Science enabled by a Moon Village

TL;DR

A Moon Village on the lunar surface could significantly advance scientific research across multiple disciplines and develop lunar resources, similar to Antarctic research stations.

Contribution

This paper highlights the scientific potential and benefits of establishing a human-robotic Moon Village as a research infrastructure.

Findings

Enables multi-disciplinary lunar research

Facilitates development of lunar resource utilization

Provides long-term scientific benefits

Abstract

A human-robotic "Moon Village" would offer significant scientific opportunities by providing an infrastructure on the lunar surface. An analogy would be the way in which human outposts in Antarctica facilitate research activities across multiple scientific disciplines on that continent. Scientific fields expected to benefit from a Moon Village will include: planetary science, astronomy, astrobiology, life sciences, and fundamental physics. In addition, a Moon Village will help develop the use of lunar resources, which will yield additional longer-term scientific benefits.