Given the progression and severe consequences of climate change over the last decade in particular, there are some scientists who believe that the Earth could become unliveable before the end of this century. As of today, the Earth’s total population is estimated at around 8.1 billion people. For whatever reason, there are those who are already talking about and planning for the possible colonization of the Moon or Mars in the near future.
Indeed, one company is looking to having people living on the Moon as early as 2040. Currently, flights to the Moon by several countries, including India, Russia and China have taken place. Apparently, NASA’s planned Artemis missions will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon in November 2024, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. Artemis will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, they will use what they learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars. They plan to build an Artemis Base Camp on the surface and the Gateway in lunar orbit. These elements will allow our robots and astronauts to explore more and conduct more science than ever before. NASA will return to the Moon robotically beginning next year, send astronauts to the surface within four years, and build a long-term presence on the Moon by the end of the decade.
A raft of commercial lunar missions are taking off in 2023. The first lander is set to touch down this month, signalling a new era for Moon science and exploration. NASA will blast a 3-D printer up to the Moon and then build structures, layer by additive layer, out of a specialized lunar concrete created from the rock chips, mineral fragments and dust that sits on the top layer of the moon’s cratered surface and billows in poisonous clouds whenever disturbed. The Moon shot of a plan has been made possible through new technology and partnerships with universities and private companies. For example, the School of Architecture at Texas A&M University is working closely with NASA to develop a construction system that can be operated by robots in space. Some of the 3-D technology involved has already been used successfully to build homes on Earth. However, doing the same in space is a much more difficult endeavour. NASA is also working with a handful of universities and private companies to create prototypes for space furniture and interior design.
In addition, from a commercial point of view, there are mining companies interested in potential sources of minerals on the moon. The moon represents a potentially significant cache of untapped resources, and several nations will undoubtedly be interested in a stake. India last month landed a spacecraft on the Moon, earning the distinction of the first nation to ever land near the southern polar region, where the most precious of resources — water — is believed to be lying in wait.
The next destination of course would be Mars, already having been explored by robotic surface vehicles. The Moon is a practical spot for a layover, as NASA believes that the water on the lunar surface could be converted to rocket fuel for a future trip to Mars. There have already been efforts to vet potential persons interested in helping to colonnade the red planet. Another company would like to build and sell condos on Mars — an unlikely scenario. I wonder how much those would cost!
There are those that would argue that we should first apply all of our scientific and technological resources to solving the current environmental problems on earth. There is no doubt that putting humans on the Moon or on Mars is a very costly endeavour. The fact is that it will take decades to accomplish what countries want to do in space. For those of the billions of us left on planet Earth, we will just have to wait and endure.
FROLITICKS 
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