The United States is the only country on Earth to place human beings on the surface of another celestial body. In 1969, we planted a flag on the moon, and in 1971 we left and haven't really looked back. This needs to change. Space warfare is an inevitable future as long as space colonization is part of the equation.

The moon has resources, including helium-3, which may prove valuable in nuclear power, and ice, which could be used to make water. The race for the moon is on (again). Wired:

In January, Russia announced a similar plan, aiming to establish a permanent base on the moon by 2015 and mining operations to extract helium-3 by 2020. China, which in 2003 became the third country in the world to send a human into space, has announced plans for an unmanned lunar landing by 2010, and a manned moon mission by 2020.

We need to prevent this from happening, and maintain the upper hand in space. We need to withdraw from the Outer Space Treaty and claim the moon as United States territory once we establish permanent residence there. We must not allow others to gain lunar territory before we do, and therefore have the upperhand on the United States for many decades after that.

Colonization need not be completely military. The Dutch East India company was a mostly privately run endeavor, and was able to make huge exploratative gains for Europe. Those who claim imperialism is wrong need not fear American moon power for cultural reasons, because there are no natives to spread diseases to.

It really is the final frontier.

Posted by Ryan S. on Thursday, March 02, 2006 at 3:58 PM | Permalink |