HUMAN COLONY ON THE MOON
The United States plans to build a "rail network" that will transport goods and people on the lunar surface during the planned future colonization of space. The "lunar surface railway system" plan, supported by the US Department of Defense, will be able to transport both people and supplies to the Moon.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE MOON
The "lunar railroad plan" designed by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman is expected to enable serious and sustainable economic development on the Moon.
"The planned lunar rail network could transport people, materials and resources for commercial ventures on the lunar surface. This could contribute to the space economy for the United States and international partners."
ONE OF THE 14 SELECTED COMPANIES
Northrop Grumman was one of 14 companies selected by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in December to participate in the "Luna-10" study, which aims to create ideas to help move humanity into space.
SPACE X AND BLUE ORIGIN ALSO INCLUDED
To begin with, the company will determine what resources are required to build a rail line on the Moon. It will then calculate the costs and risks of the project and begin building prototypes of an operational lunar railway system.
Other companies DARPA has selected to participate in the Luna-10 study include Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
According to experts, the study has the potential to "upend the civil space community's thinking about promoting commercial activities on and around the Moon" in the next 10 years.
The companies will announce more details of their work at the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium next month.
The US and China believe the Moon's mysterious south pole is the best place to build a permanent lunar base.
