[jcarreiro]

> I guess you'd fill the capsule with 'locally sourced' air

There is no air on the moon, so this doesn't seem likely.

[mkr-hn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_the_Moon

There's air, but not much. And I wouldn't want to try and breathe it.

[takluyver]

OK, I was still focussing on the Martian case. I wonder if that actually makes a base on Mars an easier proposition.

[mogrim]

Although if you've got water (and there is water on the moon) and a nuclear powerplant generating loads of electricity, getting oxygen's not a problem.

[xyzzy123]

Hmmm, I think the moon might still be easier.

On the moon, you'd have to run pretty much ecological "closed system", perhaps with oxygen and water supplemented by industrial processes. However, rapid resupply is possible, and non-fatal mistakes correctable.

On mars you could get away with a lossier system (seems to me, easier access to outside air, water, nutrients), but resupply is so much harder...

[zokier]

Isn't there even CO2 on moon?