lunar mining

[backtrax]

Private companies developing hardware for specific missions has always been done...Driven by govenment money.
In exploration, government funding is essential too. As far as the moon exploration, the surface has barely been scratched. A permanant base of operations located on the moon would benefit further exploration of more distant goals.
Consider a manned mission to mars or even the asteroids, with additional fuel available to the mission, once the gravity-well has been ascended. With additional fuel, Delta V could be increased...shortening the trip.
Another idea would be to have multiple-missions, co-operating beyond just the scope of their own mission. A mars mission could carry a few supplies needed on the moon-base, leaving those behind as it recieves "moon-fuels". On the return-trip, the mars explorers could possibly "discard" the fuel-tanks it used to de-accelerate in moon-orbit to be collected and reused for more fuel storage.
Not enough "conservation" of resources has been done in the past. Mission planners need to ponder what can be done with "expended" items that have been brought out of the gravity-well, and how they could be "parked" in accessable orbits/Lagrange points. (Even when it requires slightly more to get it there.)