Colonization of the inner Solar System

Space colonization

Bodies in the inner Solar System have been considered for terraforming and space colonization. The main candidates for colonization in the inner Solar System are Mars[1] and Venus.[2] Other possible candidates for colonization include the Moon[3] and even Mercury.[4]

Candidate locations

Moon

The short distance between the Earth and the Moon makes it a natural expansion after Earth.

A number of government space agencies have periodically floated lunar plans such as Russia (2014),[5] China (2012)[6] and the US[7] have made plans in constructing the first lunar outpost.

The European Space Agency (ESA) head Jan Woerner has proposed cooperation among countries and companies on lunar capabilities, a concept referred to as Moon Village.[8]

In a December 2017 directive, the Trump Administration steered NASA to include a lunar mission on the pathway to other beyond Earth orbit (BEO) destinations.[9][8]

In a May 2018 interview, Blue CEO Jeff Bezos indicated Blue would build and fly the Blue Moon lunar lander on its own, with private funding, but that they would build it a lot faster, and accomplish more, if it were done in a partnership with existing government space agencies. Bezos specifically mentioned the December 2017 NASA direction and the ESA Moon Village concepts.[8]

Mars

Venus

Mercury

See also

References

  1. ThinkQuest - Colonization of Mars Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. NASA - Colonization of Venus by Geoffrey A. Landis
  3. Should we colonize the Moon? And how much would it cost?
  4. NASA - Pathways to Colonization by Smitherman Jr.
  5. Russia will begin colonization in 2030 - draft space program, 9 May 2014
  6. China plots 2017 mission to plan MOON COLONY, 21 September 2012
  7. NASA Reveals Goal for Eventual Manned Lunar Outpost
  8. 1 2 3 Foust, Jeff (29 May 2018). "Bezos outlines vision of Blue Origin's lunar future". SpaceNews. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  9. "Text of Remarks at Signing of Trump Space Policy Directive 1 and List of Attendees", Marcia Smith, Space Policy Online, 11 December 2017, accessed 21 August 2018.

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