Can Island put Mann on Moon?
A commercial settlement on the Moon is possible before the end of this decade.
That was the conclusion drawn in a study co-ordinated by the Isle of Man-based International Institute of Space Commerce (IISC).
The think tank - which focuses on the economics and business potential of space - brought together 20 of the world’s leading thinkers on spaceflight to pose the question.
They found that a private 'colony' on the Moon would be feasible - even cost-effective - and could offer a real chance of success for a human return to the Moon.
The executive summary of the Lunar Economic Action Plan (LEAP) study can be viewed at https://iisc.im/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LEAP-Exec-Summary.pdf.
The study suggests that technology is not the issue, but rather finances.
It says the provision of public science and exploration of the Moon can be both enhanced and ensured via the use of public-private partnerships and 'mega funds'.
Rob Alexander, IISC Executive Director, says engineers and mission designers have long known that the Moon would be the best outpost from Earth from which we could access the cosmos.
He adds that the argument ‘we've been there before’ is not a good enough reason to justify ignoring the Moon in our society's exploration and development.
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