Children will be born on the moon 'in a few decades', with whole families joining Europe's lunar colony by 2050, a top space scientist has claimed.

Professor Bernard Foing, ambassador of the European Space Agency (Esa)-driven 'Moon Village' scheme, made the comments at a conference this week.

He said that by 2030, there could be an initial lunar settlement of six to 10 pioneers - scientists, technicians and engineers - which could grow to 100 by 2040.

'In 2050, you could have a thousand and then... naturally you could envisage to have family' joining crews there, he told AFP.

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Children will be born on the moon 'in a few decades', with whole families joining Europe's lunar colony by 2050, a top space scientist has claimed. Professor Bernard Foing, ambassador of the Esa-driven 'Moon Village' scheme (concept art pictured), made the comments this week

WHY COLONISE THE MOON? Potential moon resources include basalt, a volcanic rock that could be used as a raw material for 3D-printing satellites. These could be deployed from the moon at a fraction of the cost of a launch from high-gravity Earth. The moon also houses helium-3, a rare isotope on our planet, that could theoretically be used to generate cleaner, safer nuclear energy for Earth. One of the main targets for moon colonies is water, locked up in ice on the moon's poles. Water can be separated into hydrogen and oxygen, two gases which explode when mixed - providing rocket fuel. Advertisement

In a few decades 'there may be the possibility to have children born on the moon,' he said.

Speaking at this year's European Planetary Science Congress in Riga, Latvia, Professor Foing explained how humanity's moon colonies could quickly expand.

He likened human expansion on the moon to the growth of the railways, when villages grew around train stations, followed by businesses.

Also at the meeting, Esa Director General Jan Woerner suggested replacing the orbiting International Space Station (ISS) with a permanent lunar colony.

The ISS is due to be decommissioned in 2024, and Professor Woerner has proposed a village on the moon as the next phase in joint international space projects.

While scientists and commercial prospectors have expressed interest, the concept is yet to receive significant political backing.

'It is highly frustrating... We still don't have the top leaders interested,' said physicist Dr Vidvuds Beldavs of the University of Latvia, who runs a project called the International Lunar Decade, advocating joint exploration of the moon.

He said the key to gaining political interest is 'to demonstrate that industrial activity on the moon is feasible, that... large markets can emerge.'

Professor Foing said that by 2030, there could be an initial lunar settlement of six to 10 pioneers - scientists, technicians and engineers - which could grow to 100 by 2040

Potential moon resources include basalt, a volcanic rock Dr Beldavs said could be used as a raw material for 3D-printing satellites.

These could be deployed from the moon at a fraction of the cost of a launch from high-gravity Earth, he said.

The natural satellite also houses helium-3, a rare isotope on our planet, that could theoretically be used to generate cleaner, safer nuclear energy for Earth.

One of the main targets for moon colonies is water, locked up in ice on the moon's poles.

Water can be separated into hydrogen and oxygen, two gases which explode when mixed - providing rocket fuel.

Speaking at this year's European Planetary Science Congress, Professor Foing explained how humanity's moon colonies could quickly expand. He likened human expansion on the moon to the growth of the railways, when villages grew around train stations, followed by businesses

'To go into Earth orbit... it is 40 times cheaper to go from the moon than from Earth, because the Earth has such high gravity that you have to fight against it,' Professor Foing told AFP.

Experts argue that the future of space exploration will see more collaboration between narrow-budget national space agencies and the private sector.

Private companies, such as Elon Musk's SpaceX, can profit from selling resources such as moon-derived rocket fuel.

Robotic exploration is already underway, with several moon landers and rovers planned for the coming years.

Prfoessor Woerner told AFP the goal 'is to join international efforts and to bridge Earthly borders and crises.'