Science Fiction to Science Fact
Well taking back some of my grumbles about the current moonshot, NASA is apparently planning to build a permanent base on the moon after they return in 2020. For the first time in human history, we will have established an offworld outpost of any kind. Permanent habitation in space is only a fairly recent phenomenon, starting with the Russian space station Mir in the 1990s, and continuing with the International Space Station today. However, this permanent habitation has never been outside of low Earth orbit, which is hardly off world.
NASA plans to make this base an international effort, as well as seeking investment from private enterprise. NASA is doing this to offset the immense cost of building a permanent base on the moon. For comparison, the moon base seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey (which was rather large) would cost more than the entire world's GDP (about $60 trillion). Plus, involving private enterprise is necessary for making space travel and settlement economically feasible. If there's money to be made, people will find the cheapest and most efficient way to do it. Although this moon base is still a long way away, at least it's finally on the slate for things to be done.
Eventually NASA plans on using this moon base as a launch pad for human exploration (planned for sometime before 2050) and eventual settlement of Mars. Perhaps space travel will be more generally accessible during my lifetime. I've always wanted to visit.
NASA plans to make this base an international effort, as well as seeking investment from private enterprise. NASA is doing this to offset the immense cost of building a permanent base on the moon. For comparison, the moon base seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey (which was rather large) would cost more than the entire world's GDP (about $60 trillion). Plus, involving private enterprise is necessary for making space travel and settlement economically feasible. If there's money to be made, people will find the cheapest and most efficient way to do it. Although this moon base is still a long way away, at least it's finally on the slate for things to be done.
Eventually NASA plans on using this moon base as a launch pad for human exploration (planned for sometime before 2050) and eventual settlement of Mars. Perhaps space travel will be more generally accessible during my lifetime. I've always wanted to visit.