Moon Settlements Could Become Reality Through Tourism

It's been 57 years since humans first walked on the moon, yet we still don't have anyone living there. Space expert James Wertz says the missing ingredient isn't technology but motivation and money.

The contrast with satellites tells the story. Low Earth orbit now hosts 10,000 satellites serving profitable businesses, while the moon remains untouched. The difference? Commerce drove satellites forward while science alone couldn't sustain lunar ambitions.

Wertz, who teaches Lunar Settlements at USC, believes adding commercial activities to moon missions could generate over $100 billion annually. His vision includes lunar tourism, sports in one-sixth gravity, weddings with Earth rising overhead, and even advertising opportunities reaching all eight billion people on our planet.

The key to affordability lies in economical lunar enclosures that let settlers use everyday equipment. Instead of spending billions inventing moon-specific washing machines and phones, manufacturers could pay to showcase their existing products in lunar settlements. Ford could sell a Luna electric car, and restaurants could market the first Universal burger on the moon.

This approach flips the economics completely. Rather than governments funding every innovation, companies would invest millions for the marketing value of having their products used on the moon. Everyone on Earth knows the moon, making it the ultimate advertising platform.

Why This Inspires

The technology exists right now to make this happen. Researchers are already creating aluminum and glass from simulated lunar soil. What's needed are detailed business models for lunar industries and a small-scale prototype enclosure to show investors the concept works.

Wertz suggests building a 2 to 3 meter model to demonstrate how quickly and affordably these structures could be built. Seeing and touching a real prototype would transform lunar settlements from science fiction to investment opportunity.

The timeline matters too. From Robert Goddard's first 41-foot rocket flight in 1926 to Neil Armstrong's moonwalk took just 43 years. We've now spent 57 years without progress on permanent settlements, but that could change quickly with the right approach.

Lunar settlements could preserve humanity, enable solar system exploration, and generate massive returns for participating companies and countries. The opportunity sits waiting for someone bold enough to commercialize it.