A U.S. Army Study for the Establishment of a Lunar Outpost - 9 June 1959

In 1967, the US signed the Outer Space Treaty. Article IV states that the "<i>establishment of military bases, installations and fortifications… …on celestial bodies shall be forbidden</i>".<p><a href="http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/space1.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/space1.html</a>

I like these parts:<p>"There are no known technical barriers to the establishment of a manned installation on the moon."<p>"There is a requirement for a manned military outpost on the moon. The lunar outpost is required to develop and protect potential United States interests on the moon; to develop techniques in moon-based surveillance of the earth and space, in communications relay, and in operations on the surface of the moon; to serve as a base for exploration of the moon, for further exploration into space and for military operations on the moon if required"

Perhaps it is from growing up with Star Trek, but for me, space exploration and settlement is a no-brainer. I almost feel as if that's our purpose as a species. We're meant to evolve and expand. That's what we've been doing since day one. Space is the logical next step.

"To be second to the Soviet Union in establishing an outpost on the moon would be disastrous to our nation's prestige and in turn to our democratic philosophy."<p>Though it is probably easier to see now than it was during the cold war, that claim (especially the last part) is flawed logic.<p>Although countries may need to use military force for self-preservation, functional ideologies do not need to be propped up by being first, more prestigious, or impressive.

The zero-G to high-G simulator (diagram at the bottom) is wonderful. Drop a sled down cliff for zero-G, then bottom out with a tight radius circle like a centrifuge. Wow.