Lunar exploration in the 21st century

Lunar prospectors prepare a remote-controlled rover for exploring and drilling into the regolith in search of exploitable resources. Immediately behind the prospectors is a self-contained habitat with room and resources enough to sustain four people for several weeks. On the left and nearer to the horizon is the landing craft that delivered the four prospectors to the moon's surface, and will later return them to lunar orbit to meet with an orbiting command ship or tug. The habitat is also a lunar lander that delivered itself autonomously prior to the arrival of the prospectors.

This century will likely see our return to Earth's Moon. These future explorers will encounter the same harsh and exotic environment that greeted the 12 Apollo astronauts over 30 years ago.