Should we create a lunar colony? Japanese scientists have unveiled an extraordinary set of illustrations showing life on the Moon. But is moving to a distant rock a good idea?
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Race to make Moon Earth’s eighth continent
Should we create a lunar colony? Japanese scientists have unveiled an extraordinary set of illustrations showing life on the Moon. But is moving to a distant rock a good idea?
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Should we create a lunar colony?
Yes: Building a permanent lunar base would herald an extraordinary new age of space exploration. And if the Earth becomes uninhabitable due to climate change, we will need a backup home.
No: We already have a place to live: the Earth. It is much better suited to our needs than the Moon. We should focus our efforts on protecting the planet, not looking for alternatives outside of it.
Or... Temporary visits are the way forward - we can learn a lot from the Moon without living there. And if we do need to leave Earth one day, the best option is a more distant location - Mars.
Keywords
Space Race - An informal competition between the USA and the Soviet Union. Each power tried to prove its technological sophistication by pushing the frontiers of space exploration. The Soviet Union put the first satellite, the first dog, the first man, and the first woman in space, but the USA was the first to reach the moon.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Shackleton crater - The spot was chosen for its proximity to both sunlight and ice.
Regolith - Loose dust and rock that sits on top of a more solid layer of rock.
Bone loss - In space, an astronaut's bones no longer have to support their body against gravity. Their bones then get weaker due to lack of use.
Mars - The fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System.
Race to make Moon Earth’s eighth continent
Moon house: The "Lunar Glass“ design for buildings in space. It must keep spinning at all times. Glossary
Space Race - An informal competition between the USA and the Soviet Union. Each power tried to prove its technological sophistication by pushing the frontiers of space exploration. The Soviet Union put the first satellite, the first dog, the first man, and the first woman in space, but the USA was the first to reach the moon.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Shackleton crater - The spot was chosen for its proximity to both sunlight and ice.
Regolith - Loose dust and rock that sits on top of a more solid layer of rock.
Bone loss - In space, an astronaut's bones no longer have to support their body against gravity. Their bones then get weaker due to lack of use.
Mars - The fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System.