The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning a more stable replacement for the International Space Station (ISS) in an area with more room to operate: the moon.

"Lunarville" is a proposal from Jan Woerner, who is the current administrator of the German Aerospace Center and the ESA's Director General-elect. Speaking with the Mirror, Woerner said a village on the moon would require incredible funding and manpower, but would have massive upside.

"The construction of a station on the moon would trigger a huge surge of technological innovation on Earth," he told the paper. "The back side of the Moon, which we can't see from Earth, would provide the best conditions for research where telescopes could be set up to have an undisturbed view into the depths of space."

Traveling to Lunarville would take longer - about two days versus the few hours it takes to get to the ISS. Woerner said the moon village would easily go beyond the $7.5 billion pounds the ISS costs, but noted the switch could still be beneficial.

"There is still so much about the Moon we don't know. And there are resources there which could prove valuable, like the gas Helium 3 which we do not have on Earth," he said. "Helium 3 is considered as an energy source for the future which is vital for nuclear fusion."

Lunarville's construction could start as early as 2024, when funding for the ISS could be redirected. Both Russia and the U.S. have agreements to operate their respective halves of the space lab through 2024. The two sides have yet to confirm a plan to replace the ISS.

"At the start construction materials and food would take priority. Later it would be possible to produce water from hydrogen," Woerner told the Mirror. "Crops could be grown in greenhouses. Researchers would remain for several months at a time.

"A permanent shuttle service needs to be established in the case of medical emergencies."