Though poets all over the world in general and Urdu poets here in India in particular have generally praised the moon, in reality it is a pockmarked satellite of the earth. Still the moon is so fascinating that it pulled cosmonauts to it. The last flight to the moon was Apollo 17 mission where astronauts moonwalked for 75 hours. The world watched with awe on TV their expedition on the moon some 2 and a half lac miles away from the earth. They returned to the earth in December 1972. Since then not a single soul from the earth has ever returned to the moon.

NASA has planned the return to the moon mission called Artemis. Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo. In November 2022, Artemis I, the first moon mission circled the moon and came back. It was an unmanned flight. Artemis II proposes to carry four crew members, of which one will be a woman, and one black person for the first time. The mission is proposed in November, 2024.

One year later, Artemis III will follow. Two more manned missions are planned by 2030.

NASA will explore the possibility of inhabiting the moon. Housing is a necessity. Perhaps this dream could be realised by 2040. Later, the possibility of Living on Mars can be explored. Though ambitions, this goal is not unattainable.

A 3D Printer can be used to create houses. It is additive making — layer by layer. The raw material can be derived from lunar soil on the surface of the moon. Such a project can be executed in collaboration with private sector and universities.

Future space missions need new programmes, machinery and equipment.

Lunar dust is fine and abrasive. It swirls around in circles. It is toxic if breathed in. Dust is both a problem and a solution. It could be used in housing as raw material.

Lunar environment poses problems to both constructions and dwellers. Younger generation may soon have their dream come true — living on the moon.