Nasa, the US space agency, has revealed plans to set up a permanent human settlement on the moon by 2024, as the first stage to manned exploration of Mars and beyond in the solar system.
Under the new programme, beginning in 2020, astronauts would make stays of a week. These would be gradually lengthened, so that within four years the base would be permanently manned, with astronauts living on the base for six-month stretches.
Unofficial estimates put the price tag at around $100bn (£50.8bn). For sending a man to Mars the costs will be far higher however, at least $600bn (£304bn).
US plans for Moon base
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