Economic/Scientific Justification

Scientific
1. Provide facility for reaserch into lunar geology, etc.
2. Research into low gravity environment on humans, plants, animals
3. Excellent location for optical and radio telescopes
4. Proving ground for future Mars missions, etc.

Economic
1. Engineer means of approaching extraterrestrial self-sufficiancy
2. Mineral and ore mining
3. Low gravity fabriaction (medical, industrial, etc.)
4. Tourism
5. Communications relays (ala com satellites)?

Support Technologies

There are several support technologies that are required for the operation of a successful colony.

1. Power
a. Nuclear
b. Solar
2. Air recycler
a. Algae based scrubber
b. Hydroponic garden
3. water recycler
4. General waste recycling
a. Reuse, breakdown of metals, thermoplastics, etc.
b. Extract hydrocarbons from waste for use in making fuel, water, etc.
5. Hydroponics
a. Fresh food
b. Air cleaning, recycling
c. Moral boost
d. Plant science in low gravity environment
6. Mining operations
a. For minerals and ores required by the colony
b. For materials to be exported for use in space construction, or use on other planetary bodies
7. Communications
a. Orbiting com satellites
8. Transportation
a. Rovers for exploration on surface
b. tunnels, trams between colony buildings?
9. Manufacturing
a. Of goods used to maintain and grow colony
b. Of goods for export to space or planetary bodies

Colony Location

There are several factors which will influence the selection of a site for the moon base.

1. Bountiful Natural Resources
a. Sunlight - for power
b. Oxygen - tied up in the regolith? Ice?
c. Hydrogen - for rocket fuel, tied up in ice?
d. Ores - iron, uranium, plutonium
2. Scientifically interesting features for exploration
3. Location visible from earth - to encourage armchair involvement
4. Location which offers protection from solar radiation, meteors, etc.
5. Location which is economical for boosting objects into orbit.