Colonization of the Moon Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Location

Many scenarios have been suggested for a Lunar colony. The latest radar mapping and other sensor data have suggested an ideal site near the Moon's South pole. Not only is there strong evidence of water in the form of ice in the large Shackleton Crater that never receives sunlight, but there is a convenient nearby mountain (Malapert) which offers several advantages:

• At around 5000 metres elevation, it offers line of sight communications over a large area, as well as to Earth.
• One big problem with a Lunar colony has been a source of continuous power. While a nuclear power plant would solve this, it would be a very expensive proposition, either lifted from the Earth's deep gravity well, or fabricated with on site materials by machines transported from Earth. While solar panels would be much more easily fabricated, the long lunar night (14 Earth days) would require some kind of massive and expensive power storage facility. This site neatly eliminates that problem because it is exposed to the sun most of the time; two closely spaced arrays would receive continuous power. The solar panels, incidentally need not necessarily be silicon. It is more feasible to simply use the several hundred degree difference between sun and shade to run basic heat engine generators.
• Its proximity to Shackleton Crater (116 kilometres) means that it can provide power and communication to the crater where the very valuable ice is likely located, and ice can provide water, oxygen, and rocket fuel, among many other things.
• The surrounding areas that are in constant deep shadow may be valuable not only for ice, but for astronomical observation. An infrared instrument would benefit from the very cold temperatures. A radio telescope would benefit from being shielded from Earth's broad spectrum radio interference.

Because of the hard radiation, temperature extremes, and other hazards, most of the surface work should be performed by remote control robots. While several fanciful habitats have been suggested (references), the most practical way to protect the colony from the sun's hard radiation and the rain of cosmic particles would be to go underground. One of the first machines from Earth would be a remote controlled boring machine to excavate living quarters. Once created, some sort of hardening would be necessary to avoid collapse, possibly a spray-on concrete-like substance made from available materials. A more porous insulating material also made in situ could then be applied. Inflatable self-sealing fabric habitats would then be put in place to retain air.

Transportation

One way to get materials and products from the Moon to an interplanetary waystation would be with a mass driver, a magnetically accelerated rail. Cargo would be picked up from orbit by automated solar sails or other means and delivered to their destinations. If the space elevator proves practical, people and products could be delivered to an orbital station to await shuttle flights to Earth or other destinations such as near-Earth asteroids or Mars.

Business

In situ mining and refining of the moon's materials would provide an immense advantage over deliveries from Earth – for use both on the moon and elsewhere in the solar system – as they can be launched into sub-orbital and orbital space at negligible cost. If the requisite materials are available, manufacturing finished products for interplanetary shipping is only a logical next step. It is likely that vast sums of money will be spent in interplanetary exploration in the 21st century, and the cost of providing goods from the moon will be a small fraction of that necessary when launching from Earth.

See Also

• Lunar Government

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