Future Space Exploration
How much would it cost to colonize the moon?
Answered by
Discovery Channel
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Discovery Channel
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How much would it cost to send just 100 people to colonize the moon? If we assume some basic facts, we can approximate 3,000 pounds (1,363.6 kilograms) per colonist:
- 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms) per individual
- 500 pounds (226.7 kilograms) for an initial food package
- 1,000 pounds (453.4 kilograms) for shelter and basic equipment
- 1,000 pounds (453.4 kilograms) for manufacturing equipment
That amounts to 300,000 pounds (136,364 kilograms) for the group of 100 people. At a cost of $50,000 per pound, the initial cost would be about $15 billion just for shipping. All of the other startup costs, such as training, development, design and administration, would have to be factored in, as well. A small moon colony would probably cost billions or even trillions of dollars to get "off the ground."
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