A Permanent Human Presence on the Moon

Brad CheethamDan Pastuf

Outline

• Background• Why the Moon?• Current Lunar Missions• Future Private Missions• Limiting Factors• Conclusions

Background

• The Moon– Approximately 240,000 miles from Earth– Diameter ¼ that of Earth– Surface area slightly greater than Africa– 4.5 Billion Years Old– Temperature

• Average day 107 C• Average night -181 C

Background

• Apollo– 24 humans traveled to the Moon– 12 humans walked on the Moon– 14 years– $135 billion (2006 dollars)

Apollo – Battle of the Cold War

• Objective – Go to the Moon– Beat the Russians

• Side benefits– Science, discovery, technology

“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”

Political Legacy

• Beat the Russian’s to the Moon– A victory for democracy

• Gave credibility to American might• International advertising for democracy• Enhanced pride and confidence of humankind

Schmitt 4.12.2007

Society Legacy

• Spurred development of technology– Integrated circuits, miniaturization, CNC

machining, new metal alloys• New evolutionary status

– Human species can live off Earth• Improved human condition on Earth

– Technology expansion– Hazard definition and risk determination

Schmitt 4.12.2007

Scientific Legacy

• Understanding of origin and evolution of the Moon

• Discovery of lunar resource potential• Knowledge of early solar system conditions• Information on time period when life began

Schmitt 4.12.2007

Why the Moon?

• Relatively close (~2.7 seconds delay for tele-robotic activities)

• Free natural satellite• Perfect vacuum• Launch advantages:• Resources• Energy • Because we can…

Current Lunar Mission

• Constellation• Replace Space Shuttle

– Projected 2015• Return to the Moon

– 2020

Current Lunar Missions

• Implement a sustained and affordable human and robotic program to explore the solar system and beyond;

• Extend human presence across the solar system, starting with a human return to the Moon by the year 2020, in preparation for human exploration of Mars and other destinations;

• Develop the innovative technologies, knowledge, and infrastructures both to explore and to support decisions about the destinations for human exploration; and

• Promote international and commercial participation in exploration to further U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests.

Future Private Missions

• Private companies will be needed to sustain– Hudson Bay Company, East India Company– Odyssey Moon, …?

• First step – Ansari X-Prize– First privately funded sub-orbital space ship

• Next –– Bigelow Aerospace – Private space stations– SpaceX – Private orbital launch (human rated?)

The Commercial Moon

• Google Lunar X-Prize– $25 million to first company to land rover on the

Moon• Just the beginning

– Scientific payloads (sold to researchers)– Novelty sample returns/advertising– Lunar oxygen, hydrogen (for sale to LEO)– Titanium, aluminum, iron (orbital construction)– He-3 (clean fusion energy)

Model for permanent presence?

• Low gravity/microgravity manufacturing• Clean energy for Earth

– Space Based Solar Power (manufactured on the Moon)

– He-3 Fusion Power• Deep space astronomy

– No atmosphere, no radio interference• Science!

– Vacuum research (near perfect free vacuum)– Solar system research (origin of life?)

Limiting Factors• Launch capabilities/cost

– Cost must come down• Frequent-guaranteed flights• Larger production/continuous production

• Legal barriers– Ownership rights – International treaties

• Risk averse investors– Lunar enterprises will assume large risk– Large risk = large reward

Technical Hurdles

• Rebuilding a lost technology– Relearning the art of Moon landings

• Cryogenic storage– In orbit (a must for space gas stations)

• Resource extraction• Prolonged presence on the Moon

– Many new challenges– Crew safety– Equipment longevity

Lunar Dust

• Regolith (Moon dust) is very little, but it is a very BIG problem

Lunar Dust

• Challenges– Very abrasive (issues during Apollo)– Electrostatically charged (both naturally and due

to interaction with equipment)– Very small

• Why is it so bad?– Potential health risk (lungs)– Safety of valves, bearings, seals, etc.– Coating on solar panels, radiators, EVERYTHING

Beginning End

Conclusions

• Humans must return to the Moon• NASA will begin this return but private

companies will be required to permanently return

• A return to the Moon will lead to new technologies, new energy sources, a cleaner planet, better living conditions for billions.

• The human race must control our future – the Moon give us that ability