THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHTED LATEDDEST ON WHAT SCIENTISTS ARE HOPING TO FIND ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON.

FIRST TONIGHT A WEEK TO GO IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.

WHAT DECISIONS FROM ANNAPOLIS WILL AFFECT YOUR LIFE?

JOINING US ARE THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER DELEGATE DAVID MOON AND THE MINORITY LEADER DEG JASON BUCKEL I WATCHED MOST OF IT ON OUR EXCELLENT LIVE STREAM.

DELEGATE MOON I WILL START WITH YOU, WHAT IS THE MOST SEQUENTIALAL THING TO COME OUT OF THE SESSION SO FAR?

>> WELL, I THINK TOP LINE WE HAVE TO WORK ON THE BUDGET AND KEEP THAT FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY IN MARYLAND'S ECONOMY.

SO I AM VERY PLEASED ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE BALANCED THE BUDGET MORE THAN BALANCED IT, ACTUALLY.

WE HAVE $280 MILLION SURPLUS THIS YEAR AND THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES OR FEES ON RESIDENTS.

AND AS YOU KNOW, PART OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES COMING TO US FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDING TO PASS MANY COSTS ON TO US.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HELP THE MINORITY LEADER AND OTHER DISTRICTS WITH THINGS LIKE DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUNDING AFTER FEMA DECIDED MARYLAND IS NO LONGER DESERVING.

BETWEEN HEALTHCARE, DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES WE ARE DID OUR BEST TO PROP UP SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS SO THEY DON'T FEEL THOSE IMPACTS.

>> Jeff: DELEGATE BUCKEL YOUR WESTERN MARYLAND VIEW OF THIS BUDGET?

>> WELL, I VOTED FOR THE BUDGET EVEN THOUGH I HAD SIGNIFICANT RESERVATIONS ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE STORY SO FAR WITH SIX OR SEVEN DAYS LEFT TO GO IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOT WHAT WE'VE DONE BUT WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE.

AND WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IS A LOT TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY FOR MARYLAND RESIDENTS.

WHILE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN TAX RAISES THERE HAVE NOT BEEN TAX CUTS EITHER OR FEE CUTS.

WE HAVE NOT SOLVED THE INCREDIBLE ISSUE OF OUR UTILITY COSTS ENERGY COSTS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF.

WE HAVE NOT CHANGED ANYTHING ABOUT OUR PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE AND WORK IN MARYLAND ANYMORE.

AND I THINK WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HERE IN ANNAPOLIS HAVE TRIED TO DO IT'S HARD TO SAY THEY ARE HALF MEASURES THEY ARE QUARTER MEASURES AT BEST AND THINGS UP IN THE AIR.

OVERALL IT'S BEEN A SESSION WHERE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF MARYLAND HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN WE SEEM TO BE ON AUTOPILOT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DID NOT CREATE ADDITIONAL DEFICITS NEXT YEAR WE ARE PROJECTED AT $3 BILLION.

WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT.

EVERYONE THAT UNDERSTANDS MARYLAND'S ECONOMIC CONDITION KNOWS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD THE BLUEPRINT THE EDUCATIONAL REFORM PACKAGE PUT TOGETHER WITHOUT MASSIVE NEW TAX AND FEE HIKES AND MARYLAND'S ECONOMY CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT AND WE'VE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

>> Jeff: HOW DO YOU AND YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES DECIDE WHETHER TO VOTE FOR THE BUDGET BILL?

YOU TYPICALLY PROPOSE AMENDMENTS THAT TYPICALLY FAIL.

AND YOU VOTED FOR IT.

>> DON'T RUB IT IN, JEFF.

>> Jeff: ANYBODY WHO WATCHES THE STREAM WHICH I RECOMMEND DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, WE'LL SEE IDEAS AND THEN YOU KNOW A LOT OF RED VOTES ON THE SCREEN.

SOME PEOPLE IN YOUR CAUCUS VOTE NO AND SOME PEOPLE VOTE YES WHEN IT'S UP FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK AS REPUBLICANS WE TRY NOT TO BE CONTROLLING OF OUR MEMBERS.

THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS BY AND LARGE 99% OF THEM THEY VOTE WHICHEVER WAY THE SPEAKER VOTES THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THEM.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT OUR CAUCUS.

LAST YEAR NO REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR THE BUDGET IT WAS BASED ON 1.6 BILLION IN NEW TAXES AND FEES.

ANYTHING IF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS GOING TO BE BALANCED USING NEW TAXES AND FEES THERE WILL NOT BE REPUBLICANS VOTING FOR IT.

IN THIS PARTICULAR YEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE MADE DECISIONS THAT BEST REFLECTED THEIR DISTRICTS.

MY AREA IN WESTERN MARYLAND IS IN NEED OF FUNDING THIS YEAR FOR FLOOD RELIEF AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

AND THE BUDGET THAT GOVERNOR MOORE STARTED WITH AND WAS ADDED TO THROUGH OUR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOK CARE OF A LOT OF THOSE ISSUESNESS THOSE FROM MY REGION SUPPORTED THE BUDGET RELUCTANTLY BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE VOICES OF OUR COLLEAGUES WHO THINK THAT WE'RE JUST KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LONG-TERM BUDGETARY PROBLEMS WE ARE NOT FIXING.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SEND ALWAYS AN E-MAIL THE ADDRESS WILL BE ON THE SCREEN.

DELEGATE MOON, I WANTED TO TRANSITION TO THE UTILITY RELIEF BILL THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

>> SURE.

SO, LOOK, THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND THERE'S BAD NEWS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE WERE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE BIT HERE ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY.

RATEPAYERS SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE $150 NEXT YEAR IN RATE RELIEF.

BUT IF YOU ARE A LOWER INCOME RESIDENT, OR YOU HAVE FIXED INCOME AND CHALLENGES WITH YOUR FINANCES THAT RELIEF COULD BE MUCH GREATER.

THERE'S $300 MILLION OF ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN THAT BUDGET.

AND IN TERMS OF LONGER TERM OUTLOOK I WANT TO POINT OUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN MARYLAND IS NOT UNIQUE TO OUR STATE.

I WAS JUST VOLUMING AROUND THE NEWS AND NOTING THAT WEST VIRGINIA WITH ITS COAL IS HAVING ENERGY SPIKES.

PENNSYLVANIA WITH FRACKED GAS IS HAVING ENERGY SPIKES ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE HAVING ENERGY SPIKES.

AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO UNWIND FROM THIS.

NATIONALLY.

WE DID PUT FORWARD BATTERY STORAGE AND CLEAN ENERGY PROPOSALS WHICH EVEN THE CONSOLATION C.E.O.

SAYS IS THE QUICKEST THINGS WE CAN GET ON-LINE NOW.

WE HAVE IRONS IN THE FIRE FOR NEW POWER GENERATION FROM NUCLEAR AND GAS, AND SO, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP THIS CONVERSATION ROLLING.

BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SHORE-UP WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IRAN, OURSELVES HERE IN MARYLAND ALONE I KNOW THE MINORITY LEADERS LOVES TO SAY WE ARE NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE CANNOT CONTROL THOSE THINGS.

BUT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF ON ENERGY ASSISTANCE TRYING TO HOLD HEALTHCARE COSTS DOWN AND GET MORE HOUSING ON-LINE.

>> Jeff: AND JASON IN A SECOND, HAS IT CHANGED THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THESE DATA CENTERS?

>> WELL, THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID ACTUALLY BEFORE WE GAVELED IN WE HAD A DATA CENTER DEMAND STUDY BASICALLY, IT WAS VETOED AND WE PUT THIS THING BACK IN WITH OVERRIDES.

BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE STATE AN INDEPENDENT ABILITY TO ASSESS HOW MUCH ENERGY DEMAND IS ACTUALLY OUT THERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECULATIVE PROJECTS OUT THERE WITH FOLKS TRYING TO CHASE ALL OF THAT CHATURVEDI OVER A.I., FACEBOOK, MONEY THAT IS BEING THROWN AT DATA CENTERS AND DATA PROJECTS.

BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE NEVER GOING TO MATERIALIZE.

SO WE ARE INITIATING A PROCESS SO WE CAN CALL A BLUFF ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTIONS AND KNOW WHAT IS REAL.

>> Jeff: DELEGATE BUCKEL DO YOU WANT TO REOPEN THE QUESTION FOR FRACKING FOR NATURAL GAS?

THE ONLY PLACE IN THE STATE IS WESTERN MARYLAND.

IT WAS BANNED, BUT IT COULD REOPEN THAT AND WHO KNOWS HAVE HOW MANY DATA CENTERS?

>> THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE THE REALITY IS YOU HAVE HYDRAULIC FRACKING FOR NATURAL GAS IN WESTERN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA ARE DOING OKAY.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS MARYLAND HAS A FUNDAMENTAL SUPPLY AND DEMAND PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY.

AND ELECTRICITY.

MY 12TH YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE, DELEGATE MOOB AND I CAME IN TOGETHER AS FRESHMEN.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT I CAN EVER RECALL WHERE ANYONE IS TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING IN THE ENERGY SPACE OTHER THAN HOW DO WE CREATE MORE GREEN ENERGY MANDATES.

AND THEY COST MONEY ON YOUR UTILITY BILL EVERY MONTH, THERE ARE SOMETIMES 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 DOLLARS TACKED ON TO YOUR BILL TO PROMOTE SUBSIDIZATION OF SOLAR, WIND, THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE MUCH WIND I LIVE IN A DISTRICT THE ONLY WIND PROJECT IN THE STATE IS IN MY PART OF THE STATE.

SO WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THAT.

WE NEED MORE ENERGY PRODUCTION IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING DATA CENTERS IN.

AND I SUBMIT WE WANT TO BE THE CAPITAL OF A.I.

AND THE CAPITAL OF QUANTUM COMPUTING YOU ARE NOTE GOING TO DO THOSE THINGS UNLESS YOU HAVE A DATA CENTER ECONOMY.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT YOU HAVE TO ENABLE THEM TO CREATE MORE ENERGY.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE NATURAL GAS, MIGHT BE COAL, IT'S GOING TO BE THE EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR.

WE HAVE SAT ON OUR HANDS WHILE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS HAVE RAN THE SHOW FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS HERE.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S TIME TO FACE THE REALITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BUILD MORE ENERGY, EFFECTIVELY AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WIND AND ALL SOLAR.

WE NEED TO DO IT THIS YEAR AND THIS ENERGY PACKAGE IS NOT GOING TO MOVE THAT BALL FORWARD.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE ANY AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT DISAGREEMENT, DAVID, BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AND THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE?

>> DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR CHAMBERS?

>> Jeff: YES -- >> THE FEDERAL RESPONSE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THESE POINTS.

WE HAVE BEEN MOVING THE IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION ALONG FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

TO TRY AND BRING ACCOUNTABILITY TO SOME OF THE MORE -- SOME OF THE MORE VIOLENT MISCONDUCT FROM I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

AND WE'VE GOT THE SENATE NOW IN PARTNERSHIP ON THAT, TO SOME EXTENT BUT ON OTHER ISSUES SAY, ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING, YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE ISSUES KNOWS WE ARE GOING TO THE FINAL HOURS IN SESSION WITH SOME OF THESE STILL UP IN THE AIR.

AND WE DON'T KNOW.

AS I LOOK AT IT THE SUPREME COURT IS GETTING READY TO HEAR THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND WE WILL SEE A WAVE OF RED STATES ENGAGING IN MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING FALL AND WINTER.

SO HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS.

WE TRIED.

DELEGATE BUCKEL HALF A MINUTE?

>> WELL, I HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX DAYS WE CAN TRY TO DO MORE FOR THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF MARYLANDERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND THAT IS AFFORDABILITY.

THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS BECOMING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LEAVE MORE THAN WHAT THEY COME TO AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS IT'S EXPENSIVE TO HAVE HOUSING WE KEEP ADDING REQUIREMENTS THAT MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE.

