“There is no Planet B” is a saying these days. A response should be “Let us make one”. That might sound like lunacy, - yet scientifically quite possible. A ‘Planet B’ is right up there, very visible every night, - our companion dwarf planet, called the Moon. Although no potential Terra or Gaia, - our Moon can serve Humanity in unique and beneficial ways - if we simply continue were we locked-down half a century ago. Our Planet B should be considered as a supplement to the UNSDG for 2030, since it certainly can be the most proper backup plan for terrestrial flora and fauna genetic materials. Thus, this thesis concerns settling rather than terraforming the Moon – at least as a re-start.
First of all, this thesis does not include the theories of terraforming the Moon into a Gaia (UU20220807). It would be utopian to plan for a terrestrial atmosphere like the Earth’s biosphere. Moreover, legally, the UN limits activities to no national colonialization or utilization. Other enterprises can establish settlements and utilize resources and potentials, though, like for minerals and energy. In fact, our Moon is rather rich due to the supplies from the Sun, comets and asteroids. Thus, the Moon can host basis for mining, constructions, monitoring, transports, transfer and temporary settlements.
Quite contradictory, no other planets than Earth in our habitat zone are habitable for humans, - not even Mars. Thus, a solution for habitation is to make well shielded, airtight and sustainable buildings. Anyways, this thesis also includes the claim that there are far more planets in our solar system, since the quality of dwarf planets does not only match Ceres, but also our Moon, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Calisto, as well as the new companions to the degraded Pluto. Even Mercury should be degraded to the category, which should, by the way, be renamed to something like ‘minor planet’.
However, few humans, if anyone, want to settle in such space-station conditions. Still, not even our Earth is any Gaia, paradise or utopia. In fact, most humans prefer to live in cities, where resources, except the natural ones, are plentiful (UU20220710). Evidently, people do not want to live in barren conditions on Earth, - like the areas of deserts, mountains, caves, polar or sub-terrain or -marine. Yet, such areas cover most of Earth’s biosphere. Still, these areas are suitable for professionals that can and will adapt to future space existence.
Our Moon is freezing cold like the Antarctic; has no air like sub-marine; is barren like some rocky mountains; and has practically zero gravity (16%) like space stations; and has radioactivity like a nuclear site. All in all, a conclusion is that since we are able to build living quarters, sites and even cities in the atmosphere, on surface or underground. – we should consider more of our neighboring planets Venus, Mars, Ceres and Europe.
Still, the obvious first candidate to be ‘Planet B’, is our Moon, due to its constantly short distance and low escape-velocity. It is perfect for remote control and have rich deposit for minerals from asteroids, fuel from the sun and water with oxygen. Human presence will basically be required for on-site maintenance. Most of the construction and operations can be done by remote controlled machines. In fact, the Moon is perfect as an outpost to hinder the next mass-extinction asteroid to hit our Earth. Most important, it should be a storage site for all biological heritage on earth, - like the island Svalbard is, - as long as the permafrost holds (UU20220904).
A most controversial question, though, is if astronauts should, would and could genetically modify for space adaption. This is already questions concerning LifeQuality and Survival of the Fittest. Generally, human genetic enhancement, therapy and engineering is a main issue in this 4th Industrial Reform (IR4) and talked through in the blog UU20230205. We are indeed about to change how we are. There are already genetic solutions to; cure and prevent diseases; improve performance and change physical appearance; as well as mental abilities. Such enhancements might be required for astronauts to adapt to the atmosphere, gravity, temperature, mobility, radiation and nourishment. The new space-suits might even be considered as high-tech exoskeletons.
Conclusively, half a century lockdown is far too long for our potential Planet B. There is no more time for hesitation and jeopardizing. Our Moon is indeed a vital part of the sustainable development goals for the year 2030.
Links:
https://solarviews.com/raw/misc/plntmoon.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_planet
https://www.space.com/moon-surface-oxygen-8-billion-people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_Moon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming#Moon
https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/planet_table_ratio.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming
https://www.discovermagazine.com/thesciences/earth-isnt-the-only-ocean-world-in-the-solar-system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming
UN Sustainable Development Goals
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7
See all UU blogs at: http://bloguu.azurewebsites.net/
Music:
Frank Sinatra - Fly me to the Moon (midnight version)
https://youtu.be/Q5X0ln7lP-w
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/franksinatra/flymetothemooninotherwords.html
“Lunar settlement is a concept for claiming robotic or human exploitation and settlement on the Moon. While a range of proposals for missions of lunar colonization, exploitation or permanent exploration have been raised, current projects for establishing permanent crewed presence on the Moon are not for colonizing the Moon, but rather focus on building moon-bases for exploration and to a lesser extent for exploitation of lunar resources.”
Lunar Visions - an introduction to the EMP Engine
What If We Terraformed The Moon?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-vYDe6pfe1A
How to Terraform the MOON Without Comets! A Better Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShoSfxToo0Y
What If We Terraformed the Moon? (2)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/2M5cavBR5Zc
NASA unveils new spacesuit ahead of Artemis III moon mission - BBC News
https://youtu.be/T9usP15RwkU