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Article: Should astronauts return to the moon? That's what President Bush has proposed, but scientists are divided about whether the moon is the right goal.(DEBATE)
- Article from:
- New York Times Upfront
- Article date:
- December 12, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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YES We should return to the moon for three reasons: science, resources, and inspiration.
The moon opens a window on the 4-billion-year history and evolution of our planet and the other planets of the solar system. Because the moon has no atmosphere and little internal heat, the fine lunar dust has recorded the time line of geologic events--events continually erased from the dynamic surface of the Earth.
Lunar landscapes can be confusing, so astronauts need to walk and work on them to recognize which rock samples to collect and analyze. Unlike robots, only people have the intelligence and expert knowledge needed to unravel these mysteries. Field geology ...