From Lunar Frontiers:
A Comprehensive History
- Title: Lunar Missions: The History of Early Lunar Colonization Efforts
- Author: Anonymous
- Date: circa 2301
- Source: Martian Ecclesiastical SCRIBAL Archive
Lunar Missions
Despite early successes (and because of some the setbacks) in the 20th century, lunar exploration quickly declined until the renewed efforts of the mid to late 21st century. During the era of new constellations dotting the night sky, created by satellites and space debri, the first official lunar outpost was established in the early 2030s with the success of the lunar Gateway and Artemis programs which delivered and installed the neccessary modules for over a decade in the southern polar region of the moon. With the completion of the Artemis missions, the lunar base was fully outfitted for semi-permanent occupation for researchers and government employed workers. Much of this was motivated, and propped up by, corporations pushing for relaxed regulations of space law in order to allow for mining operations and the promise of tourism on the moon. These private ambitions were not permitted initally due to decades of international law. However, exceptions were gradually carved out until the decision was eventually made to divide the moon roughly in half. As long as private enterprise did not interfere with publically funded research and government operations in the southern region of the moon, governments would not interfere with private enterprise in the northern region.
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