The moon has fascinated man ever since people came into existence. It has only been recently that man has developed the ability to visit the moon in person. Recently, that is, relative to the entire time man has lived with eyes to see the spectacle that is the moon and the mind to wonder about it. Technologically speaking however, it has been some time since we have exercised our ability to step foot on our nearest celestial neighbor.
Back in the 1960’s the space race was on. It was then that President Kennedy committed us to this giant leap. Though technology was still in its infancy, we did it—we achieved the impossible in only a few short years. Touted to be man’s greatest achievement, this was to usher man into the space age, promising a new beginning for all mankind. Sadly, since Eugene Cernan’s last walk on the moon nearly forty years ago, we haven’t been back and have achieved little in the way of manned space exploratory advancement.
So what is so special about space? Why would we want to go there? What’s the big deal with the moon? How can we expand our existence into space? What are we doing right now to step forward in the space age? Some say these questions are important to ask and answer soon, rather than later. Some even say it is vital. One example of that is the idea that the moon can help us overcome today’s energy crunch.
The moon can supplement Earth-based renewable energy systems to meet future energy demand. Ample energy from the Sun reaches the moon and is not interrupted by weather, pollution, or volcanic ash. Solar energy farms on the moon can “beam” limitless clean energy down to where it is needed on Earth or to satellites for relay to our planet. There also are other potential sources of energy, including platinum for fuel cells and an isotope called helium-3, which could be used in fusion reactors of the future. Moreover, supplying energy from the moon will enable us to help provide the Earth’s energy needs without destroying our environment.
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