National Academy of Sciences Advises Return to Lunar Surface

An artist's rendition of the Orion spacecraft. It is planned to take astronauts to the moon by 2020.

Image: USAToday.com

A panel from the National Academy of Sciences declared, "The moon is priceless to planetary scientists." The Academy responded enthusiastically to NASA's planned lunar exploration. President Bush hopes current funding will lead to a landing between 2015 and 2020, a trip that may entail an "extended presence there." Scientists believe the moon's geology holds clues to planetary evolution. NASA recently announced that Lockheed Martin will construct the Orion lunar spacecraft, a replacement of the space shuttle.

--See the USA Today for more information