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What a Massive New 728-Foot-Wide Crater Means for Future Moon Bases

27 points · 55 comments · bookofjoe

  1. karim79 · · focus · HN ↗
    Does anyone really want to live on the moon? I mean it's a cool and dreamy idea but would you actually do it?
    1. glitchc · · focus · HN ↗
      Life on the moon is likely to develop in much the same way that humans settled in far-flung places on Earth. The first people to arrive and live on the moon will be there for a work-related reason (research, military posting, etc.). Those people will settle down, have families and form a community. Over time, the communities will grow and evolve into a distinct Moon culture and society.
      1. fluidcruft · · focus · HN ↗
        Why hasn't that happened in Antarctica?
        1. accrual · · focus · HN ↗
          I feel it has in the sense there is an established culture in some major Antarctic research bases. There are stories, communities, and shared history. But most of those on the ice come home after a season or two, so there's no long term settlement of individual families. Maybe this would also be true of moon bases. Researchers stay for some time, then take the next available ferry home once their season lapses. There would have to be significant infrastructure to make "ordinary" life possible over the long term - schools, hospitals, non-research jobs - reasons for staying there versus migrating back to Earth.

          FWIW, there&#x27;s a nice series of posts about life on the ice here: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;brr.fyi&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;brr.fyi&#x2F;

        2. serf · · focus · HN ↗
          imo the same reason it hasn&#x27;t happened on the moon, it&#x27;s not lucrative.

          old world exploration was caused&#x2F;fueled&#x2F;triggered&#x2F;made-possible by opportunity and commerce.

        3. karim79 · · focus · HN ↗
          It took me some time to dig this up. Here you go and enjoy:

          <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.wiffa.aq&#x2F;?hl=en-GB" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.wiffa.aq&#x2F;?hl=en-GB

          Edit: Check out John Wiff

          Also, this is how I imagine people will be spending their time on the moon.

        4. glitchc · · focus · HN ↗
          It is, it&#x27;s just happening slowly. We went from having a campsite to building a permanent base. Food water and energy sustainability are the major barriers right now. Once the base can produce its own food reliably, we will see people start to live there persistently.
      2. kazinator · · focus · HN ↗
        &gt; Life on the moon is likely to develop in much the same way that humans settled in far-flung places on Earth

        I.e. basically not at all.

      3. OccamsMirror · · focus · HN ↗
        No one is going to raise families on the moon. Why do people believe this crazy nonsense?
        1. glitchc · · focus · HN ↗
          I&#x27;m speaking on a millenia timescale. A millenium ago, raising families in America or Australia would sound crazy to the common person.
          1. xnx · · focus · HN ↗
            America and Australia have been inhabited by families for tens of thousands of years.
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