASA would have probably done the job for free if they were able, but the people allocating NASA's budget in the 50s and 60s were doing so for geopolitical reasons first and foremost.
  - darkwater 2y ago
    So if it's "us" it's good, and if it's "them", it's bad?
    - Dalewyn 2y ago
      At the end of the day? Yes. No, the world ain't fair. Whoever makes a permanent presence on the Moon first gets to decide what everyone else can do there.
      - deleted 2y ago
        [deleted]
    - pc86 2y ago
      Feel free to quote from my comment where I said anything that could be construed that way.
  - hifromwork 2y ago
    Personally I don't care much who sponsors scientific missions. I wish we would all collectively spent more on science. If China is going to help science, I'm happy to cheer for them.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

vasco 2y ago

> Well water ice on the Moon was only confirmed in 2018 Thats for surface water, we confirmed a while longer the moon has water underground.

poulpy123 2y ago

> The reason you seek to explore what you don't know is because you don't know what you don't know. In theory yes, in practice it's never the case, you have to justify hard why you want to do the experience and what you expect. Especially with multi million dollar experiences like these