Multiple nations are targeting the moon as an off-Earth destination for long-term human presence.
For NASA, getting a literal "leg-up" on the moon once again via its Artemis program is highly touted as the way to tromp and train for marching on to Mars. In many ways, such a future undertaking can be compared to Antarctica, home for many far-flung research stations. During summer months, roughly 5,000 people inhabit research outposts, a number that drops to approximately 1,000 in the winter.
