Looks like the dreams of Arthur C. Clarke may soon be a reality as NASA has decided to establish a permanent base on the moon.
NY Times: “Ms. Dale and other officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the agency envisioned a base at one of the lunar poles, to take advantage of the near-constant sunlight for solar power generation. It would have an open architecture design to which others could add the capabilities they want.
Scott Horowitz, NASA associate administrator for exploration, said crews of four astronauts would make weeklong missions to the Moon starting around 2020.
As more equipment was set up, human stays would eventually grow to 180 days, and become permanent by 2024. By 2027, officials said, a pressurized roving vehicle on the surface would take people on expeditions far from the base.”