Why so many countries want to probe moon,what we can get from the moon?

Recently US want to back to moon program and China and india already has plan to probe moon.I wonder what we can get from the moon.As I know all those program are very expensive.|||There are three reasons--any one of which will justify the expense in the long run.


1) Solving the problems that have to be solved to get to the moon generates a wealth of scientific and technical knowledge--which will transfer into a variety of usfule technological applications right here on earth--making our lives better and spurring economic growth.


2) Ultimately, moving out into space gives us access to resources (as well as potential places like Mars where people can live) far in excess of the resources we could ever hope to have on Earth. But the capability of accessing thos resources requires that we develop a space-going technology far beyond what we have now. Going to the moon is a first step on the road to doing that.


3) The moon itself is an entire world. We already know it has extensive resources. And in at least one case (Helium 3) in far greater quantity thanon Earth--and that particular substance is an ideal fuel for nuclear fusion when we devlop that technology fully in a few decades.


Ummmm--there's a 4th reason, actually. National prestige. Up to a point that's okay--its fine to be proud of your country's accomplishments as long as it doesn't bet twisted into an excuse to deride or belittle others. But I mention it because to politicians it is important--because it translates into popular support.|||One day we all may have to move there|||Once India, Pakistan, Israel and USA are done blowing the world up with the Nukes. Where do you think all the presidents and important people from these countries would go?|||Well, the moon would be the best military base there is - no weapons can reach it and capable of striking anywhere on Earth. We might have to move if the world goes insane and nukes itself to oblivion. It's also a potential source of mining and water harvesting.|||almost everything you use in your every day life, has come from NASA research projects. everything from what you wear, how you wear it and even the mattresses you sleep on. hell, NASA invinted velcro. If we colonize the moon, that means we can start learning how to live on other planets.|||Yes it is expensive but it is worth it. what do we get? first off knowledge. second, a first step to colonization. eventually we are going to have to get off this rock; it is simply too dangerous. remember, if the planet goes one way or another (meteor, nuclear war, whatever) it wont just take us; it'll take Einstein, Eratosthenes, Sagan, Michelangelo and countless others. And all of this would have been for nothing.|||Well, we can get an insight possibly on how the Moon became a barren waste. Or how planets or the Solar System were formed.





Oh, don't forget the amount of Meteors (or Asteroids) that have struck the moon over the Millenniums that we can study their makeup from.





Oh... and as a possible living area for our quickly overcrowded planet, Mother Earth.|||It costs so much to start long trips into the cosmos from down here. It is much less expensive to start a star trek from the moon. America's NASA expects to find water ice at the moon's poles. Water, as you may be aware, can be broken down into Hydrogen and Oxygen - fuel for rockets.|||Gold, gold, GOLD. Silver and gold, silver and gold enough for everyone, hurry grab your pan and hip waiters and buy your seat on the next ship to the moon.|||I am rather surprised that those who replied before me have not even mentioned the possibility of H3. H3 is a form of Hydrogen that is 'easily' fusable. It is incredibly abundant on the moon. Energy alone would be worth it. Second, I think that the moon is the next step in humanities evolution. We have conqured our planet and need to move into the next parts of our solar system. The moon is a tremendous value for space exploration and colonization.|||When they get smart enough to put a telescope on the far side, We will see our galaxy more clearly Than we do with Hubble. Plus it is a natural Satellite. Duh.|||To own a piece of moon pie or even declare independent of a country's moon if NASA indeed faked their landing on moon.


As far as it goes, I still can't see the USA flag and the NASA space vehicle on the moon which they left it over there.





Did anyone know the land coordinates on the moon? :) cheers.|||Well, we got cool things like Tang, velcro and cordless drills from the Apollo program.





I think this is more about national prestige than practical benefit.|||One of the things that the being able to get resources from the moon will allow is orbital manufacturing. Zero Gravity manufacturing promises to allow for some incredible technology, but the cost to get materials from Earth to any sort of orbital platform is far to expensive. It would be ~ 20 times cheaper to get materials from the moon to such a platform. Also, oxygen could be derived from many of the materials on the moon.|||Technology advancement.|||We're tired of probing each other, so why not try something different? Most people on Earth just like saying the word 'probe'.





Probe...probe...probe. There. I feel better.