Space News: Why the first human colony will be on the Moon – But not how you imagine it – Express.co.uk
THE first human colony in space will be built on the Moon, a space expert has told Express.co.uk, but the lunar colonies will be like nothing you might expect.
Since the end of the Apollo era in 1972, humans have dreamt of leaving Earth’s orbit to find a second, permanent home among the stars. The closest we have come to this dream is the International Space Station (ISS) – an orbital laboratory 250 miles up that six astronauts at once call home. Some believe modern technology has already advanced to a point where human presence in space is no longer confined to Earth’s orbit.
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Chairman of Parliament for the micro-nation of Asgardia Lembit Öpik told Express.co.uk humanity is on the verge of colonising space.
Mr Öpik believes human habitation in space could appear as early 2023 if the will and resources are pooled together to achieve the dream.
In his opinion, the former British MP said it is “really exciting and it’s very feasible” for humans to live on the Moon before the end of the next decade.
The lunar colonies, however, would not be built on the Moon’s pockmarked surface but deep underground.
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Mr Öpik said: “I personally believe the first permanent human habitation will be on the Moon because it’s easier.
“You can live underground in relative safety and you can grow things in greenhouses using the power of the Sun.
“And if you play cricket, you know the rain will never stop play.”
The idea of living under the Moon’s surface is not a novel proposal and has been widely discussed by both NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Thanks to the Apollo programme and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, astronomers known of giant lava tubes running under the Moon’s grey surface.
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The lava tubes are evidence of the Moon’s ancient volcanism and could act as a natural barrier against the dangers of space.
I personally believe the first permanent human habitation will be on the Moon
Underground, human settlers would be safe from space radiation and frequent meteor strikes that pelt the Moon.
According to ESA, the lava tubes offer “an interesting option as long-term shelter for future human visitors to the Moon”.
Mr Öpik said: “It’s really exciting and it’s very feasible. The phenomenal cost of the Apollo missions was carried by America because it was an idealistic race to prove that capitalism was better than Communism.
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“That race is over now. It’s ironic perhaps that the only way to get to the International Space Station is by flying to Russia.
“The cost of spaceflight has come down tremendously, so it’s relatively cheap to go to the Moon, especially if you’re not thinking of coming back.
“But there’s commercial benefit to it as well. The Moon is made up of roughly the same stuff as the Earth, so you can do most of what you can do on Earth up there.
“Worms haven’t turned the surface into soil and water is harder to find but essentially it’s all still there.
“With a bit of creativity, you can grow potatoes and have a fizzy drink. It just takes a bit more planning.
“If you just want to stay alive, it’s very straightforward to grow food, to grow what you need, but I suggest you take your own ketchup and mayonnaise cause it gets a bit dull otherwise.”
The topic of living on the Moon was addressed this October at Asgardia’s Space Science and Investment Congress in Darmstadt, Germany.
The space-based micro nation led by scientist Igor Ashurbeyli aims to move humans off-planet.
Mr Öpik has previously claimed as many 20,000 people will make the move to space in the next 25 years.
The first step towards this goal is the conception of the first baby in orbit, a goal Asgardia claims will be achieved in the next 23 years.
