A young radio astronomer stationed near the Moon's South Pole. - stock illustration

A young radio astronomer stationed near the Moon's South Pole receives a welcome gift from Earth. Amid the techno09/14/2009clutter of an office where livable real estate is at an extreme premium, this Selenite pauses to smell the flowers. Some day our great grandchildren may participate in the first long09/14/2009term settlements on the Earth's Moon. Given the extreme hostility of the lunar environment, no atmosphere, no protection from the fierce solar wind or interstellar cosmic rays, such settlements are likely to be relatively small, enclosed environments and almost wholly dependent upon the Earth for sustenance.