European Space Agency plans town on the moon to replace ISSJune 9, 2015 - 00:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Space Agency is planning a village on the moon to replace the International Space Station orbiting earth that looks like it has come straight from the Teletubbies, Daily Mail reports. Professor Jan Woerner, the future head of the ESA, said construction could start on 'Lunarville' to replace the station in 2024 and would spark huge innovations. 'The construction of a station on the moon would trigger a huge surge of technological innovation on earth. The back side of the moon, which we can't see from earth, would provide the best conditions for research where telescopes could be set up to have an undisturbed view into the depths of space. 'At the start construction materials and food would take priortiy. Later it would be possible to produce water from hydrogen. Crops could be grown in greenhouses. Researchers would remain for several months at a time. A permanent shuttle service needs to be established in the case of medical emergencies.' But costs may prove more of an obstacle than the harsh climate of space. The space station cost more than 75 billion pounds and a moon village would cost even more. But Professor Woerner is confident that countries will come together to build it and the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany is working on dwellings to be constructed there. A flight from earth with today's technology would take around two days to cover the 230,000 miles to the moon. Professor Woerner added: 'There is still so much about the moon we don't know. Like where irt came from?` And there are resources there which could prove valuable, like the gas Helium 3 which we do not have on earth. 'Helium 3 is considered as an energy source for the future which is vital for nuclear fusion.' Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |