Could future generations grow up on the Moon ? Image Credit: YouTube / ESA
ESA's ambitious 'Moon village' plan could see humans living on the lunar surface within 25 years.
Speaking at the European Planetary Science Congress in Riga this week, 'Moon Village' ambassador Bernard Foing outlined how creating a permanent settlement on the Moon is not only viable, but something that could be genuinely achieved over the next few decades.
By 2030, he proposed, mankind could have established a lunar settlement of between six and ten pioneers made up of scientists, technician and engineers.
Within the following decade, the population of the colony would increase to around 100 people and by 2050 it will have grown exponentially with over 1,000 people living and working on the Moon.
Unfortunately however, while there is a great deal of interest in the project among scientists and entrepreneurs, politicians have so far been hesitant to commit.
One of the biggest problems, as always, is money, meaning that any attempt to elicit funding for such an ambitious project may hinge on whether such an endeavour has long-term financial potential.
"It is highly frustrating," said physicist Vidvuds Beldavs of the University of Latvia.
I'm absolutely certain that it will. Whether it is by 2040 I'm not so sure about, but a lunar base is an inevitable part of the future of space exploration. ESA, the Russians and the Chinese have all expressed a desire to return to the moon and it looks like the Trump administration may direct NASA to do the same (rather than going straight to Mars as has been their recent goal). The first non-government designed, built and financed lunar landers are due to arrive on the Moon within the next six months as part of the Google Lunar X-Prize competition. Both NASA and ESA are looking to use commer... [More]
I'm sure that this is possible. Nasa knows a lot more than they let on for us to believe. I doubt I'll be alive than. Science has always fascinated me and kept my interest since I was younger.
it sure is... I have at least a dozen recommendations as to who should be a part of the contingent... 88 spots still available! While I'm sure human beings could and likely will create a moon "base", as "an inevitable part of the future of space exploration", I'm skeptical of the term "space exploration", esp where humans come in... it sounds good -- much like the term "astronaut" does, though it describes rocket-jockeys floating weightlessly 150 kilometers out -- unless you're talking "humans initiating fully-automated space exploration from Luna", it's like me announcing that "I'm off to... [More]
Out of interest, why don't you think it will happen? Even without the facts and figures, it seems a logical step in the progression of space exploration to a layman like me.
I understand that politicians are hesitant. In the choice between spending money on healthcare, police etc, or spending it on sending people to a place where they can only be kept alive at an enormous cost and risk, without so much motivation more than it is fun and exciting, the choice is pretty self-evident.
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