Ever since our existence the moon has captured our interest
Ever since our existence the moon has captured our interest

Decades ago we ventured outside our atmosphere and landed on its surface
Decades ago we ventured outside our atmosphere and landed on its surface

Since then we have seen rapid advancements in technology and space exploration is more promising than ever before
Since then we have seen rapid advancements in technology and space exploration is more promising than ever before

With the International Space Station nearing decommission it poses the question
With the International Space Station nearing decommission it poses the question

Could one of our endeavors be to build a moon base
Could one of our endeavors be to build a moon base

Many government agencies and private space companies have already proposed plans for a lunar base
Many government agencies and private space companies have already proposed plans for a lunar base

NASA's interest in establishing a moon base has never waned
NASA's interest in establishing a moon base has never waned

However with political changes and unstable budgets it has not been a priority
However with political changes and unstable budgets it has not been a priority

Two years ago the European Space Agency or ESA?
Two years ago the European Space Agency or ESA?

announced plans for building a permanent lunar base in the 2020s called moon village
announced plans for building a permanent lunar base in the 2020s called moon village

SpaceX has also shown interest with Elon Musk stating its 2017. We should have a lunar base by now
SpaceX has also shown interest with Elon Musk stating its 2017. We should have a lunar base by now

To have a permanent moon base a crew would need food water shelter and plenty of oxygen to survive
To have a permanent moon base a crew would need food water shelter and plenty of oxygen to survive

In the short term this would mean transporting copious amounts of supplies from Earth
In the short term this would mean transporting copious amounts of supplies from Earth

Compared to Mars and Venus where interest is keen. It would be cost effective
Compared to Mars and Venus where interest is keen. It would be cost effective

At 384,000 kilometers away the moon is our closest celestial body
At 384,000 kilometers away the moon is our closest celestial body

It may be our closest space neighbor, but with a lack of conditions to sustain human settlement
It may be our closest space neighbor, but with a lack of conditions to sustain human settlement

It's going to be difficult the lack of atmosphere on the moon brings hazards from cosmic radiation to deadly micro meteoroids
It's going to be difficult the lack of atmosphere on the moon brings hazards from cosmic radiation to deadly micro meteoroids

the temperature will also be a problem changing from 120 degrees during the day to minus 173 at night
the temperature will also be a problem changing from 120 degrees during the day to minus 173 at night

A moon base could serve as a launching platform or fueling station for future missions and would be way cheaper than launching them from Earth
A moon base could serve as a launching platform or fueling station for future missions and would be way cheaper than launching them from Earth

Rockets would take less fuel to launch due to a decreased gravitational pull as the moon's gravity is 1/6
Rockets would take less fuel to launch due to a decreased gravitational pull as the moon's gravity is 1/6

that of earth
that of earth

It would also provide a unique environment for scientific research and experiments
It would also provide a unique environment for scientific research and experiments

Rovers could be used to find a suitable location to set up such a base
Rovers could be used to find a suitable location to set up such a base

They could also explore nearby resources making it far safer and cheaper than humans
They could also explore nearby resources making it far safer and cheaper than humans

although it is said what a rover can do in ten years an astronaut could do in a couple of hours
although it is said what a rover can do in ten years an astronaut could do in a couple of hours

A key location might be underground in caves or lunar lava tubes having natural protection from micro meteorites and cosmic radiation
A key location might be underground in caves or lunar lava tubes having natural protection from micro meteorites and cosmic radiation

Japan's JAXA spacecraft Kaguya first spotted an opening in the moon's Marius Hills region back in 2009
Japan's JAXA spacecraft Kaguya first spotted an opening in the moon's Marius Hills region back in 2009

further observation from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance
further observation from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance

Orbiter revealed it to be a hundred and fifty feet wide and deep and 30 miles long
Orbiter revealed it to be a hundred and fifty feet wide and deep and 30 miles long

Which would be more than enough room for a base
Which would be more than enough room for a base

Another good location to set up would likely be at the poles. Where sunlight is almost always present, and there is potential for water sources
Another good location to set up would likely be at the poles. Where sunlight is almost always present, and there is potential for water sources

NASA satellites have already indicated that water ice might be present in shadowed craters that never see sunlight at the North Pole
NASA satellites have already indicated that water ice might be present in shadowed craters that never see sunlight at the North Pole

In addition India's upcoming missions chandrayaan 2 be ready to orbit and launch a rover on the moon surface this year
In addition India's upcoming missions chandrayaan 2 be ready to orbit and launch a rover on the moon surface this year

If successful chandrayaan 2 will be the first ever mission to land a rover near the luminous, South Pole
If successful chandrayaan 2 will be the first ever mission to land a rover near the luminous, South Pole

