Moonsociety.org Human Expansion Triway Into Space

8/9/2019 Moonsociety.org Human Expansion Triway Into Space

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Human Expansion Triway into Space

There are three principal human space expansion

pathways, each focused on one of three principalimperatives in which space is key to the ultimatechallenge facing humanity. Survival!


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1. Planetary Defense of our home worldfrom potential impactors (Near EarthAsteroids)

2. Establishing a viable exclave of human

civilization on another world (Mars) toguarantee human survival should civilizationon Earth be wiped out by an impact or othernatural disaster, or implode through human-caused environmental degradation.

3. Using Space Resources to halt, and

ultimately reverse environmentaldegradation on Earth through overuse offossil fuels, and to create a more equitableglobal economy (The Moon)


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1. The danger of asteroid impacts


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1. Major Natural Threats beside Asteroids


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A Sensible Approach Before we can design a suite of

astrochunck orbit adjustmentmethod, we need to

1) identify all the possibleimpactors out there, and then2) tag them with transponders sothat we can keep ultra-accuratetrack of them and3) characterize each as to internalcohesiveness and structure, then

4) on the basis of which populationgroup poses the greatest threat,prioritize development andtesting of methods of deflection

Given the relative likelihood of

different size impacts over time,the first things first, one step at a

timeplan sketched at right offersthe best cost benefit ratio. We have to keep in mind that the

odds of disaster from impact areless than the odds of a super-volcano eruption, or of a super-tsunami event, or of a next ice

age, any of which could devastateEarth on a continental scale.Asteroids are not the only naturalthreat we face. But they are thethreat that we can do the mostabout.


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Human Expansion Triway into SpaceI. Changing Orbits of Threatening Astrochunks

We are learning that asteroids comenot only in many sizes and withserveral kinds of mineralogy, but

that they have several kinds ofcomplex rotations and severaldegrees of internal cohesiveness.

Punch a bean bag, and it doesnt flyaway from you, it just rearrangesitself around the impact point

Giving an asteroid with a complexwobble a push in the desireddirection can be very tricky.

No one strategy fits every case


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1. Other benefitfs of Asteroid identification & tracking

Near Earth Asteroids & Comets are not only possible threats, theyare reserves of raw materials that may be essential to our growingmaterial needs:

iron, nickel, and other engineering metals

precious metals: gold, silver, platinum - Platinum is now involvedin over 25% of all modern industrial processes. It is most needed forthe fuel cells that could usher in the Hydrogen Economy

volatiles: water-ice, hydrocarbons, carbon and nitrogen ices - thesemay be vital imports for a lunar economy. Water-ice rich comets,comet hulks, and carbonaceous chondrite asteroids may be of use inthe terraforming (or rejuvenation) of Mars


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Human Expansion Triway into Space2. Establishing a Viable Human Colony on Mars

Mars is in many ways the mostEarth-like planet in our solar system.

1) total land surface of Mars is equal tototal land surface of Earth2) Mars day is just a bit longer thanours. Mars has four seasons.

3) Mars has a thin atmosphere andapparently a lot of water locked up inunderground aquifers

4) A Mars colony could somedaysurvive cutoffof support from Earth

5) We may be able to restore thewarmer, wetter climate of early Mars


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Human Expansion Triway into Space2. Establishing a Viable Human Colony on Mars

Stephen Hawking warned,

"the survival of the human race is at risk as long asit is confined to a single planet. Sooner or later,disasters such as an asteroid collision or nuclear

war could wipe us all out."


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Synergies between Highways 1 & 2 Mars could provide a valuable vantage point for identifying and

tracking Earth approaching astrochunks that also approach Mars

Some of these asteroids are sure to contain resources that will be ofvalue on Mars and contribute to faster and more diversifiedindustrialization

Early civilization on Mars could also be threatenedby asteroidimpacts

Some of the techniques developed to redirct Earth-approachingasteroids might also be used to direct comets into collision course withMars if this would prove useful in adding to Mars water reserves


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves:Consequences of Greenhouse Gas Overproduction (A)


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves:Consequences of Greenhouse Gas Overproduction (B)


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves:Consequences of Greenhouse Gas Overproduction (C)


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves: Solar Power Satellites made from Lunar Materials Solar Power Satellites receive more

intense sunlight 24/7 and can beam thepower to rectennas on Earth bymicrowaves or lasers

A lot of material will be needed to buildthem, and it will cost 1/20th of the fuelto source the needed materials fromthe Moon as from Earthbecause ofthe Moons lighter gravity

A solar satellite can be built of 92%lunar materials at only an 8% weight

penalty Solar Power Satellites are an ideal

solution for coal-burning China andIndia and other3rd World Nations


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves: Solar Power Arrays on the Moon itself Extensive farms of solar panels along

the east and west limbs of the Moonwould beam power direct to Earth or via

orbiting relays

When one limb is in darkness, theother will be in sunlight, guaranteeingaround the month coverage

Solar arrays would be far cheaper tobuild on the Moon itself, but thechallenge for beaming power over adistance 10 times as great may be a

problem.


