What about a permanent base on the moon? We’re starting to think about that now…in 2020. That’s 50 years after we first landed on the moon, and some 46 years since we last set foot on the moon.
That’s too long…
Why did this happen? We lost interest in the moon and after Apollo 17 landed, well, that was history.
But not in Belitopia. In Belitopia, we saw the value of a long term presence on the lunar surface. In Belitopia, after Apollo 20 landed on the moon (yes, Apollo 20), we next focused our lunar efforts on building a crewed space station on the lunar surface.
What kind of base? A base where humans could spend a significant period of time living and working on the lunar surface. This wasn’t a permanent presence, but it was a long term presence. The goal of Tycho Base was a 5 year lunar existence over the course of nine separate research crews.
This was the Skylab of the lunar surface.
All of this is described in a two part series, titled “The Apollo Lunar Bases”. Part 1 of the story is Season 1, Episode 7, and it is available below:
Part 2 will be available on January 21, 2020.
Join us in the world of Belitopia…