A Moon Railroad Is Actually Being Planned, All We Know About The Lunar Express

It’s been 52 years since the last human set foot on the moon, but despite the half-a-century sabbatical, we’re going full steam ahead for the next period of lunar exploration. With the next batch of humans expected to land on the moon’s surface in late 2026, scientists are working hard to create sustainable systems for our next lunar visit. The moon railroad, just one piece of the plan for lunar commerce and exploration, is spearheaded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Termed the 10-Year Lunar Architecture Capability Study (LunA-10), this ambitious initiative to create a moon railroad seeks to foster collaboration among over a dozen companies to develop cutting-edge lunar technologies. With a focus on catalyzing a self-sustaining lunar economy, DARPA aims to avoid the pitfalls of past lunar missions, such as the lack of lasting presence or growth despite significant investment, exemplified by the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s.

Michael Nayak, a program manager within DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office, believes a presence on the moon can be invaluable to life on Earth. Nayak, a former NASA planetary scientist and space shuttle engineer, envisions a future where lunar resources like helium-3 and water ice can be harnessed for applications ranging from medical imaging to space travel. Hence why a moon railroad is needed.

Just like on Earth, transportation infrastructure is essential for the efficient movement of goods and personnel. A moon railroad would provide a reliable means of transporting supplies, resources, and personnel across the lunar surface, facilitating various lunar activities such as mining, scientific exploration, and habitat establishment.

Just like on Earth, transportation infrastructure is essential for the efficient movement of goods and personnel. A moon railroad would provide a reliable means of transporting supplies, resources, and personnel across the lunar surface, facilitating various lunar activities such as mining, scientific exploration, and habitat establishment.

It’s a practical solution to a potentially expensive problem. Compared to traditional methods of transporting goods and people on the moon, such as using rovers or walking, a moon railroad system can potentially be more cost-effective and energy-efficient. Once established, it could reduce the reliance on expensive rocket launches for delivering supplies and equipment to lunar bases.

Going beyond these logistics, a moon railroad is important for the long-term planning of lunar exploration. Investing in infrastructure early on lays the groundwork for future missions and paves the way for the development of a self-sustaining lunar economy.

Recently, DARPA selected aerospace and defense giant Northrup Grumman to develop the conceptual framework for the moon railroad. Envisioned as a network capable of transporting humans, supplies, and resources across the lunar surface, the lunar railroad holds the potential to catalyze a burgeoning space economy for the United States and its international partners.

The proposed moon railroad aims to minimize the human footprint on the pristine lunar surface while accommodating diverse cargo and passengers with standardized, moon-worthy equipment. Notably, the transportation aspect is deemed crucial for the success of lunar endeavors, as any delay in utilizing cargo delivered by rockets like SpaceX’s Starship translates to significant revenue loss in the costly lunar environment.

But a moon railroad is just the beginning. In addition to this lunar express, DARPA is exploring other visionary concepts, including lunar lighthouses. If all goes according to plan, the US will soon create a thriving lunar economy as we begin to explore the moon and its resources more thoroughly.