as seen on tv
Senator
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2602291/We-coming-Moon-FOREVER-Russia-sets-plans-conquer-colonise-space-including-permanent-manned-moon-base.html
“We are coming to the moon FOREVER” boasted Russia’s president-for-life Vlad Putin yesterday.
An ambitious objective, given that no cosmonaut has ever set foot there. But who are we to laugh? America doesn’t even have a space shuttle anymore, and must hitch rides on Soviet spacecraft to reach the ISS (International Space Station). Failure to stay in their good graces – in this ride sharing scheme – would likely see the ISS as Russian only gulag in the sky.
Remember when Nikita Kruschev promised the world that when the first american astronauts reached the moon, Soviet cosmonauts would be there to greet them? A foolish boast, but you can hardly blame Kruschev. The year before he had been trounced by Nixon (NIXON !!) in the NY Worlds Fair “kitchen sink” debate, where the soviet premier was befuddled by newfangled inventions such as electric can openers, dishwashers, and pop up toasters; Little Nicky insisted that such luxuries were only available to a tiny fraction of elite US homes.
You’ve come a long way, Russia! A couple of months ago, on the eve of the Winter Olympics, a CBS 60 minutes TV crew travelled to Sochi, the city where it never snows, to demonstrate what happens to unwary travelers. Their cell phones, iPads, and laptops were immediately hacked and searched for passwords and financial data; they then received complimentary downloads of viruses. American hackers are probably unable to duplicate feats like this.
I do believe Putin when he asserts Russia could build a permanent moon base, and order cosmonauts to live there.
However, I’m skeptical that anyone would enjoy it, or that any meaningful scientific discoveries would be made, other than purification of urine into drinking water still has an off taste.
Proceed, comrade Putin. The whole world is watching. Anything to keep you from invading your democracy loving neighbors, since we no longer have a working relationship with NATO, in addition to failing to keep up the repairs and maintenance on the space shuttle.
Do Svidanya !
