Harrison H. Schmitt, Ph.D., and only geologist to have walked on the Moon to date, presented in testimony before the Subcommittee on Space of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology of the U.S. House of Representatives on February 16, 2017, that a return to the Moon appears to be essential to increasing significantly the probability of success of a Mars landing and exploration program and to maximizing the scientific return from such a program. Such a return to deep-space exploration, however, requires the unequivocal and sustained commitment of the Nation, even more so than was required for the Apollo Program because of the multi-decadal nature of the effort.
Mars also provides a geological integration of the early solar system impacts recorded by the Moon and the contemporaneous water-rich, pre-biotic period on Earth. Mars
exploration has the potential to unravel the origin of life on Earth, as well as being a geopolitical imperative for democratic nations. Finally, if a decision is made to move quickly to re-assert United States dominance in space, we are well positioned to do so.
The geopolitical environment facing the United States today is as critical as that which faced the Congress and the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations prior to Apollo. The technical capabilities available actually significantly exceed those of May 1961. Thanks to leaders in the Congress and NASA, the development of the Space Launch System is well ahead of Saturn V development at a comparable time. The Orion spacecraft is in testing rather than just being on the drawing board. Constellation’s Altair Lander design has progressed well beyond that of the early Lunar Module designs. Unlike the 1960s, the private sector is well positioned to support as well as partner with the government. It is time to move forward, sooner rather than later.
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