IT'S EXPENSIVE TO HEAT YOUR HOME, AND PROVIDE YOUR UTILITIES AND YOUR TAXES AND YOUR PROPERTY TAXES TO REGISTER YOUR CAR.

AND MY DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS HEAD ON.

>> Jeff: GENTLEMEN WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I APOLOGIZE.

DELEGATES BUCKEL AND MOON WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: JOINING US IS MEHDI BENNA A PLANETARY SCIENTIST WORKING WITH NASA AND UMBC.

Dr.

BENNA WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AS WE WERE SPEAKING WE ARE BOTH WATCHING NASA TV THE ARTEMIS MISSION IS GETTING CLOSER.

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ON THAT SPACECRAFT?

>> OH, THAT'S -- OWE IT'S PROBABLY THE DREAM OF EVERY PLANETARY SCIENTIST I KNOW TO BE IN AT THAT TIME CAPSULE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE HAVE FOUR CAPABILITY ASTRONAUTS AND THEY ARE OUR EYES THERE.

>> Jeff: TELL ME WHY THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON HOLDS SUCH INTEREST FOR SCIENTISTS?

MY WHOLE LIFE I'M LOOKING AT THE MOON WE'RE SEEING THE NEAR SIDE AND IT'S GRAY AND LIFELESS AND WE SORT OF KNOW THE FAR SIDE IS THE SAME, RIGHT?

>> WELL, IT'S THE FAR SIDE HOLDS TWO MYSTERIES BASICALLY.

THE FIRST ONE IS THAT AS YOU SAID IT'S WE CALL IT THE FAR SIDE BECAUSE WE NEVER SEE IT FROM EARTH.

THE MOON MANAGES TO ALWAYS KEEP IT ON THE HIDDEN SIDE.

IT'S THE BEAUTY OF ORBITAL MECHANICS MAKES THAT THE MOON NEVER SHOW THE FAR SIDE TOWARD THE EARTH.

SO WE COULDN'T NEVER HAVE SEEN IT UNTIL THE 1960s WHEN NASA STARTED SENDING INITIALLY SPACE PROBES AND ASTRONAUTS GOT TO ORBIT THE MOON AND DISCOVER WHAT THAT FAR SIDE LOOKS LIKE.

IT IS A FASCINATION BASICALLY, BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.

WE DON'T GET TO OBSERVE IT UNLESS A SPACECRAFT OR ASTRONAUT APPEARS BEHIND THE MOON.

THE SECOND REASON IS THAT ONCE WE REALLY GOT IMAGES OF THAT FAR SIDE WE DISCOVERED IT HAS LOOKS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THE NEAR SIDE THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

THE NEAR SIDE HAVE THOSE DARK PATCHES THE MARRY, THE VOLCANIC MAGNET BASINS.

THE FAR SIDE IS MOSTLY MADE OF MUCH RUGGED TERRAIN, HIGHLANDS THAT TYPE TERRAIN.

AND THAT TELLS US THAT THE HISTORY OF THE MOON FORMATION IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE INITIALLY THOUGHT.

AND SO YOU NEED TO REALLY STUDY THE FAR SIDE AND THE NEAR SIDE TOGETHER TO COME WITH THE CORRECT STORY OF THE FORMATION OF THE MOON.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO OBSERVE THE NEAR SIDE ALL THE TIME.

WE HAVE LESS DATA ON THE FAR SIDE.

SO OPPORTUNITIES LIKE ARTEMIS WHEN WE GO BEHIND THE MOON IT ALLOWS US TO GET MORE DATA.

>> Jeff: I THINK WHAT YOU LEARNED A LONG, LONG TIME AGO WAS THAT SOMETHING SOME ASTEROID OR SOMETHING HIT THE EARTH AND BLEW OFF OF A CHUNK AND THAT BECAME THE MOON?

>> THAT IS THE CORRECT.

