US Plans to Colonize Moon in 2020

Graphic shows concept drawing of NASA's proposed Orion space craft for future Lunar exploration. NASA announced 4 December that the United States plans to set up a colony on the south pole of the moon around 2020 as a base for further manned exploration of the solar system.[Photo: AFP Graphic]

The United States plans to set up a colony on the south pole of the moon around 2020 as a base for further manned exploration of the solar system, NASA announced.

The project, which would send a man back to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972, is designed as a long-term joint effort of 14 of the world's space agencies, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.

NASA plans to set up a solar-powered base on the moon's south pole that, after construction is completed, could serve as a forward base for manned missions to Mars.

The project will begin, NASA said, with four person crews visiting the moon on a series of week-long visits to build up a living quarters with its own power units and lunar exploration vehicles.

The first mission will be launched by 2020, in the current plan. Before human missions are started, unmanned robotic missions will be undertaken to lay the groundwork, handling landing site reconnaissance, natural resource assessments, and technology risk checks.

After the permanent facilities are established, the program will be 180 day visits to the moon, during which trips to Mars can be planned.

词汇：
colony: n. 殖民地
launch: vt. 发动, 发起

相关链接：
NASA：2020年“重返月球”

美国国家航空和航天局(NASA)4日对外公布“重返月球”计划，计划2024年前建立有人常驻的月球考察站，地点可能选择在月球南极或北极，其核心目标是以月球永久基地为跳板，为人类登陆火星甚至探索更遥远的太空做准备。

普通游客也能逛“月宫”

NASA高级官员斯科特?霍罗威茨说:“我们要在月亮建一处基地。”

NASA副局长助理道格?库克在休斯敦举行的新闻发布会上说，NASA征求了14个国家和地区1000多名专家的意见，决定将于2020年起陆续启动一系列登月计划之后开始建设月球常驻站。

NASA网站发布的消息说，NASA将加快进度建设月球基地。2008年，美国将发射“月球勘测轨道飞行器”，为后续的月球基地建设等铺路。2014年试发送第一艘载人探测飞船但不登月。宇航员首次重返月球的时间可能定在2020年。刚开始可能只有4名宇航员登陆月球，停留时间约7天开展建筑工作。随后，月球基地将逐渐扩建，电力供应、移动月球车及宇航员的居住区都将陆续建成。到2024年，普通游客将有机会登月居住。最终的月球永久基地将可以保障宇航员在月球上持续居住180天。

“重返月球”首航费用将上亿

早在2004年，美国总统布什就提出了“重返月球”计划，并进一步提出登陆火星的设想。这个庞大的项目将花费不菲，需要未来美国三届总统的政府预算支持。

美国航空航天局去年曾称，仅4名宇航员首次登陆月球就需花费1.04亿美元，不过在12月5日的发布会上，其官员并没有给出具体数字，仅表示费用将在航空航天局的预算之内。据悉，美国航空航天局每年获得的资金约有160亿美元。

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