Many decades have passed by since the moon landing and when all the outer space expectations and NASA news spin around Mars, the idea of building on the moon is coming back again. When it comes to lunar real estate, we may evoke animated TV series, among which “The Jetsons” could be probably the most representative on how an interstellar planet would look like with the aid of modern technology. In fact, many people are still amazed to see some of those inventions of a rich fantasy turned into today’s reality
Is Living on the Moon a Real Thing?
Real estate on the moon is not as an insane idea as we might think; only that it will work in a different way. Firstly, discard any expectation of:
- Flying automobiles
- Robotic servants
- Computerized pets
- Casual Living
- No oxygen helmet-wear
Nothing of this seems to be part of the initial package for a moon intergalactic residential housing project. No really, the plans of NASA are simply building a permanent moonbase for exploratory and long-term scientific research. Of course, there will be some robotics involved in the project, but the futuristic living room lamps, and teleportation systems will remain available, the firsts on the Earth’s online stores and the latter still in our imagination for the years to come.
A Project on the Go
NASA outpost would start receiving the visit of four-civilian crews in 2020. These one-week visits would include robotic cargo drops. The works for the NASA permanent moonbase might be concluded by 2024, having then a rotating six-month astronaut duty for Crew Exploration tours, which will conduct a handy space pickup truck with robotic operation and cargo transportation support. Similar to real estate on planet Earth, NASA is looking for the best spot to build the moon base and everything point to the right location is close to Shackleton crater, located within the south lunar pole. Opposed to our planet, the moon enjoys constant sunlight in the South Pole region, which is an advantage to produce solar power.
Nonetheless, the crater is also close to one of the few permanently shaded moon areas, which may produce ice, in the inside, and water can be processed into oxygen — at least theoretically — whether for the astronauts or fluid oxygen and hydrogen for the mission rockets.
Only Time Will Tell
Letting the time (and imagination) fly, the project contemplates a wide-open design for the NASA moonbase, which the final layout will be determined by commercial and international contractors and partners sympathizing with this project. Then after, a ten-year time frame may transform this base into the fuel manufacturing installation that NASA needs for Mars missions, so when 2040 finally arrives, the agency will be ready to replicate this lunar real estate experience in Mars.