Prototype Moon Base to be tested in Hawaii
An International MoonBase Summit (IMS) convened last October 1-5, bringing together stakeholders from governments, the private sector, and academe. The body discussed the groundwork for a moon base.
A Hawaii based entrepreneur, Henk Rogers, stated that “Because of its geography, geology, and culture, Hawaii is the perfect place to build a MoonBase prototype.”
Moon Base Issues
The summit’s working groups tackled numerous issues concerning the International Moon Base (IMB) initiative. They are the following:
- Business dynamics and commercialization
- Organizational structure
- Design, architectural, and engineering principles
- Public-private partnership modalities
- Geological and geographic considerations for positioning and location of the proposed moon base as well as its terrestrial counterpart on Earth.
- Public engagement
- Educational opportunities
- Surface systems required to construct and operate the IMB
Buzz Aldrin, one of the first men to walk on the moon, also discussed the value of the IMB as a staging point in bringing people to Mars.
The summit’s decisions
The five-day summit resulted in the following decisions on the prototype moon base.
- IMB’s terrestrial analog will be situated on Hawaii’s Big Island. Astronauts will be able to take advantage of the island’s topography and geology as it resembles the moon.
- MoonBase will be built close to one of the moon’s poles. By doing this, astronauts will be able to access water and ice at the poles.
- The analog will be named the “Mahina Lani” simulator, which in Hawaiian, translates as Moonlight Heaven.
Furthermore, the group is to draft a master plan by Spring of 2018. This will take into consideration issues that will undergo trade studies in the coming months.
Also, a 3D rendering of the IMB is already in development. Once completed this will provide the public with a clear view of the base’s layout.
You can find more information on the base at www.moonbasealliance.com
