Gateway to Space 2020

How can a semi-permanent Lunar base accelerate space tourism while advancing scientific research? The long-established idea of working on a permanent lunar base as a milestone in space travel is part of the future of space mission sequencing logic. However, the pace the space travel technology and readiness developments in the past decades has pushed the whole timeline back . A sort of a missing link between the successful Moon landings 50 years and the hope of building a future Moon base could be filled with a project of simple missions that aim to utilize current technology for longer and more established lunar trips, increasing the number of lunar missions and the days people live there. Many of the space-related pursuits such as lunar tourism, lunar habitats, space sports, and space mining could be accelerated and achieved, instead of conventionally awaiting a permanent Moon base. That will eventually facilitate advancing space technology and building a permanent base.

Let's look at the space architecture behind such projects and how it incurs in utilizing Moon trips, habitats, and related technology not only for establishing new sectors in the space economy, but also in driving space travel forward and realizing milestones on the road map to planetary travel.