Colonizing the moon?

Question

How much money would it cost to colonize about 70% of the moon? How many people overall could fit comfortably in a society on the moon? What are the benefits of colonizing the moon? Are there a lot of resources that the moon can offer? How would you feel about your grandchildren growing up on the Moon?

Answer 1

The moon contains insufficient natural resources to make it worth 'colonizing' in the classical sense. There is no air, no water and for sure no oil (or gas or coal).

So we can assume zero return on any investment and proceed to make calculations on that basis.

The goal is '70%' = but this can be achieved by sending a small breeding colony and waiting a (very) long time (Adam & Eve method).

So the answer to Q1 (lower bound) is 'a few billion $' (it will be cheaper than Appollo Project because the space craft only have to go one way so can carry more people/supplies per trip).

Given that the moons gravity is only 1/5th the earth, none of the colonists are going to be very 'comfortable' - so the answer to Q2 is 'zero'.

Q3 & Q4 have essentially been answered already = there are no intrinsic benefits and no resources (except rock), HOWEVER if we assume the moon is to be used as a 'stepping stone' into space a very different answer arrises .. for one it becomes possible to build viable space craft (using Nuclear Propulsion systems) with which we could reach the stars.

Q5 has no meaningful or 'correct' answer (only opinion)

Answer 2

Way too much. None, at least not comfortably. None. No. That would be bad.

Every person who lives on the Moon will be a drain on Earth's resources, because there are none of the resources people need to live on the Moon, like air, water and food. Even gravity. It is not known if children can even live and grow properly at 1/6 gravity (but it IS know that rats born in zero gravity are always defective and soon die).

Now you might be surprised to know that I am in favor of establishing a permanent Moon base, even a city size base, or more than one. But that does not make the Moon a good place to live. I don't want to live there, I just want to be able to visit. Kind of like Antarctica. There are some mineral resources and there are scientific reasons to go. Also the Moon would be a good place to conduct especially dirty or dangerous industrial activities.

Answer 3

Why think of of money? NASA has to get funds from Congress in the past they might do something. they seem to be a publicly-funded organisation. If the taxpayers are not attracted to investment NASA (and enable's settle for it, lots of them are not), NASA in simple terms isn't properly-funded. asserting they don't arise with the money for to colonize the Moon isn't an excuse, it extremely is a actuality. have they have been given plans? particular, examine up on the Constellation software. yet they're having a perplexing time putting their plans into action because of the lack of ability of money. NASA does paintings with different area companies, maximum exceedingly on the worldwide area Station. The question isn't any remember if those different international locations arise with the money for to colonize the Moon and no remember if or not they're attracted to working with NASA. in keeping with danger a number of them might somewhat attempt to attain the Moon on their very own.

Answer 4

Upwords of 40 billion dollars. It would require investors from all over the world. Nasa has plans to have a permanent colony on the moon by 2030. It would by no means serve as a "second earth", just a scientific center to further our research of colonizing Earth-like planets.

Answer 5

it is impossible to quote on the sums required or capacity of human colonization on the moon.
A foreseeable colony would be a small scientific colony in a century from now. that would be a major achievement in this time frame.
of course, an unexpected scientific breakthrough in technology for cheap and fast transportation through space will allow for more ambitious goals of space colonies.