A Brief Study on Lunar Colonization

When we think of space exploration, Moon is the first celestial object that strikes the human thinking and Lunar Colonization is the topic which must be thought about.

With the existing technology, it is possible to build a lunar base, with near about 20 to 40 billion dollars and it's construction spread across a decade. This will start a new space race and lay the foundation to spread across the solar system. Then, why are not we doing so?

One of the key reasons is that it is really hard to drive Government's attention to the concept such as Lunar Colonization as they are not willing for long term investment on the Moon as they have other must important things to worry about. But, what will be the impacts if we think of doing so? What will we have to go through?

Throughout history, Colonization happened in three stages. In the first/initial stage, the European monarchs funded exploration to discover and state claims on other undiscovered lands. They set camps but didn't stay. In the second stage, small missions set up outposts and settlements were founded. But they were dependent on their home countries for supplies. Some missions failed but others survived and established permanent settlements. Now the colony entered its last stage, tradesman arrived and created new opportunities and the colony started supplying huge material resources to their home country.

So, while colonizing Moon, we will go through the same three phases. Moon is not a welcoming place for life, as we know that one Moon day is equal to twenty nine Earth days, with a temperature difference of about 300 degree Celsius between day and night. Also, there is no atmosphere to shield us from meteors and cosmic radiations as it doesn't have strong magnetic field.

Our first stage for lunar colonization started around fifty years ago with Apollo mission which proved that other worlds can be reached. Other unmanned missions like American Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Chinese Yutu Rover has given us all the necessary information about the Moon for colonization. Our first stage is more or less complete.

Now for the second stage, the Moon base is to be built, but it will be a light inflatable habitat for not more than twelve crew members. The habitat will be in natural shelters such as underground lava tubes or in impact craters near poles where the day is six months longer. The base could be abandoned between missions as solar panels cannot generate electricity during lunar nights.

The crew will contain scientists and engineers, who will study the Moon for its resources, they might find a way to split hydrogen and oxygen from water to be used as rocket fuel.

With this, the base will supply an orbital depot for missions to Mars and to other planets beyond. Compared to the Earth, it is easier and cheaper to get materials off Moon. Colonizing Mars may mean to start from Moon itself. But yet, the base is not a true colony, it may be abandoned if the funding stops.

After growing and developing for a while, the colony will now enter its last stage. It will be self-sufficient and supply lunar resources to Earth, now again the tradesman arrive. Here they can extract precious metals out of lunar craters and other raw materials found.

One possibility is the extraction and mining of Helium 3 isotope, which will be exported back to Earth and provide us with a clean fuel for nuclear fusion reactors. Asteroids can be pulled in Moon's orbit and mined. With exports to Earth the colony is now in its third phase, self-sufficient and economically productive.

If the colony continues growing, it will use lunar materials in its construction, as fortunately lunar soil has all the materials or characteristics needed for making concrete, which can be used to build mega structures that cannot be sent from Earth.

As the population increases, the Moon will not just be the place for scientists and engineers to work, but a place to raise a family. The first space elevator might be built on the Moon.

The Moon is a perfect sandbox to learn how to colonize our solar system and the only way to guarantee our survival as a specie.

If, one day, we have to colonize our Milky Way, we have to start somewhere. Then, why not there, why not start now on our only natural satellite The Moon?

Varad Jaurkar