So in this article, we will discuss moon colonization and how private corporations are working with countries to make moon livable. Let's proceed.
Even as Sci-Fi movies are fictional and mainly meant to satisfy our imaginations.
Their concepts are mostly built on unproven or futuristic scientific theories, like time travelling.
Irrespective of the exaggeration in books or popular TV series like The Flash.
It is actually studied under quantum mechanics and valid scientific arguments in favour of parallel universes exist.
However, the more realistic of most Sci-Fi movie plot is the possibility of life in space.
Movies like The Martian has received widespread acceptance.
The historic walk on the moon by Neil Armstrong in 1969 started the ever-increasing belief.
That it might actually be possible for humans to live on the moon.
Today, the massive investments being made by Tech giants in moon colonization.
Suggest that it might actually be possible.
The involvement of tech billionaires and capitalists like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos in space technology,
Also gives the industry a massive prospect and increases the chances of achieving the goal of moon colonization.
Elon Musk's SpaceX, in particular, has been relentless in pursuit of this goal.
And efforts have been made to effectively reduce the cost of launching her rockets, with one of its flagship products, Falcon 9, costing $2,720 per kilogram for a single launch.
This is a massive feat as the standard price for a single launch per kilogram before the year 2000, was $18,500.
Even as Jeff Bezos's Blue origin cannot be compared to SpaceX in terms of achievements and contribution to space exploration causes,
The financial presence of the world's richest man is a clear indication that the space exploration programme is not slowing down anytime soon.
However, the role of NASA as a representative of the USA government must not be trivialized.
Because for any industry or business category to truly grow, favourable government policies and regulations are usually invaluable.
NASA asking private companies to create a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway close to the Moon by 2022 coupled with the on-going Lunar Artemis program.
That is a clear indication that many initiatives are already being put in place to increase the odds of man actually settling on Mars and the moon.
We also have to consider the nature of blue-sky researches like space exploration.
The average man thinks it is quite crazy and might be unnecessary and may just be a case of capitalist funding his/her endless desire.
Hence, the presence of NASA as a supportive body is really crucial in shaping the narrative as these billionaires keep investing in the possibility of moon colonization.
The Indians and especially the Chinese Space Agencies have not been left out.
They have continued the implementation of robotic landers and rovers.
With the Chinese already setting in motion the launch of an Earth-orbiting space station.
And plans to complete the construction of her space station by 2022, with about 10 missions already being lined up as requirements for completing the project.
However, one reality is that no one can truly say when or how the supposed moon colonization might actually happen.
A lot of predictions have been made especially in terms of how:
One, the general consensus seems to be that the whole process might be similar to establishing a novel world colony which obviously takes a lot of time and uncertainties,
And a few bold predictions have still been made, with some experts predicting that it might begin with a base for the government followed by a sort of moon recreation centre.
But that majority of all these plans will still hinge on consumer demand, we must forget a lot of money is being invested by private firms in the first place.
With respect to the when its hard to say if the existing predictions are either bold considering the fact that standard technological structures must first be put in place for Lunar launches.
Or they are pessimistic considering the strides already made in terms of technological breakthrough, financial investments and Government support.
If you're interested in the most common predictions so as to determine for yourself if they are bold or pessimistic, some say 10 years while others predict 20 years.
With all the uncertainties surrounding the moon colonization, the biggest burden should be answering a simple question: Why should we go?
Advocates for the moon colony believe it will be one of the major and crucial first steps by mankind to better explore the entire solar system.
Its closer proximity to Earth compared to Mars means that it will be suitable as a "stop-camp" for those actually travelling to Mars.
This is logical as it takes 3 days to get to the moon compared to nine months it takes to get to Mars.
On the plus side, some say it might be a fun place to visit, as it comes with the lure of a once in a life-time experience.
Some researchers argue that there are even resources and useful raw materials that can be derived from fully exploring the moon:
A few Chinese and Europeans, in particular, believe that the Moon's surface has large amount of a rare element called Helium-3.
Helium-3 is predicted to be useful as a source of rocket fuel for further space exploration, further adding to the arguments for the case that moon exploration is the first step towards further space exploration.
However, it is scientifically proven that converting Helium-3 to a usable form requires a large amount of energy consumption.
