In order to create a place where people on earth can live in the universe, including plans to migrate to Mars, there is a view that "you must first build a moon base." Why is it good to make a moon base? This article will introduce how to establish a lunar base and move towards space colonization.
Humanity's technology has advanced a lot, and the technology to create a lunar base has also begun to be born. NASA predicts that the actual budget for building a lunar base is "20 billion to 40 billion U.S. dollars" and the time required is about "10 years."
This is more than Germany’s 2017 state budget.
However, the return on this investment is immeasurable. Because the establishment of a lunar base makes it possible to develop new technologies and potentially obtain unlimited resources.
With the establishment of the lunar base, a new space development race begins, which may also expand the scope of action inside and outside the solar system.
However, it is very difficult to get the government to realize "for the future of mankind" and "long-term investment" like a moon base.
In fact, the development of the moon base is difficult to carry out, but what if it starts from this moment today?
Generally speaking, colonization occurs in three stages.
Take the colonization of European countries as an example...
When a country discovers a new land, first a sovereign country will mark the land and establish a garrison, but the sovereign people do not live in that place. This is the first stage.
In the second phase, build a small settlement.
However, daily necessities depend on imports from sovereign countries.
At this time, some people may not survive...
Some surviving people settled down.
third stage. Full colonization was accomplished, merchants and workers migrated, and accumulated wealth.
will send the wealth generated to this sovereign country. If you colonize the moon, you should follow the same three steps.
However, as far as lunar colonization is concerned, unlike the colonizations carried out so far, it will not kill a large number of people.
Of course, there are still many questions before the moon can be colonized. First of all, the moon is not a "habitable place" for humans. One day on the moon is equivalent to 29 days on the earth...
The highest temperature is 127 degrees and the lowest temperature is -173 degrees. It is a land with a large temperature difference.
There is no atmosphere to protect humans from meteorites and cosmic rays ...
The lunar surface is extremely dangerous to humans, and lunar dust may damage DNA.
But if you rise to the challenge of colonization, this is what will happen. First, the first phase of colonization has been completed.
The moon landing was part of the space development race of the 1960s and amounted to the first phase of colonization.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has mapped the moon. Chinese explorer Yutu has determined that the lunar surface is composed of "water, ice, and metal."
In other words, it can be said that the first stage is over.
Humanity has entered the second phase of lunar colonization.
The second stage is the stage of establishing the first lunar base. It is estimated that the first small-scale lunar base to be built will be completed within 10 years.
Because it is very expensive to send supplies to the moon...
The base launched to the moon is very light, smaller than an inflatable house, and is estimated to be no more than 12 people.
However, it is said that it can be used as a disaster shelter.
It is believed that astronauts will not stay on the moon for long and the residence will eventually be abandoned.
At this time, the solar panel installed on the lunar base cannot generate electricity at night, but it provides enough power for human activities during the day. It is expected that engineers and scientists will be sent to the moon base first...
to study the composition of the moon and try to use things on the moon, such as "making lunar ice water." If water safety can be ensured, it can be used not only for drinking water but also for growing plants.
If fuel could be produced from hydrogen , it would be possible to power the ship at night and increase crew activity time.
Being able to produce rocket fuel from oxygen and hydrogen is also important.
Once fuel can be produced, the moon could be used as a refueling station and could be used for missions to Mars and elsewhere.
This is a big advantage because it makes it easier and cheaper to put the rocket in an orbit starting from the moon instead of the Earth.
Mars colonization may start on the moon.
However, in this state, if investment stops, there is a possibility of abandoning the base, which cannot be said to be true colonization. This is because we need to be self-sufficient in order to truly colonize and support life on the moon by sending goods to Earth. The time for
to complete the above work is the third stage.
In the third stage, private enterprises will enter.
Precious metals on Earth such as titanium, uranium, platinum and gold are abundant on the moon, so companies that mine these metals and transport them to Earth will have a significant impact on Earth.
In addition, since the moon is rich in helium 3, which is used for nuclear fusion power generation, the future of mining helium 3 is also conceivable. In fact, some companies plan to build a lunar base for helium-3 extraction in China.
Cheap and clean energy could also be obtained by sending helium-3 from the moon to the earth.
In addition, as the lunar base becomes larger, materials from the moon can be used to develop construction plans. Luckily, concrete can be made from stuff on the moon. You can also use mining robots to convert lunar dust into organic compounds and create massive structures that cannot be transported from Earth. Additionally, 3D printers could create the tools needed for life on the moon.
No one knows when the self-sufficient colony will be completed. As development progresses gradually towards industrialization, the population will steadily exceed 100 people.
From this, two people who gave birth to children outside the earth for the first time should appear.
This means that the moon is not "a place where scientists and engineers work", but a place where people live.
It is said that the colony has grown rapidly since this transformation occurred. There will be more and more people in settlements, schools and farmland.
It will invest in all technologies to develop and maintain the colony.
How to use less water or recycle carbon efficiently to raise food...
You might find a way to recycle 100% of your trash. These technologies are also very valuable to the planet.
The possibility that the first space elevator in the solar system will be created.
The space elevator can easily move spacecraft, astronauts, supplies, etc. from lunar orbit to the moon.
The moon became a hub of economic activity on a scale that is incomparable today.
Will a child born on the moon acquire the nationality of the country where his parents live? In other words, in a brand new society, will every child born on the moon be accepted? This is an unknown. The Moon Agreement promulgated in 1984 that "no country can own the moon" must also be reconsidered.
There are many questions in the future, but what is certain is that the moon is a perfect example to advance the colonization of the solar system. The colonization of the moon brings countries together and we can survive when something happens to the earth. This is a way to make up for it. method.
