According to GW (in 2004), NASA’s new strategy is to make it back to the moon by 2020. We’re supposed to build a moon base, and then… on to Mars. For those of us who grew up on Star Trek, we were really excited at the prospect of a return to space, but frankly we were expecting warp drive by now. But what to do when we get there? NASA has worked up a nice to-do list numbering 181 possibilties. At the top of their list (and mine) is a potential radio telescope built into a crater on the far side shielded from Earth’s radio noise. I’ve taken a look through half of their huge PDF file and picked out some other favorites:

• Making precise measurements of the Moon’s position to test Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Laser ranging measurements of the Moon’s position have given us some of our most accurate tests of Einstein’s theory of gravity (which has so far passed all its tests). Placing laser transponders on the Moon would significantly enhance the power of these tests.
• Detect and monitor Near Earth Objects (NEO) to discover threats to the Earth and Moon. The long lunar night and the absence of atmosphere make the Moon an attractive location for discovering NEOs that might otherwise go undetected from Earth or Low Earth Orbit. Earth’s impact crater history and the ever increasing catalog of newly discovered NEOs demonstrate the importance of NEO research for global protection.
• Map the surface composition of the Earth, from a wholedisc perspective, to provide information on land use, composition, and change. Data from a MODIS/ASTER/Hyperion – like instrument of the whole Earth disc would provide information on land surface mineralogy, land use/land cover change, and biomass/ecosystem monitoring. These datasets (depending on spatial and spectral resolution) could also be useful for observing ocean color and sea surface temperature, as well as for atmospheric studies such as detecting, mapping, and monitoring the large dust emission events in China and the Sahara in near-real time.
• Monitor Earth’s “hot spots” to detect and monitor volcanic activity. A lunar-based infrared instrument could provide whole Earth thermal data with a temporal frequency of seconds. This data is critical for monitoring and responding to large volcanic eruptions. Current Low Earth Orbit and Geosynchronous Orbit satellites provide only 1-8 km/pixel resolution data, with temporal frequencies from 15 minutes to 6 hours. These instruments also do not provide a whole-Earth perspective. A lunar instrument (if multi to hyperspectral) could also be useful for atmospheric monitoring and surface composition/radiant flux measurements.
• Develop and deploy closed loop life support systems to increase self sufficiency of future long duration human exploration missions and minimize the impact of humans on the environment. Closed loop life support systems enable long duration human settlement and exploration missions, including Mars missions, by providing the capability for self-sufficient operations with minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Maximize crew productivity by enabling computer-controlled systems to maintain breathable air and potable water supplies with minimal supervision. In addition, technology transfer to terrestrial applications can reduce the impact of the human waste burden on the Earth’s environment as well.
• Study key plant and bacterial species to evaluate the feasibility of integrating them into life support systems. A number of plant and bacterial species have been identified for studying fundamental and applied topics related to the long term effects of the lunar environment on processes associated with bioregenerative life support systems.
• Establish a globally accepted lunar reference coordinate system to avoid confusion in planning and executing lunar missions. Who besides me thought we already had this all set up?