Following the Apollo lunar expeditions which culminated in the exploration by the Apollo astronauts on parts of the lunar surface, humankind has not revisited the Moon since 1972. In this 21st Century the resources of humankind are now sufficiently advanced to support the global human exploration and development of the Moon. In this new Millennium several nations, including Japan and China, have stated their intention to develop a lunar base during the first half of this century.

The major themes of the 1st edition of THE MOON - Resources, Future Development and Colonization, a Wiley/Praxis title published in hardback at £34.95 in1999, which has to date sold 1200 plus, remain valid today.

For example, the Moon WILL be the next principal focus of space exploration and development, and the south polar region is increasingly likely as the first site of permanent lunar activities, as the authors predicted. Major events in space that have taken place since the publication of the 1st edition of the Moonbook.

The Moon - Challenge and Benefits of Settlement tells the story of the feasible transformation of the Moon into an inhabited sister planet of the Earth in the coming century. This latest edition draws on the latest satellite data to emphasize the power potential and communications advantages of Malapert Mountain in the South Polar region of the Moon, being the optimum location for the establishment of the first lunar base. A colour section depicting graphic images is added in the 2nd edition and the number of appendices are reduced. The book presents a realistic vision of human development and settlement of the Moon over the next one hundred years, and the author explains how global living standards for the Earth can be enhanced through the use of lunar-based generated solar power. From that beginning, the people of the Earth would evolve into a spacefaring civilisation.

Lunar origins and physical features.- Science opportunities - engineering challenges.- Lunar resources.- Lunar robotic and communication systems.- The first lunar base.- Return of humans to the Moon.- Circumferential lunar utilities.- The Planet Moon.- Governance of the Moon.- Endless frontiers.- Conclusion.