In a little over 150 pages, this chatty little book explores and promotes the development of a lunar economy as a part of our future exploration and exploitation of the Moon. As its title suggests, it is intended as an introduction to the subject and should appeal to students and others new to the concept.
The book is divided into four main parts, entitled “Why We Go”, “How We Go”, “Paying Our Way” and “Framing the Way”. Each of the 15 chapters has a reference list and the book concludes with appendices on lunar tourism, external factors and a summary of the exploration agreements known as the Artemis Accords, followed by an index. It is illustrated with a variety of charts and a small number of colour pictures.
In essence, the book is an introduction to and platform for a document known as the Lunar Commerce Portfolio (LCP), written by the Moon Village Association, an NGO with permanent observer status at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).
You get a feel for the ‘reason to publish’ at the end of chapter 2, which says: “Feel free to join up and help the ongoing task – simply check out their website… Welcome to the new industrial revolution”.
While one understands the need for ‘accessibility’, the presentation style borders on schizophrenic, vacillating between ‘we’ and ‘I’, and between details from the LCP and the author’s Zoom calls with former astronauts. Some chapters flow quite well, while others have the staccato feel of a multi-client consultancy document. Among my other quibbles are the overlong paragraphs, over use of the question mark and unnecessary italicisation of text in the section introductions - all matters that a good editor would have resolved.
In the final analysis, this book is probably one to read quickly, without too much expectation. Think of it as an executive summary for the Lunar Commerce Portfolio, consider it ‘time saved’ and you won’t be too disappointed.
