The destinations for space exploration: The Moon
When we talk about space exploration, two destinations come regularly in conversation, the Moon and Mars ... Before flying to distant systems to conquer the galaxy, humanity will have to acquire a great experience in many areas.
The Moon and Mars are the two nearest worlds and more "habitable" compared to the rest of the solar system. It is obvious that these destinations will be our first steps in terms of spatial conquests, but what destination to choose first ?
While more and more space agencies and private projects begin to position itself, the issue is still not resolved.
So why we should first go to the moon? This question can be treated quickly, simply by using the fact that man has already walked on the moon. But here we ask the question of a permanent settlement on the moon, as the slogan of the Google Lunar X Prize "Back To The Moon For Good."
While we are on the dawn of a second space race, all the major space agencies have a lunar exploration program, namely the United States, Russia, China and Europe.
We can take as an example the Constellation Program of NASA, which was abandoned but which certainly is a reflection of what might look like one day the US space exploration program. In this one, the Moon is the perfect destination as training and as a strategic base to travel farther, on Mars for example.
Indeed, the American and the Russian are not misled, during the first space race, the two rival nations have multiplied the lunar missions. The Moon is the celestial body on which we have sent the most robotic probes, and also the only alien world where man has walked.
It would thus be a return to the Moon, and for NASA and ESA, the current exploration plan is a little more accurate. We hear regularly about the South Pole of the Moon in the Shackleton crater ramparts, this place is one of the most consistently sunny of our satellite, where temperature varies less there.
Russia and China also have lunar ambitions, they are also considering these tasks as preparation for Mars. China is determined to mark history as the American did walking on the moon, they are planning to do it on Mars. The exploitation of Helium 3 appears for both nations as a priority for sustainable development of autonomous lunar bases.
Now comes the tricky part, because if the proximity to the Earth made of the Moon our first space destination, it is still hostile for humans. Scientists around the world are therefore trying to find the resources to subsistence lunar colony, I mean to survive but also to be financially independent.
Among the main resources of the lunar regolith (dust layer covering the surface), we find 42% of oxygen, an essential element in the establishment of human life. There are also mineral resources, iron there that would make steel, or bauxite to create aluminum.
One can imagine that the development of lunar cities will be around mining and manufacturing. So the Moon will maybe one day the metallurgical plant and the workshop of the Earth.
Note the absence of resource such as Hydrogen and Nitrogen, which are essential to the establishment of large-scale ecological system.
Finally, the low lunar gravity allow an easy take-off of the moon, so conducive to industrial exploitation of its resources.
So it is entirely appropriate to begin by colonizing the Moon, it is a logical decision. This would take the least possible risk to the men who would make it. The short distance to the Earth allows us to imagine a serious and realistic near future in which its resources are exploited and beneficial to the Earth. The Moon will be one day before a clear position for the Earth, an intermediate platform for all space transportation.
Despite this, our satellite will probably never become a haven of peace, and in the long term he will have it turned into more habitable planets, such as Mars ...
