The US already has a wild plan for building a train network on the Moon
It may have been more than 50 years since humans last set foot on the Moon, but experts in the US are already planning out public transport for after we return.
If the proposals go ahead, their railroad will be able to ferry passengers and cargo from one end of the Earth’s natural satellite to the other.
The US Department of Defence has thrown its weight behind the idea, part of a larger project to create new technology that will help create sustained economic development on the Moon.
Aerospace firm Northrop Grumman, which will be designing the system, said: ‘The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface – contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partners.’
The company was one of 14 taking part in the US government’s LunA-10 study, which is brainstorming ideas to push economic activity beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Northrop Grumman said it will contribute to the study by determining what resources are required to build a lunar rail network, establishing a list of costs and risks, and identifying prototypes and analyses of an operational system.
It’s also exploring ideas to construct the road using robots, which will also operate the system.
The LunA-10 study, which was started by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in December, hopes to create new ways to look at lunar exploration and commerce by 2035.
Chris Adams, vice president and general manager of strategic space systems at Northrop Grumman, said: ‘This investment in key developmental research keeps our technology at the forefront of next-generation solutions.
‘With our proven experience in the integration of complex systems and commercialized autonomous services, we will continue to create lasting change for a sustainable space ecosystem.’
The last time mankind stepped on the Moon’s surface was December 19 1972, when Gene Cernan climbed back on board the Apollo 17 capsule.
In October last year, German researchers were considering making paved roads and landing pads on the Moon via giant lasers to melt lunar soil into a solid substance.