The rush back to the Moon has begun. The US and China are planning permanently crewed bases on the lunar surface. Billions of dollars in contracts are up for grabs as companies are launching ambitious new support projects, from growing food in space to a new lunar internet. The FT's Peggy Hollinger asks if the next great leap forward in space is a lunar economy?

Prodcued and edited by Tom Hannen

#space #moon #spaceexploration

00:00 What's the plan for the Moon?
00:59 Think space station, not lunar cities
02:54 Why is everyone going to the South Pole?
05:16 SpaceX's Starship - a game changer?
07:38 The peculiar lighting of the lunar South Pole
08:30 Communication and networking on the Moon
10:25 Nuclear power on the Moon
12:13 Regolith - a hazard and an opportunity
15:10 How to grow food on the Moon
16:53 Moon mining
18:35 Burials, artefacts and lunar hotels?
19:30 Beyond government funding
21:11 China's plans for the Moon
24:23 If it happens, will we trash the moon?
25:51 Will you go?
26:32 Cold hard facts

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