There is also talk of frozen water on the Moon's polar regions which can be split by the chemical process of Electrolysis to derive Hydrogen and Oxygen for breathable air.
Even as these two reasons may come across as not sufficient enough, leaders of Chinese and European Lunar programs still plan to explore them in upcoming missions.
A stronger case for moon colonies is the survival of the human race.
A Colleague of Apollo 16 Commander, John Young, remarks that the commander said humans have a better chance of survival if we live-off more than one planet.
The recent climate change effects might actually support these comments from the 9th man to walk on the moon and finally cement survival's place as the major reason for having colonies on the moon.
Is a moon economy feasible?
The possibility of moon colonies obviously depends on the presence of the right economic strategies and platforms.
There already exist an increasing number of U.S. firms that are placing satellites in space and maintaining them.
These Low-Earth Orbit Economy as they are called, have also been putting in place structures for humans to live and work in Earth orbit.
Leading this ever-growing pack of LEO economy is Elon Musk's SpaceX, with a valuation of $28 billion.
SpaceX is the Poster-boy of the space travel industry, with the industry itself presently attracting investments up to $18.4 billion.
As the white house reportedly prefers that NASA focuses on putting people on Mars and the moon in the nearest future,
It might be the perfect coincidence as Elon Musk's SpaceX continues to simultaneously make progress in reducing the cost of launches and the possibility of private rest stops.
And these private rest stops can be the answer to the White House desires.
These zero gravity pit-stops can ultimately replace the International space station, leaving NASA to focus on the primary goal the white house thinks it should be serving.
With so many Billionaires like Jeff Bezos of Blue Origin and Robert Bigelow of America Hotels all joining Elon Musk to make the commercial space travel industry a very competitive industry,
There is hardly any reason to laugh off comments like we will have LEO hotels in the next five years and a decade from now you will see a growing number of other structures like warehouses, fuel depots, then commercial modules or lunar colonies. From moon colony enthusiast and CEO of Nano rocks, Jeffrey Manber.
In fact, some recent actions have only made Jeffrey Manber's prediction more likely; Richard Bigelow's Aerospace created an astronaut work architecture on the International space station in 2016.
And plans to put one in orbit around the moon 6 years after.
The sophisticated technological innovations from these billionaires like Bezos and the rest is a really big advantage to those who support the possibility of these colonies.
Blue Origin is already creating the Blue Moon lander, which will transport cargo to the moon's surface in preparation for a base and its own New Glenn rocket.
So, are the colonies really possible?
It's really possible to start getting Star wars excited with all the positivism around the possibility of moon colonies,
However, one factor that really holds more important when determining if it is realistic to really have colonies, is the economic feasibility.
You roughly need $4,635 for each kilogram at a single launch.
If that cost doesn't drastically drop then the plans for colonies will still feel like a distant thing.
$35 per kilogram is what Andy Weir, who wrote "The Martian", suggests as the acceptable cost.
The economic feasibility depends on when it becomes really cost-effective to launch, the belief is that once it becomes cheap to leave the earth, other plans becomes more realistic and possible.
Additional costs and requirements involved in moon colonization also seem to keep increasing the odds against it happening anytime soon.
There will be a need to go along with breathable oxygen, protective equipment against space radiation and not forgetting the basic essentials for survival like food and water,
Hence these costs really make having the needed consumer demand quite difficult.
This is why it is believed that sending robot remains the best strategy and the Chinese already plan to launch a lander and rover very soon to the moon,
Robots would not be affected by the unfavourable living conditions that man might first need to contend with.
The competition to colonize the moon might be the best thing for the cause itself:
Billionaires investing their tech and incomparable resources so as to be leaders of the commercial space travel industry and economically powerful nations also trying to be pioneers of a potentially significant time in the existence of mankind.
The best part is all measures and strategies by these parties are mostly judged by who best provides the best solution for mankind with respect to cost and lifestyle implications,
Hence, as we still debate on the necessity of moon colonization, we can take consolation from the fact that consumer demand remains a major factor for judging success.
I don't believe it is possible to colonize the moon. And hope I'm not the only one?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/06/20/human-race-doomed-do-not-colonise-moon-mars-says-stephen-hawking/
https://onezero.medium.com/are-moon-colonies-possible-or-the-fantasy-of-billionaires-e2d5cace7249
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-52228423