NASA projects that human colonization of the moon will begin this decade:
Do we really need a new place?
While Earth is our home, there are challenges here. Intimidations to mankind include natural disasters, climate change, and even the possibility of a big asteroid impact. Some believe we should leave Earth in case something bad happens.
Is there anywhere that surpasses Earth?
Other planets and moons in our solar system could be the habitat of life. All of them, nevertheless, bear more resemblance to Earth than the Moon. The Moon is oxygen-free and offers no protection from solar radiation because it is atmosphere-free. The temperature of the Moon varies as much as that of Earth does. It is -233°C (387°F) at night and 123°C (253°F) during the day.
Could humans make a home on the moon?
NASA scientists have said that humans might survive on the moon, however it would be challenging. We would have to develop new technology to protect ourselves against the hazardous lunar environment. We would also have to work out how to produce food and water on the moon.
Is it worth the effort?
There is dispute concerning the viability of lunar living. A backup plan is essential, according to some, in the improbable case that something goes wrong with Earth. Some believe that there should be more focus on enhancing Earthly conditions because life on the moon is too tough.
In the end, deciding to live on the moon is not easy. To consider are the challenges of living on the moon, the potential benefits of having a backup plan, and the cost of developing the necessary technology.
Notwithstanding these challenges, there exist methods for humans to live on the moon. We could build sealed dwellings to provide us with pure air to breathe and protection from radiation. Sunlight may be used to grow food and generate electricity in greenhouses as well.
In 2023, NASA hopes to launch an unmanned spacecraft around the Moon and back. Making the groundwork for a potential human return to the moon is the endeavor of this mission. Should these missions be successful, there may be a chance for long-term human settlement on the Moon.
Among the challenges one could face when living on the moon are the following:
- Lack of atmosphere: Life is unfeasible on the Moon since it is atmosphereless. People would thus have to live in small, climate-controlled areas.
- In the day, the Moon is 123°C (253°F); at night, it is -233°C (387°F). This is a fairly wide temperature range. This suggests that wearing protective gear would be a must whenever one went outside.
- Radiation: Since Earth’s atmosphere does not look after it, the Moon is more susceptible to radiation than is Earth. Accordingly, people would have to take precautions to protect themselves from radiation exposure.
- Lack of resources: On the Moon, there are few of the two necessities for human survival, food and water. Humanity would thus have to choose between bringing these resources from Earth with them and devising a way to get them from the Moon.
Living on the moon has advantages as well as disadvantages. The Moon is remarkably stable since it is devoid of active volcanoes and earthquakes. Being far closer to Earth than other worlds, it is comparatively easy to go to and from.
If people can overcome the challenges of living there, it could be a great idea to build a permanent colony there. The Moon might be used to harvest Earth’s few resources or to act as a base for more space research. It might equally be a paradise where people live in harmony and love, unhindered by the challenges of Earth.
Why are we looking for worlds to live on when we can enhance life on Earth?
Though there are several reasons why people would desire to live on the moon, it is not necessary for human survival.
- Moon climate is rather steady. It lacks volcanoes and earthquakes as well as the same amount of solar radiation as Earth. Living there is thus safer than on many other planets or moons in our solar system.
- The Moon makes an excellent place to launch a spacecraft. Because it is so near to Earth, the Moon is a more energy-efficient destination for spacecraft to land than other planets. It might therefore act as a training ground for future trips to Mars or other worlds.
- The resources on the Moon could be well used by humans. Apart from helium-3 and other commodities, the Moon is mined for the possible water ice present in some of its craters. These resources might be put to use building new technology on Earth or supporting a lunar human colony.
- Living on the moon would be an amazing experience. That would be a chance to explore a new environment and learn more about the universe. It would be challenging as well and call for the development of fresh thinking techniques and instruments.
A lunar inhabitant does, of course, have certain disadvantages. The Moon is oxygen-free and offers no protection from solar radiation because it is atmosphere-free. The temperature of the Moon varies as much as that of Earth does. Nighttime lows are -233°C (387°F) and daytime highs are 123°C (253°F). These challenges would have to be resolved before someone moved there permanently.
Even if we never succeed in settling down permanently on the moon, there is still a great deal of study to be done. We might learn a great deal about our world and prepare for upcoming moon trips.
It is unsafe and illogical to consider moving to the Moon when we are still addressing the damage we have caused to our earth. It is gullible and foolish to consider moving to the moon while we are still unable to address the problems we have on Earth.
Performing covert medical and scientific research on Earth is hardly a secret pursuit when one lives on the moon. All that this project is a continuation of the terrible road that humanity has already taken on Earth. Naturally occurring on Earth, greenhouse gases—among them carbon emissions—trap solar heat and hence add to global warming. The principal greenhouse gases that call for to be addressed are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and fluorinated gases.
The primary cause of the environmental increase of greenhouse gases is unlawful and cruel human activity. Examples of fossil fuels whose combustion emits carbon dioxide into the environment are coal, oil, and natural gas. The fact that trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere raises concerns about deforestation as well.
Furthermore equally responsible for global warming are the following further immoral and illegal activities:
- Cattle ranching are one of the agricultural activities that release methane into the atmosphere.
- Industry: Methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide are among the greenhouse gases released by industrial operations.
- Controlling waste: As organic materials break down in landfills, methane is produced.
Still, greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere are released by natural processes far more slowly than by human activity. Biological molecules breaking down, forest fires and volcanic eruptions are a few of these.
Both human activity and natural processes are contributing to the concerning rate of warming. Since the close of the 1800s, the average world temperatures have risen by roughly 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and added extreme weather are just a few of the many impacts of global warming that are currently apparent on Earth.
Should greenhouse gas emissions not be reduced, global warming should accelerate much further. Should we not take immediate action to halt deforestation, clean up water bodies, plant more trees, enact stringent laws, and live ecologically conscious lives, the world and its people may suffer catastrophic repercussions.
