Paul D. Spudis

Paul D. Spudis

Paul D. Spudis (1952-2018) was a senior staff scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and a prolific author on the subject of the moon. His books include The Value of the Moon: How to Explore, Live, and Prosper in Space Using the Moon's Resources.

A future scene in cislunar space: The new high ground?

The Moon’s Role in the New U.S. Space Force

The military implications of a lunar return.

LRO mosaic of wide angle camera images of the near side. You can explore the surface of the Moon in detail yourself at the LROC web site.

Don’t Worry, a Lunar Return Won’t Harm the Moon

Taking advantage of lunar resources doesn’t mean smokestacks and open-pit mines.

Lighting map of the lunar south pole. White areas are illuminated for significant fractions of the lunar day; dark areas are mostly sun shadow.

America’s Return to the Moon: A Foothold, Not Just Footprints

What’s the purpose of going to the Moon? And how can we use it?

Rep. Jim Bridenstine, the newly confirmed 12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Jim Bridenstine Confirmed as NASA Administrator

Now, we untangle how to return to the Moon.

Humanity’s progress into air and space is dramatically illustrated by artist Bob McCall. Does the Moon exist to aid our progress into space?

The Lunar Anthropic Principle

Is humanity destined to live on the Moon?

Sinuous rilles (lava channels and tubes) of the Rima Prinz complex in Oceanus Procellarum. Some segments of rilles are roofed over to form a tube (the "gap" between the linear features at right center), which might be drained of lava, forming a cave. This area is in a mare region, where internally generated bodies of liquid rock (magma) are erupted as lava.

About Those “Polar Lava Tubes”

When is a discovery not a discovery? When it’s just plain wrong.

Permanently shadowed regions (shown in blue) cover about three percent of the moon's south pole, and should be good places to find water ice.

How Much Water Is on the Moon?

What we know, how we know it, and what we still need to know.

A nearly full Earth rises above the lunar surface, soon to be visited again by American astronauts.

Why We Need Humans—Not Just Robots—On the Moon

Machines alone won’t be able to satisfy our curiosity.

A Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter view of the far side crater Antoniadi, an example of some of the spectacular vistas that await future inhabitants of the Moon.

Take a Step on Another World

What will it be like to be on the Moon?

The United States won’t be going to the Moon alone. This European Space Agency artist’s conception shows a future lunar outpost built using 3-D printing techniques.

Why We Go to the Moon

It starts with a mission statement.

Rep. Jim Bridenstine outlines his proposed American Space Renaissance Act at a recent Space Foundation Symposium

A Pioneering NASA Administrator

The nominee to head NASA has an exciting vision for the agency.

The Japanese Hinode satellite observed the Moon blocking the face of the sun during a solar eclipse in 2009.

The Moon, Front and Center

The upcoming eclipse reminds us of the Moon’s proximity.

A lava fountain at the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii.

Ashes and Water

Despite new findings about lunar water, it still makes sense to mine ice at the poles.

Two Apollo EVA spacesuits, covered in dark gray lunar dust. The short times spent on the Moon by the Apollo astronauts meant that the long-term issues associated with dust could be ignored during those missions.

Nothing to Sneeze At

Alien dust can be a problem for human explorers.

Map of the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the far side of the Moon. This view is an orthographic projection centered on 56 S, 180 E, the center of the basin. Colors represent different elevations, with white being highest and dark grey the lowest. The basin is about 2,600 km across and over 13 km deep. The white box outlines the area shown in the photo at the bottom of the page; the arrow indicates the proposed Chang’E-4 landing site.

China’s Journey to the Lunar Far Side: A Missed Opportunity?

New details about China’s Chang’E-4 mission suggest there might be a better place to land.

A variety of vehicles and space-based assets are required to create a permanent cislunar transportation system.

Student Aspirations, Public Excitement and the Purpose of a Space Program

What do young people want from the space program?

First Lady Nancy Reagan, Bill Mellberg, and President Ronald Reagan after Bill’s performance of “An Evening With the Presidents” at the White House.

Bill Mellberg, a Clarifying Voice

Farewell to a wise and thoughtful commentator on space.

Earthrise over the Moon, as seen by the Japanese Kaguya spacecraft. Real views of inspirational places are superior to even the best artistic imaginings.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Forty-five years after the last Moon landing, it’s time to stop talking and start doing again.

A lunar mining operation, as envisioned by NASA in the 1990s.

Cislunar Space: The Next 30 Years

United Launch Alliance has a vision.

Fuel depots in low Earth orbit could be a key part of the space economy.

Whoever Said the Moon is the End Goal?

And who decided that space is only for science?

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