Return to the Moon

In mid-January 2004, President Bush suggested a manned return to the Moon in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the first landing on the Moon, by Apollo IX on July 20, 1969. The Moon would then become a launching pad for a manned mission to Mars. For those who were fortunate to have seen the Moon landings happen, few images can be as vivid in the national retina. For those born after the last lunar landing in 1972, the Moon had become a faint memory in the national psyche. America had simply gotten tired of the Moon.

When Bush announced the plans, not a few eyebrows were raised, not least, because of the massive expense involved. There were also questions about NASA’s technical capabilities (which can be surmounted) and more about Washington’s political will in future Congresses and presidential administrations (which are always fickle).

Perhaps there will be firmer resolve if the economic and scientific benefits become more apparent. There appear to be tremendous practical benefits to be obtained in returning to the Moon.

Despite US and Soviet studies on the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, our understanding of the structure and evolution of the Moon remains rudimentary. More scientific exploration may finally resolve many mysteries about the Moon, including the question of how the Earth-Moon system was formed. Greater understanding of the Moon will also broaden our understanding of how the Earth’s geology and climate has evolved.

The Moon offers several advantages as a base for astronomical observatories. It provides a nearly atmosphere-free environment; a huge, solid platform (instead of a telescope in an unstable geostationary orbit); a completely dark sky; fourteen-day nights on the far side; and the absence of wind. Perhaps specialized telescopes operating at all wavelengths could be installed on the Moon’s surface and controlled from Earth. A permanent lunar base would make it possible for human crews to construct and maintain larger observatories.

A permanent lunar facility would also permit a more aggressive exploitation of the Moon’s resources. The silicon-rich soil and uninterrupted daylight on the near side make it an ideal site for solar power generation. Solar power has yet to become cost effective on Earth, but this may be more attainable on the Moon. Solar cells could be set up that would produce huge amounts of cheap power that could be beamed as microwaves back to Earth. The cells could be constructed in automated or semi-automated factories, using local materials. The lunar base could, in a sense, live off the land.

The Apollo missions showed us that there is only one thing missing from the Moon that would allow it to support a self-sustaining colony, and that is hydrogen. The Moon can provide everything else, including silicon for solar power generation, and titanium and aluminum for construction. There appear to be huge amounts of oxygen bound up in the rock.

Mining companies could begin mining ore on the Moon. Lunar rocks contain as much as 11 percent titanium. There appear to be substantial quantities of aluminum, calcium, and magnesium. Perhaps valuable ores can be processed on the Moon and shipped back to Earth.

There are compelling reasons indeed to return to the Moon. Lack of funding or political will may delay that enterprise. Sooner or later, humans will be back on the Moon. But for now at least, after over 30 years of being confined to the home planet, the human species is again thinking of moving into space.