Meet the Moon Experts

A collection of four videos dedicated to interviewing leading ESA space research scientists on a variety of different lunar topics including:

• Making use of resources on the moon
• 3D Printing on the moon
• Living on the moon
• Future moon exploration

An ESA lunar research scientist is interviewed about how we can make use of resources on the moon. He explains how metals, oxygen, and in particular trapped frozen water could be extracted and used beyond the moon for fuel, respiration and manufacturing purposes. He suggests how this could lead the way towards living independently on the moon in future times. 

An ESA materials engineer is interviewed about how 3D printing is currently being used in space exploration. He outlines how the process works and it's applications (on some rockets and satellites) at present. The International Space Station (ISS) has a 3D printer that has been used to print food items and extended uses include manufacture on demand of tools using lunar soil. Future uses could involve replacing supplies and building habitats on the moon itself.

An ESA lunar technologist is interviewed about how living on the moon could become a reality and the obstacles that must be removed for this to occur. She explains that factors such as temperature and gravitational differences as well as differences in atmosphere could mean that it will take many years before life could be supported on the moon. She suggests that initially small infrastructures should be developed at specific locations on the moon and eventually a "moon village"  could be the end goal.

An ESA space research scientist is interviewed about future moon exploration. He outlines a brief history of missions to the moon so far and what the future may hold. This, he stresses is dependent upon partnerships and cooperation between science, technology and private agencies to fund the process. In particular he refers to work being carried out by NASA and their ARTEMIS programme to return humanity to the moon and make use of it's untapped resources by initially setting up a robotic research station on the moon's surface.