Why Human Base On Moon Is Absolutely Necessary Before Embarking On Mars Mission

We may have to wait 15 more years before human flight to Mars is possible, according the Director General of European Space Agency (ESA). Chief Jan Woerner reportedly feels that financial constraint will limit the progress of a manned mission to Mars. Furthermore, the head of ESA added that, a human base on Moon should prelude a manned flight to Mars to facilitate the journey to the red planet.

"If there was enough money then we could possibly do it earlier but there is not as much now as the Apollo program had," Jan Woerner said, comparing to the US Moon mission that landed astronauts on the lunar surface in 1969. The head of ESA also feels that it would be advantageous to start by first setting up a permanent human colony on the moon. Subsequently, the rocks on the Moon can be transformed by 3D printers into necessary items needed for the two year journey to Mars, lowering the burden and cost of transporting important components from the Earth.

According to Woerner, once the lifespan of the International Space Station (ISS) gets over, a set of research laboratories should be set up on the lunar surface as a sort of Moon village to be the base for testing technologies needed for future missions to Mars. The ESA chief further adds that funds and operations for running a human base on the Moon can be managed by a collection of public and private organizations all over the world.  In fact, Woerner suggests there are numerous public agencies and companies that are interested in different features of space exploration like tourism, situ research, resource mining etc.

"The Moon village is a pit stop on the way to Mars," Jan Woerner said. "To test how to use lunar material to build some structures, not only houses, but also for a telescope or whatever, will teach us also how to do it on Mars".