Physical Transportation on the Moon: The Lunar Railroad

Abstract

After the first permanent lunar base has been established, an effective means of surface transportation will be needed to expand human activities to other areas of the Moon. This paper discusses the development of a railroad as a practical means of transportation on the Moon. The rail network can be constructed from indigenous materials by tele-operated robots at the lunar base. As the railroad grows outward from the lunar base, it will provide transportation for its own growth and for other construction projects such as the lunar electric power grid and telecommunications network. The lunar railroad will provide ready access to remote areas of the Moon, such as permanently shadowed craters in the south pole region that may contain valuable deposits of water ice and hydrocarbons. Eventually, the lunar rail system will be expanded to all geographic areas of interest, thus facilitating the global exploration and development of the Moon.