• spongebue@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    One thing I’ve always wondered: let’s say we NEEDED to go to the moon right away, even if it meant taking a few safety shortcuts. Like, aliens landed there and demanded a face-to-face meeting before they destroy our planet and we don’t know how long they’ll wait for us (could be minutes, could be centuries, but who wants to find out?)… What’s the fastest we could, in theory, get there?

    • Agent641@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      It depends, do you need to return your representative, or can we leave him on the moon? Latter is easier. Maybe he can hitchhike back with the aliens.

      If it’s a one-way mission, it could be done with a Falcon heavy and a slapped-together lander sourced from NASA. Maybe even an old Gemini capsule or something from the Smithsonian.

      Or you could send up a Falcon heavy with fuel payload, rendezvous with the ISS, pick up a 'naut, and steal a Soyuz, although I’m not sure if they can be configured to land on the moon

    • ikidd@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Republicans will cancel it, I guarantee it. Then they’ll put their stamp on a new mission, put it all into SpaceX hands, and send Melon some more money.

      • april@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Not so sure about that. SpaceX already has the lander contract for Artemis and that’s their main source of funding for starship development.

        I think Trump really wants a big achievement like America back in space on his record, even if he doesn’t deserve it.