Space, Land, and Real Estate: The Cost of Building a House on the Moon Explained

In recent years, the idea of owning property on the Moon has sparked interest, fueled by both novelty and the rapid advancements in space exploration. While the concept of buying lunar land sounds like a scene from science fiction, people have actually been purchasing “deeds” to Moon plots for decades. But how real is lunar land ownership, and how much would it actually cost to build a house up there? Let’s explore.

Buying Land on the Moon: A Novelty Investment

Since the 1980s, a handful of private companies have offered “ownership” of lunar land for prices starting around $34.99 per acre. These companies, such as the Lunar Embassy, will provide buyers with a certificate and coordinates of a specific “property” on the Moon. It sounds enticing, but there’s a catch: no one can actually own lunar land, at least not officially.

Why? The Outer Space Treaty (1967)

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by over 100 countries, prohibits any nation or private entity from claiming ownership of celestial bodies, including the Moon. Space is considered “the province of all mankind,” making any claims of ownership legally unenforceable. So, while you can purchase a deed as a novelty or a fun gift, it doesn’t grant any real rights.

The Next Level: What Would It Cost to Build a House on the Moon?

Now, let’s imagine that lunar land ownership somehow became a reality. What would it actually cost to build a functioning home on the Moon? With today’s technology, building and sustaining a house on the Moon would be an extremely ambitious project. Here’s a rough cost breakdown of building a small, modern Moon house.

1. Transportation Costs

Transporting materials and personnel to the Moon is among the largest expenses. Currently, the cost to send cargo into space can range from $10,000 to $20,000 per kilogram, depending on the mission and the company involved. A single lunar mission to transport a building’s worth of materials could easily cost $500 million to $1 billion in transport fees alone.

NASA’s Artemis program, aimed at establishing a lunar presence, is projected to cost around $93 billion by 2025, which gives a sense of the financial scale involved.

2. Construction Materials

Shipping materials like metals, glass, and advanced insulation to the Moon would be expensive and logistically complex. Some companies are exploring in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) methods, which involve using lunar soil, or regolith, to create building materials such as bricks or lunar cement on-site. This would cut down on shipping costs, but setting up the necessary equipment and technology would still cost an estimated $150 million to $200 million per house.

3. Labor and Workforce

Building a house on the Moon would require a highly skilled team of astronauts, engineers, and scientists. In addition, robots would assist in construction to minimize human exposure to the Moon’s harsh environment. Initial investment in robotic construction and maintenance could reach $50 million to $100 million.

Total Labor Cost Estimate: Approximately $250 million.

4. Life Support Systems and Safety

A house on the Moon would need advanced systems to supply air, water, and waste management, as well as protection against radiation and extreme temperatures. Life-support systems for each unit could cost between $50 million and $100 million, while radiation and meteoroid protection would add another $100 million.

Total Cost Estimate: $2 Billion to $3 Billion Per House

Taking all these factors into account, the cost to build a basic home on the Moon today would range between $2 billion and $3 billion. This estimate assumes no cutting-edge advancements that could reduce costs significantly, but as space technology improves, these expenses may eventually decrease.

Timeline: How Long Would It Take?

From initial planning and design to completed construction, building a house on the Moon could take anywhere from 10 to 15 years. It would include extensive planning, testing, and transport missions. With the aid of robotic construction, the process might be streamlined, but it would still be a monumental undertaking.

The Future of Lunar Living

Although no one can truly buy land on the Moon today, space agencies and private companies are investing heavily in the potential of lunar settlements. As more progress is made, the dream of owning land and even building on the Moon may not be as far-fetched as it seems. For now, a $34.99 “deed” may be the closest many of us come to lunar real estate, but with technological breakthroughs on the horizon, future generations could very well be the first homeowners on the Moon!