This will reveal important scientific data on lunar topography mineralogy and signatures of water ice
This will reveal important scientific data on lunar topography mineralogy and signatures of water ice

Another valuable resource on the moon would be helium-3 which is in short supply on earth?
Another valuable resource on the moon would be helium-3 which is in short supply on earth?

in most nuclear power plants nuclear fission reactors are used in which uranium nuclei are split apart releasing energy and
in most nuclear power plants nuclear fission reactors are used in which uranium nuclei are split apart releasing energy and

Radioactive waste helium-3 has the potential to be used as a fuel in future nuclear fusion reactors and would produce little
Radioactive waste helium-3 has the potential to be used as a fuel in future nuclear fusion reactors and would produce little

radioactive waste
radioactive waste

However, it's likely such a technology will not be available for at least another 50 to 100 years
However, it's likely such a technology will not be available for at least another 50 to 100 years

One Nation who are developing their space technology extensively is China who have expressed their enthusiasm to mine this resource
One Nation who are developing their space technology extensively is China who have expressed their enthusiasm to mine this resource

However the outer space treaty signed in 1967 prohibits any nation from claiming territory in space or on celestial bodies
However the outer space treaty signed in 1967 prohibits any nation from claiming territory in space or on celestial bodies

Justifying that space and everything in it is the shared heritage of all mankind
Justifying that space and everything in it is the shared heritage of all mankind

Which will surely go down while if we ever met with another intelligent civilization
Which will surely go down while if we ever met with another intelligent civilization

Currently the only reason to go to space is to launch satellites make new discoveries and carry out scientific research
Currently the only reason to go to space is to launch satellites make new discoveries and carry out scientific research

no one has the technology to cheaply mine asteroids for resources or set up a colony and
no one has the technology to cheaply mine asteroids for resources or set up a colony and

Only a few billionaires can afford a trip around the moon
Only a few billionaires can afford a trip around the moon

When a company or government agency find a way to make a profit from space ventures
When a company or government agency find a way to make a profit from space ventures

This old cold war treaty may be bought into question or discarded
This old cold war treaty may be bought into question or discarded

But in the short term a lunar base would likely be used like the International Space Station a place built by all
But in the short term a lunar base would likely be used like the International Space Station a place built by all

space-faring nations and used in harmony as for the construct of the base solar panels would provide a power source and
space-faring nations and used in harmony as for the construct of the base solar panels would provide a power source and

necessaries like construction and
necessaries like construction and

Communication would also need to come from Earth which would be expensive
Communication would also need to come from Earth which would be expensive

But companies like SpaceX are finding new and innovative ways to make space travel
But companies like SpaceX are finding new and innovative ways to make space travel

cost-effective using renewable rockets like the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
cost-effective using renewable rockets like the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy

The ESA are also working on developing
The ESA are also working on developing

technologies in 3D printing to better cope with the moon's environment a lunar base could have a
technologies in 3D printing to better cope with the moon's environment a lunar base could have a

communication center a research lab and facilities and habitats for the people living there
communication center a research lab and facilities and habitats for the people living there

Once everything is set up a crew could be sent up to carry out research and experiments
Once everything is set up a crew could be sent up to carry out research and experiments

But would also continue to work on the base
But would also continue to work on the base

Astronauts and researchers at the lunar base would likely follow a similar routine to the International Space Station astronauts on board the ISS
Astronauts and researchers at the lunar base would likely follow a similar routine to the International Space Station astronauts on board the ISS

Usually stay for around six months with three to six crew members at all times
Usually stay for around six months with three to six crew members at all times

although the American astronaut Peggy Whitson has spent six hundred and sixty-five days in space
although the American astronaut Peggy Whitson has spent six hundred and sixty-five days in space

Astronauts can't really stay in space for prolonged periods because at low levels of gravity our muscles and bones change dramatically
Astronauts can't really stay in space for prolonged periods because at low levels of gravity our muscles and bones change dramatically

On average astronauts will lose more than 1 percent of their bone mass each month. They spend in space
On average astronauts will lose more than 1 percent of their bone mass each month. They spend in space

It's clear a colony on the moon is not suitable
It's clear a colony on the moon is not suitable

But a base from which Rockets can be launched and technologies tested the future looks bright
But a base from which Rockets can be launched and technologies tested the future looks bright

Due to its short distance away equipment
Due to its short distance away equipment

And the building processes could be tested at minimum risk
And the building processes could be tested at minimum risk

providing useful experience and insights before our future endeavors to Mars and beyond
providing useful experience and insights before our future endeavors to Mars and beyond

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