Here's a video from ESA on some of their activities. They say 20 years to a Lunar mission.<snip>
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 02/16/2016 01:54 amHere's a video from ESA on some of their activities. They say 20 years to a Lunar mission.<snip>(Renewed) manned missions to the moon are always 20 years into the future. Much like manned missions to Mars are always 20 - 40 years into the future.
Euronews on ESA's Moon landing "plan". At this stage, its probably more an idea than a plan, but its good to see leadership from ESA's Director General on this.
By refuelling Centaurs manned lunar trips may only be 15 years away.
Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 02/17/2016 06:16 amBy refuelling Centaurs manned lunar trips may only be 15 years away.With a fuel depot lunar trips become a lot easier.As for needing new technology they could have done a moon base as far back as the late 1970s all that is lacking is the political will.
Another ESA Moon Village video. Still with an annoying "could be 20 years before the technology will be ready" at the end.{snip}
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 03/23/2016 04:50 amAnother ESA Moon Village video. Still with an annoying "could be 20 years before the technology will be ready" at the end.{snip}Annoying but probably accurate. The official planning of the Orion spacecraft started in 2004, under the name Crew Exploration Vehicle. It is now 2016 and Orion still has not flown a person. Since they have to support full life support lunar buildings have a similar complexity.
Like the way the ISS has modules from Japan / US / Russia etc, but on the Moon can be separate habitats joined together.
Quote from: robertinventor on 06/21/2016 01:55 pmLike the way the ISS has modules from Japan / US / Russia etc, but on the Moon can be separate habitats joined together.I would like to remind you that having ISS built from several countries' components is one of the reasons it was built so much behind schedule. Does not feel like a positive experience.
A village concept is different from international base. It could be individual self contained bases near to each other. They may share power and even transport systems, eg Chinese cargo flight carry a few essentials for ESA base. This similar to how NZ and USA Antarctica bases operate, they share power and transport systems but are total independent.
The Lunar village may have a another member/advocate (Trump administration).