Establishing a US moon base would be cool. It would send a signal to the world that the USA is the leader in technology and culture. In a time when democracy and freedom is being questioned,
Americans returning to the moon would be worth it blaze the trail for the future. JFK was right when he set that goal. Watch this three minute clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYb_mhiE-qU
The moon landing was our highest technological feat that inspired technical achievements. Americans should be the ones setting the standards, don’t you think?
I am all for Private space flight. But for such you need a destination. AND no country on Earth will stand for a Corporation OWNING the Moon. SO this is why you need the US Government (NASA) to go and establish a Moon Base.
Build a Hub with Government Buildings for Science and Research and then Sell Real estate to Corporations and Private individuals CHEAP! Whomever buys property must develop it to keep it. No speculators buying up property to try and resell it UNLESS they develop it and that means viable habitats for living and working. Said habitats must be built to specs approved by a Department that is responsible for SANE safety standards not just make-do work for bureaucrats.
The Government would be responsible for infrastructure and emergency habitats. We would need a Space Station Orbiting the moon as well. With many docking bays (It would make sense to have specialized vehicles for landing on the Moon and docking with the Moon Orbit Space Station. and Vehicles to travel from the much Bigger Earth Orbit Space Station that would need built Where we could dock many Cargo Haulers that would travel between the Space stations.
I would imagine that Water would be the major item transported.