NASA: Moon expeditions by 2020, Mars in 25 years

By Aldrich M. Tan • Of The Northwestern • July 30, 2008

Following its 50th anniversary, NASA is looking at more expeditions to the Moon and Mars.

That's what NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said on Tuesday afternoon during a forum at the AirVenture grounds in Oshkosh.

"If we can stay on track and on target with our elected leaders...within the next 15 years, we can have a base on the Moon," he said.

Griffin said he sees NASA working on the moon in the early 2020s, as long as the space agency can maintain its current budgets and policy. He said bases similar to those in Antarctica could be feasible.

He added that a Mars expedition could be feasible in 25 years.

The space program is in the midst of a transition, Griffin said, as NASA tries to finish work on the space station and retire the shuttle program by 2010.

When lunar expeditions do start to happen, Griffin said he is looking at recruiting not only pilots but also engineers who specialize in life sciences.

"We need to figure out what it is going to take to support human beings for long term stays in those places," he said.

As NASA prepares for more expeditions, it also has addressed funnel and foam debris issues that brought down the Space Shuttle Columbia in February 2003.

Other projects related to Mars and Moon expeditions, include returning samples from Mars and looking at what kind of scientific work could be done on the moon when NASA does return, Griffin said. For example, setting up much larger radio telescopes on the Moon that could not be built on Earth.

"I think we are actually looking at a lot of good stuff," he said.

With the shuttle program scheduled to end, Griffin said it's unlikely a shuttle will come to AirVenture.

"It costs hundreds of millions of dollars to move those shuttles," he said. "It's feasible but it's too expensive."