THAT IS THE STANDING THEORY RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE MOON IS BASICALLY A CHUNK OF EARTH THAT BASICALLY WAS BLASTED AWAY IN SPACE BY A LARGE IMPACT EARLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE EARTH.

>> Jeff: AND I JUST HEARD TODAY AND TELL ME IF THIS IS TRUE, THAT ROCKS ON THE MOON CAN BE A LOT OLDER THAN ROCKS ON EARTH.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THE EARTH IS SUBJECT TO A LOT OF GEOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATIONS YOU HAVE VOLUME VOLCANOS AND TECTONIC PLATES AND WE HAVE THE CORE THAT KEEP RECYCLING, CYCLING THE MATERIAL FROM THE CRUST AND THE MAN TELL.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF GEOLOGICAL ACTIVITY ON THE MOON.

THE MOON IS MUCH, MUCH QUIETER GEOLOGICALLY.

SO ROCKS THAT ARE ON THE SURFACE BASICALLY REMAINS ON THE SURFACE.

THEY DON'T SEE ANY ALTERATION THERE IS NO WATER, NO LIQUID TO TRANSFORM THEM CHEMICALLY.

SO IF YOU PICK A ROCK ON THE MOON, YOU QUICKLY FIND YOURSELF YOU TOUCHING THINGS THAT ARE THREE BILLION YEARS OLD MATERIAL.

>> Jeff: WOW.

>> IT'S HARD TO FIND THAT ON EARTH ON THE SURFACE, BY THE WAY.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK AT NASA GODDARD AND UMBC DISM.

>> SO I AM THE PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR OF ONE OF THE ARTEMIS INSTRUMENTS THAT WILL FLY ON ONE OF THE FUTURE ARTEMIS MISSIONS AFTER ARTEMIS 2 RETURNS.

THIS IS AN INSTRUMENT THAT WAS SELECTED BY NASA TO MEASURE THE SEISMIC ACTIVITY OF THE MOON ON THE SOUTH POLE OF THE MOON.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN BUSY DEVELOPING AND BUILDING AND TESTING THIS INSTRUMENT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM WHEN YOU ENGINEER SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS LUNAR DUST?

>> OH, IT IS CENTRAL.

IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THE MOON IS VERY DUSTY IF YOU LOOK AT OLD FOOTAGE FROM THE APOLO ASTRONAUTS WHERE THEY GO OUT WITH A BEAUTIFUL WHITE SUIT AND COME BACK INSIDE WITH A GRAY SUIT.

ALL THE DUST PARTICLES THEY ACCUMULATE IS A HINDERANCE TO OPERATION.

IT CAN JAM EQUIPMENT.

IT CAN -- IT IS A HAZARD IT'S VERY ABRASIVE, QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE DUST WE KNOW ON EARTH.

THE DUST ON THE MOON IF YOU TAKE A DUST LOOK AT IT UNDER A MICROSCOPE IT'S JAGGED SO IT STICKS EVERYWHERE IT'S ABRASIVE AND VERY, VERY, VERY FINE MOST OF THE PARTICLES THAT YOU MAKES THE LUNAR SOIL ARE IN THE MICRON SIZE PARTICLES.

>> Jeff: THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM IF THIS RENEWED INTEREST IN THE MOON LEADS TO A PERMANENT BASE, I IMAGINE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DESIGNED TO BE RESILIENT TO DUST.

WHAT EXACERBATES THINGS ON THE MOON ALSO IS THE SOIL ON THE MOON IS ELECTRICALLY CHARGED UP.

AND SO THE DUST ACTUALLY LEVITATES SO IT'S NOT JUST ON THE SURFACE IT'S ACTUALLY CAN RISE UP TO A FEW FEET FROM THE GROUND.

SO OF THE EVERYTHING EVEN THINGS THAT YOU PLACE HIGHER FROM THE SURFACE, WILL END UP GETTING DUSTY.

>> Jeff: JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE IDEA OF A PERMANENT BASE ON THE MOON AS YOU KNOW NASA HAS FIXED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, THERE'S INTEREST IN MARS.