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves: Lunar Helium-3 is the ideal Fusion Fuel


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves: Lunar Helium-3 is the ideal Fusion Fuel Had we the fusion plants to burn it,

one Shuttle External Tank full ofliquid Helium-3 would be enoughto power the United States for a

year. There is enough helium -3 in the

upper 2 yards/meters of themoondust to bring the wholeworld up to our standard ofliving and keep it there for athousand years

And then? Theres a lot, lot morein the atmosphere of Uranus

Its a great recipe, but first we haveto catch that rabbit - fusion!


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves:The Moon has the resources to support an industrial economy


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Human Expansion Triway into Space3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves:

Living Comfortably on the Moon

We will cover ourselves with a 5yard/meter thickblanket of moondust that will provide protectionfrom the cosmic elements andthermal equilibrium

Heliostats will funnel sunshineinside; periscopic picture windowswill connect us to the outdoors

Graywater system toilets will fillthe home with greenery, flowers,and sweet fresh air

Each home will enter on apressurized street forshirtsleevetravel anywhere in town


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves:Synergies with Planetary Defense from Asteroids Remote control telescopes on the Moon

will identify more and smaller astrochunksand do a better job of tracking them.

Lunar industries will be a market for

materials mined from asteroids in theprocess of being shepherded into safer orbits

A Catch-22 of Orbital Mechanics is thatthe closer two bodies are in orbital period,the less frequent the launch windows

between them. F the main asteroid beltbetween Mars and Jupiter, the Moon will be

the preferred staging point and outfittingpoint for asteroid belt bound missions.

The Moon itself holds the shattered relicsof hundreds of thousands of asteroid impacts


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3. Using the Moon to Save Earth from Ourselves:Synergies between Highways to Moon and Mars The Moon Society can support this long

range goal by prioritizing development oftechnologies useful on both worlds: modular architectures including modular

life support biosphere systems; life support technologies space suit development mining, processing, and constructiontechnologies modular factory systemssmall pocket hospitals

agricultural and food production systems. Identify trade productsbetween Mars and

the Moon to support each others economy The start of a potentially very long list.


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Moon Mars Trade will increase

the economic viability of both frontiers


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Human Expansion Triway into SpacePostscript: Lifeboat/Ark/Archives Survival Projects

Establishing a survivable HumanSettlement on Mars, if it includes aBio-bank of Earths diverse plantand animal species with representa-tive breeding stock, and an exhaus-tive archive of human culture andtechnology is helpful. But thererisks being a settlement bias to pickand choose.

An all inclusive Grand Archives of

all Humanity and of Earth in a lavatube on The Moon that has alreadyremained intact for 3.5 billion yearsor more is the best bet.


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Which groups are supporting what?1. Planetary Defense from killer asteroids

- B612 Foundation- Space Frontier Foundation- National Space Society

- Moon Society- Space Studies Institute- The Planetary Society

2. Opening the Mars Frontier- The Mars Society- Space Frontier Foundation- National Space Society

- Moon Society3. Resources on the Moon to Save Earths Environment

- The Moon Society- Space Frontier Foundation- National Space Society


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There is no reason why each group should notchoose its own focus, while recognizing the

validity of the others and playing support roles. If we do that, people, the media, & Congress willget the message: We do have our act together!


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If you support the Triway into Space,please join one of the following

National Space Society - www.NSS.org

The Mars Society - www.MarsSociety.org

The Moon Society - www.MoonSociety.org

Space Frontier Society - www.space-frontier.org The Planetary Society- www.planetary.org


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To the Survivalof Humankind!


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The Moon Society

www.MoonSociety.org - Who we are & What we do

We are a non-profit membershiporganization

We do notdesign, build, purchasehardware or conduct missions

We work to remove obstacles andlay foundations

We strive to inspire and encouragethose working in academia and in

private industry We support the VSE in this time of

war-induced budget cutbacks bylooking for creative ways to tacklethe programs that NASA is forcedto cut

How do we do these things? Spin-up not spin-off We

promote the predevelopment of thetechnologies needed to expand an initial

moon base into a true resource-suingindustrial settlement, by encour-agtingentrepreneurs to do the R&D for any

profitable terrestrial applications

www.lunarpedia.org - We havebegun an open source Moon-focus wiki

Moon Miners Manifesto - Our 20-

year old newsletter Lunar Analog Research Station -we held a practice exercise at MDRS andare busy planning our own facility

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