Media state NASA will stay 6 months on Moon in 2020. Incorrect!

William Atkins
Sunday, 20 April 2008 21:29

Opinion and Analysis

Based on comments by Carl Walz, NASA Director of Advanced Capabilities Division, some media reports are stating that astronauts will be staying six months on the Moon in 2020. These media statements are not correct. Please read on.


Specifically, the title of the Sydney Morning Herald article is: “Six-month moon stays by 2020”

Walz stated at a forum at the University of Miami (Florida), "We need to establish a long, extended presence on the moon, up to six months - same as the time we spend at ISS.”

Walz was reporting, generally, that NASA plans to return to the Moon by 2020.

However, NASA is not expecting to stay on the Moon for six months in 2020. That technical ability will not be possible for several years after 2020.

Walz is only reporting that NASA envisions six-month stays on the Moon at a later date and did not specifically state, at this public appearance, that 2020 would be the year of the first six-month long stay on the Moon by U.S. astronauts.

He was only stating that 2020 is the target date for the first manned NASA mission to the lunar surface.

Specifically, to clarify the time table of these events, according to an article in New Scientist (subscription needed, “Timetable for Moon colony announced”), “The first four astronauts will land for a short visit in 2020, but it will take until at least 2024 to prepare for ‘a fully functional presence with rotating crews’, said Scott Horowitz, associate administrator for the exploration systems mission directorate.”

Other media reports are stating the more accurate story: NASA first goes to the Moon for a short visit in 2020, and then conduct longer visits (possibly six months) at a later date.

Actually, these media reports are not even stating when this "later year" will be.

For instance, AFP states this position in its article “NASA official envisions six-month stays on the moon.”

I have included excerpts of the AFP article, along with further information. Please read on.