MOON168 aims to foster and disseminate research into all aspects of lunar economic development. This includes lunar mining, spacecraft manufacturing, and habitat construction. In addition, it focuses on the generation of spin-off technologies that have terrestrial as well as in-space applications.

This approach posits that the private sector will lead global efforts to tap space-based energy. It also argues that the new international agency created to govern offworld activities will be more financially viable than present-day national space agencies that depend upon government funds.

Moreover, it contends that the emergence of such an entity will encourage the world’s major countries to share the costs and benefits of lunar development and exploration. It will help the private sector take the lead in a number of critical areas such as transportation to the Moon, development of a reusable lunar surface vehicle, and exploitation of the Moon’s rich natural resources.

Finally, it points out that recruitment of the first offworld settlers must involve careful selection of people who will be the best candidates for re-entry to Earth gravity and society. moon168 will require a wide variety of evaluation procedures including psycho! logical interviews and group meetings, instrumentation and testing, and simula! tions.