Life on the moon: Lockheed Martin shares exploration vision for 2044

Lockheed Martin has shared its vision for humanity's future in space, as global space agencies aim for the moon and beyond.Lockheed Martin, a key player in space exploration for decades, recently published a novella white paper called "A Vision for Humanity's Future in Space." The document outlines what the moon's infrastructure may look like in the next few decades, including a bustling Artemis Base Camp at the lunar south pole and a lunar gateway in orbit above the moon to support interplanetary missions to Mars."It is imperative that such a vision be sustainable — technically, politically and economically," Lockheed Martin wrote. "According to this guiding principle, the best lunar architecture over the long term is one that is water-based, nuclear-enabled and commercially invested."The novella, set in the 2040s, kicks off with a day in the life of a "lunar contractor," who has launched to the moon for a six-month mission, during which time lunar resources are harvested, produced st...