Human colonies on the Moon

[Monkey Magic]

Experts have long suspected there was water on the moon. Confirmation came from data churned up by two NASA spacecraft that intentionally slammed into a lunar crater last month.
"Indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit. We found a significant amount," said Anthony Colaprete, lead scientist for the mission, holding up a white water bucket for emphasis.
The lunar crash kicked up at least 25 gallons and that's only what scientists could see from the plumes of the impact, Colaprete said.

source

i can see it now. human colonies in less than a century. they will live in biospheres. they will have their own economy and it will be based primarily on resources and tourism.

but, who owns the moon?

[boxy]

Whoever occupies it first.

I can't see moonbases being profitable for a long time to come. Perhaps the water/minerals can be used to help build ships/probes to go further out, instead of blasting them out of earths gravity well?

[Monkey Magic]

humans will occupy the moon first. where water is known to be, humans are known to be. we'll be colonizing within a century with a purpose to live there permanently and ease population explosions

are you suggesting that the moon is to be nationalistic?

[boxy]

Look at historic frontiers, first in, best dressed. Terra nullius (a true one this time).

But really, the moon isn't the place to ease any population explosion. Even with water (if it's available for use), it will still be hideously expensive to live there. It is even more hostile than the earth's poles, and no one is considering them as places to settle to alleviate population pressures.

The only reason to make bases there is if there is something we cant get on earth, or as a jump off point for deeper space.

[JW.Frogen]

Brett Burgin will be the first to live on the moon.

[boxy]

Don't encourage wannabe internet memes, Froggo

[JW.Frogen]

Don't encourage wannabe internet memes, Froggo

Memen is guud fun.

[Monkey Magic]

Look at historic frontiers, first in, best dressed. Terra nullius (a true one this time).

But really, the moon isn't the place to ease any population explosion. Even with water (if it's available for use), it will still be hideously expensive to live there. It is even more hostile than the earth's poles, and no one is considering them as places to settle to alleviate population pressures.

The only reason to make bases there is if there is something we cant get on earth, or as a jump off point for deeper space.

mining for resources destined for earth over a period of time would affect the moons mass. how would this reduced mass affect orbit and tides in relation to earth? anyone?

mining for resources requires a settlement for the miners, scientists and their families at least. even if they are on a rotating roster there still needs to be a settlement of some kind for the next crew. look at the historic frontiers. they too had a base, which then expanded into a civilization.

where there is water, there are humans. settlement is inevitable.

[JW.Frogen]

where there is water, there are humans. settlement is inevitable.

Then wouldn't the most logical place to start be the bottom of the sea?

[JW.Frogen]

Still, I am ex-military so I say take the high ground.