Moonbase (Terra Futura)

Moonbases were bases set up on the Moon for scientific exploration and space colonization. They were the next step in missions to the Moon.

Background
The first spacecraft to reach the Moon were the Soviet Luna probes. Luna 1 went past the Moon. Luna 2 landed on the Moon. Luna 3 orbited the Moon. The United States of America was determined to put a man on the Moon. In 1968, Apollo 8 orbited the Moon, and the astronauts took a picture of Earth from space. In 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two astronauts to walk on the Moon. Their mission was named Apollo 11, and the astronauts brought back moon rocks. They were soon followed by 10 more astronauts in Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Apollo 13 never made it to the Moon because the service module had a problem with the thermostat which caused an oxygen tank to explode. After Apollo 17, no man ever set foot on the Moon again until the late 2010s. The first few missions were similar to the Apollo missions. Not long after, the first moonbases Were constructed.

Description
Tech Level: 10-12

To build a moonbase, first, the space program had to choose a site. Most moonbases were built in wide, level areas near ice. Then, unmanned vehicles would come and start construction. They brought construction materials, tools, vehicles, batteries, etc. The astronauts would then follow. Designers used the International Space Station as a model for individual systems. The primary surface module was the most important module. It was built on Earth and shipped to the Moon. It could be like the ISS. Or it could be inflatable. The astronauts could also use modular construction on the Moon. Also important was the power source. They could use solar or nuclear power. Last of all, a storm shelter was needed to protect from cosmic rays. The astronauts could dig one under the surface of the Moon. Or they could build a surface bunker cover in moon rocks. After that, auxiliary structures were built.