Runways on the Moon?

Dear Space Advocates; I was not questioning if it would be useful to modifythe Space Shuttle so it could go to the Moon; it is clear it would require more development and expense than starting over with a new craft designed for travel to the Moon would. But, just because the Shuttle can not do it, does not mean weshould not explore the possibility of landing the way it does on Earth on the Moon. I am advocating runways there, but neither am Iready to give up on the idea ofrunways onairless worlds without giving them some consideration. To land the Apollo Lunar Landers had to losekinetic energy associated with both the lunar orbital speedand altitude, and it used rockets for both. But I suspect that had it had landing gears anda "smooth dry lake bed", as in California, it would have taken less rocket fuel to land more like an airplane, using rockets for control before touch down (not air, as there wasn't any). Then, friction in brakeson wheels or perhaps with skids on the surface (with or without wheels) could stop the craft. Friction is cheap, although carrying the equipment to use it adds mass, hardware and other design constraints. The lower gravity on the Moon wouldreduce the maximum frictional forces with the surface, but thelunar orbital speed is also lower. I think I understand that the gravity and friction on Eros was enough to stop NEAR there without retro-rockets. One would not build a runway for a few flights, but if we are to have lots of traffic to resorts, observatories, mines, etc. in the future on the Moon,the usefulness of runways there should be investigated. That was the point I was incubatingbut did not spelled out. Sincerely, Jay Huebner