Mark Wade reports on a 1959 U.S. Army report regarding the stated need for a manned military outpost on the Moon. The lunar outpost was required ostensibly to develop and protect potential U.S. interests on the Moon, to develop techniques in Moon-based surveillance of the Earth and space, in communications relay, and in operations on the surface of the Moon, to serve as a base for exploration of the Moon, for further exploration into space and for military operations on the Moon if required, and to support scientific investigations on the Moon. Initially, the outpost will be of sufficient size and contain sufficient equipment to permit the survival and moderate constructive activity of a minimum number of personnel (about 10 to 20) on a sustained basis. It must be designed for expansion of facilities, resupply, and rotation of personnel to ensure maximum extension of sustained occupancy. It should be designed to be self-sufficient for as long as possible without outside support. In the location and design of the base, consideration will be given to operation of a triangulation station of a Moon-to-earth base line space surveillance system, facilitating communications with and observation of the Project Horizon ...observing Earth conditions, facilitating travel between the Moon and the Earth, mineral exploration of the Moon and further explorations of space, and the defense of the base against attack if required. The primary objective is to establish the first permanent manned installation on the Moon. In general, the mission would be the investigation of the scientific, commercial, and military potential of the Moon.
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