NASA was the first agency to send humans to the Moon, but since the Apollo program was terminated in 1972, the agency has made no significant forays into the Earth’s only satellite. Yes, there have been craft that orbited the Moon and returned, but NASA did not prioritize sending men to the Moon. Things are different now, as NASA is not only sending astronauts back to the Moon, but also pursuing ambitious plans to establish human communities there by 2040. These settlements will not only house astronauts but also civilians. According to the agency, the first American sub-division on the Moon will be a reality by 2040.
NASA will not be able to do this alone, likely to collaborate with private enterprises
According to The New York Times, the ideas include sending a 3-D printer to the Moon and building structures there using resources available on the Moon. 3-D printers are already building things on Earth utilizing resources that are available at the moment of printing, therefore it is theoretically possible to build structures on the Moon as well. The timeline may appear to be ambitious. After all, the 2040s are only 17 years away, a rather short period given the enormous effort that goes into space exploration. However, scientists questioned by the NYT stated that the aim is attainable if NASA continues to meet the standards.
“We’re at a pivotal moment, and in some ways, it feels like a dream sequence,” said Niki Werkheiser, NASA’s director of technology maturation. “In other ways, it feels like it was inevitable that we would get here.” “We’ve got all the right people together at the right time with a common goal, which is why I think we’ll get there,” she said. “Everyone is ready to take this step together, so if we get our core capabilities developed, there’s no reason it’s not possible.” Werkheiser was quoted by The New York Times. NASA will not be able to do this alone. It is likely to collaborate with private enterprises and enlist the assistance of academics and industry experts.
