Once upon a time humans took short trips to the Moon. Then we stopped. Now we are going back – to stay. The prospect of an actual Moon base wherein we live and work offworld utterly fascinates me. It has for more than 50 years. Now we’re actually going to do it. How we do this whole Moon base thing absolutely captivates me. I’m going to write a lot about this on NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com as I pivot my efforts in the years ahead. I am already writing a book on how to mount Astrobiology expeditions on this world – and beyond. So these dispatches will be somewhat of an installment series from that process. More below

GSW-7000 “Power Droid” at Desert RATS Base Camp showing banners from sponsors Challenger Center for Space Science Education and the Coalition for Space Exploration. Challenger Center board member and Desert RATS participant Keith Cowing hangs off of the tower. More information

Keith’s note: NASA Edge and Challenger Center will host one last live webcast from Desert RATS on Thursday from 9:00 am PDT (12:00 PM EDT) until 11:00 am PDT (2:00 pm EDT) at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nelivedrats2010. You can follow us at http://onorbit.com/DesertRats. You can also follow on Twitter.

Keith’s note: NASA Edge and Challenger Center will have a live webcast underway from NASA Desert RATS until either 3 pm EDT – or when the SEV rovers arrive at base camp. You can follow us at http://onorbit.com/DesertRats. You can also follow on Twitter.

Arid Arizona Home to NASA’s RATS, OSTP “For the past week, hoards of NASA human space exploration study teams have been gallivanting around the Arizona desert as part of NASA’s Desert Research And Technology Studies, or Desert RATS. The Desert RATS demonstrations–held in the Arizona desert because it is a prime location here on earth for simulating future exploration destinations–offer engineers, astronauts, and scientists a unique opportunity to test new […]

Desert RATS 2010: NASA and Challenger Center Hardware Interface Tests (photos) “Two power interface tests were conducted today at NASA JSC between the GSW7000 solar/wind generator system and NASA’s Habitat Development Unit (HDU) and Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV). The SEV and the HDU, along with the GSW7000 will all participate in the Desert RATS 2010 activities later this month and into September.” NASA Desert RATS 2010: Challenger Center Hardware Arrives […]

NASA Desert RATS 2010: Challenger Center Hardware Arrives at JSC “As was the case in 2009, Green Trail Energy has partnered with the Challenger Center for Space Science Education to provide logistical and technical support for Education and Public Outreach to be done at NASA’s annual Desert RATS activity. The GSW7000, whose utilization is being donated to this activity by Green Trail Energy, can provide 2.4 KW of wind power […]

NASA Opens Online Voting For Next Desert RATS Exploration Site NASA is inviting the public to choose an area in northern Arizona where explorers will conduct part of the annual Desert Research and Technology Studies, known as Desert RATS. “Desert RATS is an annual test where NASA takes equipment and crews into the field to simulate future planetary exploration missions,” said Joe Kosmo, Desert RATS manager at NASA’s Johnson Space […]