Ideal settlement locations would be at the poles, or in areas of constant daylight to escape the risks of solar and cosmic radiation, micrometeorites, and extreme temperatures. At the South Pole, in a region of continuous darkness, humans could access water to produce hydrogen and oxygen

The plan would start with smaller landing missions, which the expert notes many countries are already working on, and the establishment of a radio telescope on the far side of the moon, which would require larger investment.

While many nations – in particular the US – have their sights set on the journey to Mars, Woerner says a Moon Village is a closer reality.

‘I totally agree that this is right, humans will go to Mars one day,’ Woerner says in the video,’ but this is a little bit far away in the future.’

The ESA Director General says the Moon Village would join American, Russian, Chinese, Indian, and Japanese space agencies, along with smaller contributions from other countries.

The technology is an estimated 20 years from achieving this goal, but the expert says a moon settlement is a necessity and could be ‘the next giant leap for human kind.’

To turn the Moon Village into a possibility, the ESA Director General says collaboration would be necessary, with each nation contributing its own piece of expertise, be it robotic or human

The Moon Village idea aims to be a versatile facility that opens the door for deeper space exploration, while also acting as a hub for business or mining. And, the expert says it could be used recreationally for tourists