HOW WOULD A PERMANENT MOON BASE STACK UP?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THE BASE HAVING A PERMANENT BASE ON THE MOON IS THE NATURAL PATH TO START CARRYING OUT MISSIONS TO MARS.

MARS IS A PLANET THAT IS MUCH FURTHER AWAY THAN THE MOON AND IT WILL TAKE US ABOUT SIX TO NINE MONTHS TO GET THERE.

SO ASTRONAUTS ONCE THEY ARE THERE ON THE SURFACE, YOU MOST LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE THERE FOR A WEEK OR TWO YOU HAVE TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF ON A LONGER TIME-FRAME.

AND SO FOR MARS EXPEDITION WE NEED TO REALLY DEVELOP A LOT OF AUTONOMY FOR THESE CREWS ON THE SURFACE.

AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT DIRECTLY ON A MARS MISSION WE NEED SOMETHING CLOSER WHERE WE CAN DEVELOP THESE TOOLS WE CAN DEVELOP THESE PROCESSES WHERE THE ASTRONAUTS CAN SUSTAIN THEMSELVES ON THE SURFACE.

BUT ON A -- IN A MUCH CLOSER ENVIRONMENT IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED THEY ARE THREE OR FOUR DAYS FROM EARTH COMPARED TO SIX TO NINE MONTHS ON MARS.

SO THE MOON CAN SERVE OF TRULY DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM FOR AN EXTENDED MISSION ON MARS.

>> Jeff: I READ THERE'S INTEREST, I BELIEVE, IT WAS THE SOUTH POLE OF THE MOON.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO BOTH POLES OF THE MOON ARE VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE ONE OF THE ALSO THE ONE THAT MAKES THE MOON REALLY ORBIT WITH THE ROTATION AXIS PERFECTLY VERTICAL TO ITS MOTION AROUND THE SUN.

THAT MEANS, THIS MEANS THAT THE SUNLIGHT IT'S A VERY, VERY ANGLES IN BOTH POLES.

SINCE YOU HAVE CRATERS, SOME ARE PERMANENT SHADOW.

THE SUN CAN NEVER SHINE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CRATERS.

THIS MAKE PRESIDENT THEM EXTREMELY COLD.

AND ANYTIME YOU HAVE A PLACE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM THAT IS VERY COLD IT'S USUALLY ENDS UP ACCRUING VOLATILE SPECIES.

SO THE CRATER IN THE SOUTH POLE AND THE NORTH POLE ARE BASICALLY SPONGES FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS OF ALL THE GASES THAT HAVE EXISTED DURING THE EARTH AND THE MOON FORMATION.

SO GOING TO THE SOUTH POLE AND THE NORTH POLE AND TRYING TO GET INSIDE THESE SHADOW CRATERS WILL TELL US A LOT ABOUT HOW THE EARTH AND THE MOON FORMED BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO LET'S TAKE ONE STAB AT THE IDEA THAT WE EARTHLINGS ALWAYS SEE THE SAME SIDE OF THE MOON THERE IS NO DARK SIDE OF THE MOON.

THAT CHANGES BUT THERE IS A FAR SIDE AND A NEAR SIDE.

SO IF MY FIST IS THE MOON AS IT ROTATES AND IT ORBITS THE EARTH BUT IT DOES THEM IN SYNC SO THAT LIKE THIS SIDE OF MY FIST IS ALWAYS FACING US, IS THAT ABOUT IT?

>> IT'S ABOUT THAT.

IT'S THE PERIOD OF ROTATION OF THE MOON IS 29-AND-A-HALF DAYS AROUND EARTH AND IT'S 29-AND-A-HALF DAYS AROUND ITSELF.

SO IT ROTATES AROUND ITSELF AS IT ROTATES AROUND EARTH AND THE SAME FACE KEEPS LOOKING AT US ALL THE TIME.

>> Jeff: Dr.

MEHDI BENNA THANK YOU AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE IMAGES COMING BACK.

>> PLEASURE.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

NEXT WEEK, AT THIS TIME LIVE ON "DIRECT CONNECTION" GOVERNOR MOORE WILL JOIN US FOR THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NOW, FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION".

AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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