The colonization of the Moon, the only natural satellite of the Earth, is pre
sent in many movies and science fiction novels: think for example to Arthur C. Clarke who, before becoming famous as a screenwriter with "2001 - A Space Odyssey" together with Stanley Kubrick, wrote "The exploration of the Moon", one of the first novels to propose the construction of a lunar base with scientific criteria, consisting of inflatable modules covered with regolith to isolate them and protect the occupants from radiation.
Now let's see what the problems and real prospects of this incredible adventure are today.

The first problem to be faced to colonize the Moon is to identify a suitable site, which must have the following characteristics:
1) Terrain sufficiently regular to allow surface transport operations, landing and take-off of lunar spaceships
2) A potentially interesting area from a scientific point of view to facilitate study activities without dangerous long transfers
3) Maximum possible availability of natural resources such as water, hydrogen, helium, oxygen and minerals of industrial interest such as iron oxides

• Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) is a module with a weight of 8-9 t designed to produce 50 kW of electricity through photovoltaic panels and provide ion propulsion. On May 23rd, 2019, the assignment of construction to Maxar Technologies was announced and it will constitute the first module of the station.
• European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications (ESPRIT) will contribute to the storage of xenon and hydrazine, as well as providing a docking point for any cargo. It will be designed in parallel by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space.
• Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), made in the US, will provide additional space and form the initial housing module, leading to 55m³ of living space. It will be based on a Cygnus spacecraft, with the additions of radiators, antennas, batteries and docking points, providing support for the crew for at least a month. The construction of the module was entrusted in July 2019 to Northrop Grumman, which, for the production of the Cygnus, collaborates with Thales Alenia Space, operating in the pressurized sections.
• International Habitation Module (I-HAB) is part of the habitation module during manned missions and is a docking point for other modules. It has a cylindrical shape with the addition of four doors, two in axis and two radial, and for the absence of space waste in the cis-lunar area, less thick walls are sufficient. Inside there will be sleeping, kitchen and a gym. It will be designed in parallel by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space. At the ESA ministerial conference in Seville, an order worth 327 million euros was awarded for the module, 137 million of which for Italian returns.
• U.S. Habitation Module (U.S. HAB) forms the US part of the station's housing module, reaching 125m3 of living space.
• Gateway Logistics Modules will be used as refueling modules. The project provides for a pressurized load capacity of 5 t and 2.6 t of non-pressurized, for a total of 7.6 t (in comparison the Cygnus and the ATV reach 3.5 t and 9 t).
• Gateway Airlock Module will act as an airlock for any spacewalks and will be provided by Russia.
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Credits: Ron Miller, Mark A. Garlick / MarkGarlick.com
Credits: Nasa/Shutterstock/Storyblocks/Elon Musk/SpaceX/ESA/ESO/ Flickr

Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Characteristics required
07:20 The 7 modules of the project

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