Final Project

Jason D.

Legislator:  Thomas R. Craddick, Representative

Atlantis: Moon Colony

John F. Kennedy immortalized the communitarian ideology when he uttered the words “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Only an altruistic creed such as Kennedy’s can be used to ensure the longevity and success of a permanent population on the moon. Unfortunately, when society views life on the moon, they do so in a mocking manor, however this pessimistic laughter can be silenced with a concise approach to a populous on the moon. When viewing life on the moon one must first address the political, social, and economic aspects necessary to survival.

There is little doubt that man can venture to the moon, but whether a community can be spurred on the moon depends greatly on the political climate on the Earth. Because leaders like George Bush care more about weapons of mass destruction then space exploration, a moon colony cannot be created under the jurisdiction of the United States, or any other country. A moon colony should be independent from any country on the Earth. The logic behind a free colony on the moon is two-fold; one, the denizen of the moon would be able to avoid high taxation from countries on the Earth. Although taxation can be used to create positive social change, taxing people who live on the moon will not further the success of the lunar colony, but rather further the agenda of the Earth. For example if a family on the moon earns 100,000 dollars a year and are taxed 30,000 dollars to the United States government their money will go to programs directed at the domestic concerns of the US, i.e. Medicare, social security and so forth. If the citizenry of the moon are responsible for taxing their people then they can use the money for something that would promote their way of life, such as artificial gravity, or other necessities. A second advantage of having the moon colony independent from the Earth is that they will not have to strictly follow the US’s or any other country’s regulations or laws. The colony would accept any type of person on the moon. Current embargos that the United States holds with some countries would not hold true on the moon.  The moon would be the land of the free allowing any individual that could contribute to the ultimate goal of a better society. The moon colony would not have to worry about tiptoeing around the United State’s sometimes-austere laws. With an independent country controlling the moon, any person would be able to travel to the moon without risking irritating the United States government. If created correctly the moon would serve as a utopian society that would make even Benthom happy.

It is unfortunate that a government can prevent scientific exploration, and because of this the government of the moon will play little part in the moon peoples lives. A tribune should be set up to make minor laws to ensure that the citizens of the moon can obtain their natural rights of life, liberty, and property(1). There will be seven members in the tribune, one from each sector of the Moon’s colony, and they will be elected by a majority vote, in which every child, and adult can vote in the election. The tribunal will mainly be responsible for deciding the needs of the colony such as food, water, and protection from the elements. The majority of the choice will be on the individual, for it is the workingman that keeps society functioning.

A strong government is not enough to keep a colony alive, a strong social bond is required if any type of long-term commitment is to be made. The social aspect of the moon will mainly consist of transportation to and from Earth. Obviously, since the majority of Humans live on Earth, transportation to and from the moon will play a great role in the moon colony. The first step of any type of travel is finding the vehicle of travel, because large spaceships require so much fuel the vehicle of choice is a X-33. Currently Lockheed Martin has only 75% of the hardware completed(2) for these tiny shuttles, however a greater demand for celestial travel will create a higher demand for these products, ensuring the completion of these jets. With A cheaper means of transportation to and from the moon, the colony will be able to thrive. Not only will tourism augment the colony’s income, an increase in interest of the colony will gain support from members of the earth, ergo guarantying the success of the colony. A strong social movement is no better then the members that comprise the movement, which is why it is important that the initial members of the moon colony be highly dedicated individuals set forth to the betterment of the moon colony.

The economic portion of the moon colony can be broken down into the three largest branches of the moon’s economy: oxygen production, food harvesting, and research and development.

Oxygen production is by far the most important lunar task. Without oxygen there can be no human life, which is why a great portion of the Moon’s resources will be deployed to the production of this necessary element. The experiments carried out by Carbotek(3) proved that oxygen could be extracted from the moon’s soil. Although this process is extremely expensive it must be perfected if there is to be any type of life on the Moon.

The Second part of the lunar economy is to create self-sufficiency. This can only be obtained when the Moon can produce all of man’s physiological needs. Food and water can be shipped to the moon, but this would be very costly and could cause a tradeoff with more pressing matters. Rather some type of harvest should be attempted on the moon. Using advanced techniques in plant growth, an artificial environment can be created underground to grow crops. Farming underground would require the use of heat lamps to serve as a fake sun, but an underground farm would protect the crops from harmful radiation. Over time there would be hundreds of miles of farmland under the moon’s surface, and with time animal life can also thrive in this fake atmosphere. If the Lunar population cannot meet their most basic needs the likelihood of survival is slim.

The final portion of the lunar economy is research and development. The space program has already created such wonderful items such as Kevlar, and the pace maker, but this is just the beginning. The moon is an ideal place for research to transpire since a lower gravity facilitates crystal and fiber growth. If the development team on the moon were to create a cure for cancer or any other great scientific discovery the income earned from the invention could go to other needs of the colony. The environment is the only difference between a society on the moon and society on earth, which is why it is important for the lunar community to capitalize on any type of advantage they hold on their Earth neighbors.

Overall a population on the moon would take decades of hard work and dedication. Rome was not created in a day and neither will a society on the moon. What is important is that man does not give up when faced with adversity. Success comes from mistakes, and failure is only a bad thing if one refuses to learn from it. After all the Wright brothers did not fly in their first homemade airplane, and they did not give up after their first crash.

1.)John Locke The Second Treatise on Government 1681.

2.)http://www.venturestar.com

3.)http://www-sn.jsc.nasa.gov/PlanetaryMissions/EXLibrary/DOCS/EIC048.html

Last Updated:  09/07/01