Could we live on the Moon? We could build a Moon base that would provide us with air to breathe and a place to grow food, and protect us from the extreme temperatures. Outside the base, we have to wear spacesuits at all times and breathe air from a tank. Water could even be used to make rocket fuel Is there any water? There is no flowing water, but there is ice, which could be melted. It is underground in rocks, and in craters near the poles. The craters are always in shadow, so the lunar water stays frozen. Why can't we breathe on the Moon? The Moon doesn't have an atmosphere. It has a very thin layer of gases, called an exosphere. The mass of the exosphere is about 10 tonnes - the mass of two elephants. Earth's atmosphere has the mass of 10 quadrillion elephants! Can i go to the Moon? Not now but if you become an astronaut when you grow up you might be able to. More Moon landings are planned, and we might build a lunar base to use as a stopping point on the way to Mars.
