Ben Bova, president of the National Space Society and author of many books and articles about science and space, offers a unique combination of scientific fact, space research, and far-reaching imagination to show why humankind should, can, and will return to the Moon. A base on the Moon is both practical and economically sensible. Bova explains how pharmaceutical, plastic, metal, and electronics products can be manufactured more efficiently in the Moon's high-vacuum, low-gravity environment and shows how the Moon's abundant raw materials - aluminum, metal ores, and oxygen - make it possible and profitable to supply Moon-based factories from lunar mines. This is a fascinating reading experience that brings the future to life - and will change the way you look at the Moon.