The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that it has launched plans for making vacations on the moon a reality by 2030. The agency expects to be able to build a fully functioning “moon village” built entirely from raw materials found on the moon. The resources found will construct a permanent settlement there for business and research purposes at first but would eventually branch out into tours and vacations. the hope is to initially use the base as a land based space station.
The agency looks to build the settlement either at the poles or on the side of the moon that is always in daylight. Located on the south pole is a huge swath of darkness from which the moon explorers could gather in the water that would be necessary to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The shadowed areas would also help to protect the explorers from the harsh rays of the sun as well as from radiation. Those particular areas would also allow for stable temperatures and protection from falling objects from space.
The settlement is hoping to serve many purposes from research to exploration to space to mining to building telescopes. All this as well as being a tourist destination. However, the ESA states that it would also be relying on the scientific expertise of many countries. The actual building of the settlement will be done with the use of 3D imagery and printing using the natural resources already there o the surface.
Rovers would be initially sent up to establish the base by first inflating a huge dome which would provide a base for the rest of the rovers that would sent up to begin the construction.The dome would house the astronauts that are sent up to do the constructions. While some nations continue to look to explore Mars, the ESA believes that a settlement o the moon can be more of an immediate reality.
PHOTO SOURCE: European Space Agency