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
- ↑ ThinkQuest - Colonization of Mars Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ NASA - Colonization of Venus by Geoffrey A. Landis
- ↑ Should we colonize the Moon? And how much would it cost?
- ↑ NASA - Pathways to Colonization by Smitherman Jr.
- ↑ Russia will begin colonization in 2030 - draft space program, 9 May 2014
- ↑ China plots 2017 mission to plan MOON COLONY, 21 September 2012
- ↑ NASA Reveals Goal for Eventual Manned Lunar Outpost
- 1 2 3 Foust, Jeff (29 May 2018). "Bezos outlines vision of Blue Origin's lunar future". SpaceNews. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ↑ "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.