For years, the moon has been regarded as a mere subject for research about outer space. Now, space scientists are exploring the possibility of building a human community on Earth's nearest neighbor in the solar system.

The incoming head of the European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced a plan to build a village on the moon to replace the International Space Station currently orbiting Earth.

German Professor Jan Woerner, who will become the space agency's director general on July 1, said the moon town — to be called "Lunarville" — may be constructed starting 2024, and may change the way we look at life.

"The construction of a station on the moon would trigger a huge surge of technological innovation on earth," Woerner said.

The professor said the moon village will likely be built at the back side of the moon, which is not visible from the Earth. This is to enable space scientists to explore this part of the moon.

"Telescopes could be set up to have an undisturbed view into the depths of space," he said.

However, there is a lot to be done to make conditions in the moon village liveable. Construction materials will have to be brought from the Earth to the moon to built dome-shaped houses envisioned by the ESA.

Woerner said food "would have to be prioritized," although the ESA is already thinking of building greenhouses to grow crops on the Moon. The production of water from hydrogen is also possible, according to the professor.

The incoming ESA chief said a "permanent shuttle service" will also have to be established in Lunarville to bring people back to Earth in case of medical emergency. At present, it takes two days for space shuttles from Earth to reach the moon.

Funding may also be a problem. The planned space station is estimated to cost more than 75 billion pounds.