Lunar Base Development Stages

Exploration of the Moon is the first critical step in the human expansion into the vast reaches of space. Human capabilities to survive, function, expand and settle into the space environment should be defined on the Moon which represents the most nearby ideal testbed. Scientific studies and utilization of space resources should culminate in the establishment of a nearly self-sufficient permanently human-tended lunar base sometime in the 21st century. An evolutionary process for development of the infrastructure for a lunar base consisting of four stages is suggested. These four development stages are: (1) exploratory, (2) pioneering, (3) outpost, and (4) mature base. Overall goals, specific objectives, functional requirements, construction conditions and life support systems requirements needed in each stage are identified and summarized.