There are places (the poles) on the moon where there is water. And in addition to drinking water that means - fuel, air, food, and radiation shielding concentrated in two relatively small regions. Add to that the idea that it ought to be possible to pick a high latitude and string up a set of pole girdling power lines, power stations and solar panels where some of the constituents would always be in direct sunlight. So now we have a constant power source to make water, rocket fuel, and whatever else. When one thinks how difficult it is to get substantial amounts of water into space, it seems like the lunar poles could open up the solar system.
This is sort of like one country or region on Earth having all the fossil fuels, radioactive elements, steady winds, ocean waves, abundant rivers, fertile soil, and potable water. Oh yeah, and clean air.
I wonder if anyone would start a war over such a region? Nah.
Do you think the major space faring nations aren’t thinking about this? OK, perhaps not very seriously yet. But what about 50 years from now? You know, when we finally get nuclear fusion. I smell a blockbuster Tom Ligon novel in this. See you at the Hugo’s Tom.
Of course a working BFR would offer an alternative to some or all of this, but until then…