Dems pitch national park on the moon (this is not satire)

[mota bhai 2,675]

Two House Democrats have proposed legislation that would establish a national historical park on the surface of the moon to mark where the Apollo missions landed between 1969 and 1972.

The bill from Reps. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) would create the Apollo Lunar Landing Sites National Historical Park. The park would be comprised of all artifacts left on the surface of the moon from the Apollo 11 through 17 missions.

The bill says these sites need to be protected because of the anticipated increase in commercial moon landings in the future.

...

The park ... would be run jointly by the Department of the Interior and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The measure would allow the government to accept donations from companies and foreign governments to help manage the landing sites and "provide visitor services and administrative facilities within reasonable proximity to the Historical Park."

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/309829-dems-propose-historical-park-on-the-moon

[GandD 5,966]

Ok, I'm big into the advancement of technology and space exploration. But I find it hard to justify resources spent on the moon when there's so many problems here on earth. At least Mars has the possibility of discovering something interesting. The moon is dead. We know this.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Ok, I'm big into the advancement of technology and space exploration. But I find it hard to justify resources spent on the moon when there's so many problems here on earth. At least Mars has the possibility of discovering something interesting. The moon is dead. We know this.

But it's about preserving our shared heritage as a species of wasteful explorers...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Excellent. Our infrastructure is crumbling and we worry about visitor services and administrative facilities on the moon? If that doesn't show that we have our priorities in order then I don't know what does.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Excellent. Our infrastructure is crumbling and we worry about visitor services and administrative facilities on the moon? If that doesn't show that we have our priorities in order then I don't know what does.

All infrastructure crumbles. Even the visitor center at the moon park bathroom with the gravity-free urinals will one day decompose.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

All infrastructure crumbles. Even the visitor center at the moon park bathroom with the gravity-free urinals will one day decompose.

Right. Since we can't seem to keep up with what we have here on earth, I don't think we need to put up stuff on the moon that would cost a fortune not just to put up but to keep up. Think we can find better uses for infrastructure funds here on the ground. That's just my opinion.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Right. Since we can't seem to keep up with what we have here on earth, I don't think we need to put up stuff on the moon that would cost a fortune not just to put up but to keep up. Think we can find better uses for infrastructure funds here on the ground. That's just my opinion.

Maybe you didn't hear me. Gravity-free urinals.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Maybe you didn't hear me. Gravity-free urinals.

Since we're talking hypotheticals, I'd imagine those to be interesting devices.

[Darnell 8,479]

But it's about preserving our shared heritage as a species of wasteful explorers...

I've always thought that's for Americans, specifically Americans that had an interest in preserving it.

What to do about naturalized citizens who have no interest in this stuff? hmmmmmm

Edited July 9, 2013 by Darnell

[GandD 5,966]

All infrastructure crumbles. Even the visitor center at the moon park bathroom with the gravity-free urinals will one day decompose.

Wouldn't it only crumble if hit by meteor?

[mota bhai 2,675]

Wouldn't it only crumble if hit by meteor?

Urine is corrosive, all that free floating urine even more so.

[Rattlehead 69]

We'll get this started right after Guam flips over...

[mota bhai 2,675]

We'll get this started right after Guam flips over...

I had forgotten all about that. That was worse, IMO. Building a national park on the moon is at the very least within the realm of possibility.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

We'll get this started right after Guam flips over...

That still hasn't happened?

[GandD 5,966]

We'll get this started right after Guam flips over...

Nice ref.