Seeking a Human Spaceflight Program Worthy of a Great Nation
Aug 24, 2026 · 4 hr 45 min · 94 segments
"Project Horizon Establishment of a Lunar Outpost-United States Army" delves into the ambitious plans laid out by the U.S. Army for establishing a permanent lunar presence. This visionary project…
BACKGROUND MATERIALS PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A LUNAR OUTPOST chief of ordinance twenty march nineteen fifty nine one reference letter to chief of ordinance from chief of research and development subject as above Two, subsequent to approval by the chief of staff of reference, representatives of the Army Ballistic Missiles Agency indicated that supplementary guidance would be required concerning the scope of the preliminary investigation specified in the reference.
In particular, these representatives requested guidance concerning the source of funds required to conduct the investigation.
three i envision expeditious development of the proposal to establish a lunar outpost to be of critical importance to the u s army of future this evaluation is apparently shared by the chief of staff in view of his expeditious approval and enthusiastic endorsement of initiation of the study therefore the detail to be covered by the investigation and the subsequent plan should be as complete as is feasible in the time limits allowed and within the funds currently available within the office of the chief of ordnance in this time of limited budget additional monies are unavailable current programs have been scrutinized rigidly and identifiable fat trimmed away thus high study costs are prohibitive at this time 4.
I leave it to your discretion to determine the source and the amount of money to be devoted to this purpose.
Signed, Arthur G. Trudeau, Lieutenant General, G.S., Chief of Research and Development.
REQUIREMENT FOR A LUNAR OUTPOST 1.
the lunar outpost is required to develop and protect potential united states interests on the moon to develop techniques in moon based surveillance of the earth and space in communications relay and in operations on the surface of the moon to serve as a base for exploration of the moon for further exploration into space and for military operations on the moon if required and to support scientific investigations on the moon two operational concept initially the outposts will be of sufficient size and contain sufficient equipment to permit the survival and moderate constructive activity of a minimum number of personnel about ten to twenty on a sustained basis must be designed for expansion of facilities resupply and rotation of personnel to ensure maximum extension of sustained occupancy should be designed to be self-sufficient for as long as possible without outside support.
In the location and design of the base, consideration will be given to operation of a triangulation station of a moon-to-Earth baseline space surveillance system, facilitating communications with and observance of the Earth, facilitating travel between the moon and the Earth, exploration of the moon, and further exploration of space.
and to the defense of the base against attack if required.
The primary objective is to establish the first permanent manned installation on the moon.
Incidental to this mission will be the investigation of the scientific, commercial, and military potential of the moon.
3.
Background of Requirement A. References 1.
NCS Policy on Outer Space 2.
OCB Operations Plan on Outer Space B.
Reason for Requirement 1.
The National Policy on Outer Space includes the objective of development and exploiting U.S. outer space capabilities as needed to achieve scientific, military, and potential purposes.
There are no known technical barriers to the establishment of a manned installation on the Moon.
2.
The establishment of a manned base of operations on the moon has tremendous military and scientific potential.
Because invaluable scientific, military, and political prestige will come to the nation that first establishes a lunar base, it is imperative that the United States be first.
3.
The full extent of the military potential cannot be predicted.
BACKGROUND MATERIALS PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A LUNAR OUTPOST chief of ordinance twenty march nineteen fifty nine one reference letter to chief of ordinance from chief of research and development subject as above Two, subsequent to approval by the chief of staff of reference, representatives of the Army Ballistic Missiles Agency indicated that supplementary guidance would be required concerning the scope of the preliminary investigation specified in the reference.
In particular, these representatives requested guidance concerning the source of funds required to conduct the investigation.
three i envision expeditious development of the proposal to establish a lunar outpost to be of critical importance to the u s army of future this evaluation is apparently shared by the chief of staff in view of his expeditious approval and enthusiastic endorsement of initiation of the study therefore the detail to be covered by the investigation and the subsequent plan should be as complete as is feasible in the time limits allowed and within the funds currently available within the office of the chief of ordnance in this time of limited budget additional monies are unavailable current programs have been scrutinized rigidly and identifiable fat trimmed away thus high study costs are prohibitive at this time 4.
I leave it to your discretion to determine the source and the amount of money to be devoted to this purpose.
Signed, Arthur G. Trudeau, Lieutenant General, G.S., Chief of Research and Development.
REQUIREMENT FOR A LUNAR OUTPOST 1.
the lunar outpost is required to develop and protect potential united states interests on the moon to develop techniques in moon based surveillance of the earth and space in communications relay and in operations on the surface of the moon to serve as a base for exploration of the moon for further exploration into space and for military operations on the moon if required and to support scientific investigations on the moon two operational concept initially the outposts will be of sufficient size and contain sufficient equipment to permit the survival and moderate constructive activity of a minimum number of personnel about ten to twenty on a sustained basis must be designed for expansion of facilities resupply and rotation of personnel to ensure maximum extension of sustained occupancy should be designed to be self-sufficient for as long as possible without outside support.
In the location and design of the base, consideration will be given to operation of a triangulation station of a moon-to-Earth baseline space surveillance system, facilitating communications with and observance of the Earth, facilitating travel between the moon and the Earth, exploration of the moon, and further exploration of space.
and to the defense of the base against attack if required.
The primary objective is to establish the first permanent manned installation on the moon.
Incidental to this mission will be the investigation of the scientific, commercial, and military potential of the moon.
3.
Background of Requirement A. References 1.
NCS Policy on Outer Space 2.
OCB Operations Plan on Outer Space B.
Reason for Requirement 1.
The National Policy on Outer Space includes the objective of development and exploiting U.S. outer space capabilities as needed to achieve scientific, military, and potential purposes.
There are no known technical barriers to the establishment of a manned installation on the Moon.
2.
The establishment of a manned base of operations on the moon has tremendous military and scientific potential.
Because invaluable scientific, military, and political prestige will come to the nation that first establishes a lunar base, it is imperative that the United States be first.
3.
The full extent of the military potential cannot be predicted.
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