On Thursday, a US Panel told the White House that it should scrap plans to return to the Moon in favor of visiting asteroids or the moons of Mars.
The Panel says that the amount of fuel required to leave the Moon or Mars isn't worth the trip. Due to the gravity of these celestial bodies, spacecraft would have to carry extra fuel for the journey which would increase costs by requiring double the fuel normally needed to leave the Earth. The 155-page report also stated that starting in 2014 NASA would need an additional $3 Billion dollars if astronauts are to travel beyond the Earth's orbit. This budgetary problem would lead to a change in plans which President Obama will give the final word to either continues the Moon Program or elect the other less-costly options.
One news agency reported this information incorrectly in saying that the panel suggested sending Astronauts to Venus or Mars. Venus is not an option, its atmospheric pressure and temperature of 700+ degrees Fahrenheit has destroyed numerous probes that have landed on the surface. Mars was also not an option listed in the report, but rather the moons of Mars.
Information found on:
USAToday.com
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2009-10-22-nasa-panel-skip-moon_N.htm
