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California Institute of Technology Astronomer Fritz Zwicky believes that observations from the moon will quickly yield answers to two major astronomical problems. With telescopes on the moon, scientists can take more definitive spectrums from the light of remote stars, and perhaps obtain decisive data about the universal "red shift" of light (caused by the speeding outward of distant galaxies). By precisely measuring the shift—and thus the speed of recession—of these galaxies, scientists should be able to determine whether the universe will continue to expand eternally or eventually stop and then begin contracting. "It could settle once and for all the question of the evolution of our universe," Zwicky says, "and give us some understanding of its large-scale structure." In addition, he notes that with a view of the far infrared range, "we shall not only be able to see down to the central nucleus of the Milky Way system, but we may see right through the Milky Way and observe galaxies about which we are not even aware today."
Scientists acknowledge the obvious difficulties and great costs of transporting large telescopes and other heavy equipment to the moon. To obviate the problem, Rand Corp. Researcher George Kocher suggests actually building a large mirror on the lunar surface, using quartz produced from silica—if it exists on the moon—and giving it a more accurate surface than terrestrial mirrors by shaping it with ion beams (which are effective only in a vacuum) instead of abrasives. Several astronomers have pointed out that round lunar craters lined with chicken wire would make ideal reflectors for radio telescopes similar to the 1,000-ft. Cornell University radio dish, set in a rounded valley near Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
The moon is also a natural, orbiting Cape Kennedy. To blast off, a spacecraft need overcome a pull of gravity only one-sixth as strong as the earth's, and does not have to expend any energy to push through a thick atmosphere.
Thus an escape velocity of little more than 5,000 m.p.h. (v. 25,000 m.p.h. from earth) and the use of a relatively small amount of fuel will be sufficient to launch moon rockets toward the earth and more distant planets.
Lunar gravity is relatively so weak, as a matter of fact, that some scientists have suggested launching spacecraft by simply accelerating them with electrical power along a track. Unimpeded by atmospheric friction, the vehicles could accelerate very rapidly, limited only by the maximum gravity that their cargo could withstand. An unmanned craft designed to take a force of 50 G's, for example, could reach escape velocity on a track only four miles long. Manned ships, whose passengers could not be exposed to so high a G-force, would need a track considerably longer.
Near Perfect Vacuum