[redahs]

Which is rational. The annual product of lunar soil is zero. Extending the margin of production to the moon will lower wages and increase poverty. The only way to get the general public behind the idea of settling other planets is through remote terraforming. If there were robots, domes, mirrors, and synthetic organisms put there first to provide free soil, air, and water to settlers, then the annual product of lunar soil be above zero, and off-planet workers could actually receive wages.

[nine_k]

The value of having massive amounts of aluminum made from the lunar crust and sun power can be quite above zero.

Same with water mined from some lunar craters.

With more technology advancement, the oxygen trapped in oxides of lunar soil could also be extracted and put into useful orbits away from Earth surface, hopefully cheaper than brought from Earth.

Well, maybe also some dome-grown fruit and vegetables, but not very soon.