The Moon

Compiled from a single semester of student coursework in Space Resources and Planetary Settlements, a module in the Master's program in Space and Aeronautical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, this book examines how people might one day live and work on the Moon in a sustainable way that serves humanity.

The authors start by surveying the lunar environment and the resources it holds. They then take a close look at energy generation, life support systems, and the question of when robots should do the work and when people should do it.

The book also looks at travel to and from the Moon, drawing on lessons from the continuous round trips to the International Space Station in the early 21st century. It closes by describing a range of activities that the authors believe make a case for returning to Earth's natural satellite.