Nasa's New Moon Plans - Term Paper Example

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction: Latest Luna Activities Pg. 2 2. Justification for lunar base programs Pg. 3 3. Constraints involved in Lunar base programs Pg. 4 4. Ideal site for lunar base Pg. 7 5. Structures for moon habitat Pg. 7 6. Conclusion Pg. 8 7. References Pg. 9 1. Introduction: Latest lunar activities. In January 2004, U.S. President Bush outlined a plan for NASA to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020 and then on to Mars and beyond.1 Nikolai Sevastyanov, the head of the state-controlled RKK Energy Company said in an interview that they are planning a permanent moon base by 2015.2 Japan wants to help build a lunar base and populate it with advanced versions of today's humanoid robots by around 2025, according to the head of the nation's space agency. Even developing nations like China and India are planning their lunar missions. And now read this: “In 1980, Dennis Hope spotted a loophole in the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty and started a company putting up plots on the moon for sale. Till date, Lunar Embassy, MoonEstates.com and other rival companies have sold £5m worth of plots to 3.4m owners worldwide.3” Unlike Cold War era, there is no maritime competition pushing superpowers ahead for such plans. So why is this increased interest in lunar exploration and lunar real estate? The ever-increasing technical prowess and latest discovery of water ice in Polar Regions has fuelled interest of all. In this paper we explore the current trends of all such activity analyzing the feasibility of any moon habitat. Our aim is to give a realistic overview of advantages – disadvantages of such a project. 2. Justification for Lunar Base Programs. Apollo program proved that manned mission to moon is very much feasible but the rock and dirt samples brought back were extremely low in lighter elements required for supporting life. This dampened enthusiasm for any lunar base project. However, in recent times, advocates such as National Space Society and the Moon Society cite the possibility of clean fusion power from Helium 3 fuel mined on the moon as a potential economic justification for a lunar base. Mining helium-3, a potential rich source of energy (could be used in futuristic fusion reactors on Earth that would generate electricity without producing nuclear waste) and harnessing it back to Earth would be a key priority in the moon exploration program. Such fusion technology could also power rockets for deep space travel in the future. This is how Peter Kokh in his Moon Society Paper gives justification for Human Presence on the moon:4 The Moon's far side also called the dark side of moon may be an ideal site for future radio astronomy as it is permanently shielded from the noisy Earth. Because moon is isolated from the Earth, it can be an ideal place for biologically hazardous experiments. In the vacuum like no atmosphere and no gravity condition of moon, some unique chemical and biological products such as life saving drugs may be producible. Scientists are optimistic about advances in other technologies such as nano-robotics in such environment. For future space exploration, the Moon can serve as a launching pad. The reason is that the escape velocity from moon is far less and cost of transportation of materials from Moon will be far cheaper when compared to any such mission from Earth. Kokh also highlights the importance of the involvement of private enterprise in such efforts. 3. Constraints involved in Lunar base programs For any life support system targeting Habitats for human exploration and presence on the Moon will require vastly expanded habitat research and design validation efforts.5 We have too many constraints for any such project. Availability of oxygen: Moon has no atmosphere and hence there is no question of oxygen present in atmosphere. However, there is a possibility to extract oxygen from the Ilmenite ore present on the moon. Scientists also propose an algae-based gas exchanger for this purpose. Availability of water: Moon is almost dry and shipping water to Moon would be extremely expensive ($2000 to $20000 per kg). According to NASA estimates, the small traces of water on the Moon can be converted into enough fuel and oxidizer for a million-plus space shuttle launches. The worth of lunar water is astronomical $9 trillion. The data collected by Lunar Prospector indicates that water ice may be present in the Polar Regions. Availability of a continuous power source: Some sites near the Polar Regions are constantly bathed in sunlight and they are called “Peaks of eternal” light. Such sites may be continuous source of power supply. Other areas may be linked in a power grid having at least one solar cells exposed to sunlight. With the latest discovery about higher concentrations of Helium-3 presence in lunar equatorial regions also makes fusion based nuclear power reactor a possibility. Any such nuclear power plant will be much more efficient than solar power sources. Sustainability of life in extreme temperatures: The absence of atmosphere for insulation causes temperature extremes at Moon’s surface (100 Celsius to -180 Celsius near the equator). To create a habitat which can withstand such temperature extremes is a big challenge. Health problems from long-term exposure to low gravity: There is a big concern about the detrimental effects of long term exposure to low gravity (about one sixth of Earth’s gravity). Such exposure may cause deterioration of physiological systems, such as loss of bone and muscle mass. Transport system: For enabling the mobility of Moon inhabitants, designing the lunar rovers is a challenging task because the surface of the moon is not smooth. Rovers are useful only if the surface is not steep or hilly. Magnetic-Levitation systems can be used for lunar trains. Safety from solar winds, abrasive Moon dust and meteorites. Most important, the economic feasibility of such goliath project: For the long-term sustainability, the lunar habitat initiative should and must be self-sufficient economically. Onsite mining may reduce the cost, as exporting materials from earth will be too expensive. The import of Helium 3 from Moon may even make it a profitable venture. Lunar tourism may also be promoted to generate the funds for the project. Quoting from what Sam Dinkin6 for the Space Review has to say about the cost and approach to lunar habitat mission: “Right now, the level of space commitment on Earth is about $50 billion a year. This level of commitment would pay for about twenty Mars Direct-style missions every two years. This is a feasible budget for the colonization of Mars. Many technologies can be optimized if the focus of Earth space efforts was colonization. If the goal of human presence on Mars is to colonize it, $50 billion a year can do it well.” 4. Ideal site for lunar base Based on the constraints, researchers have identified perfect spot for lunar base having constant sunlight as source of power supply and stores of water ice. Ben Bussey of Johns Hopkins University says that the best site having both these properties may be on the northern rim of Peary crater, close to north pole.7 His studies are based on 53 images from the spacecraft Clementine, which orbited the Moon for 71 days in 1994. Equatorial reasons are an attractive option as they have higher deposits of Helium 3, provided we have fusion technology ready to use. Far end of the moon is specially suited for creating radio observatories. 5. Structures for moon habitat An underground lunar colony may be a good choice because they would give protection from solar winds and meteorites. For this the material present on the Moon itself can be used to reduce the cost of construction. It is possible to use the underground extinct Lava tubes. The proposed habitats structures inflatable modules of various shape to the used fuel tanks. Various structures for lunar habitat has been proposed by Kokh.8 4. Conclusion The Moon base mission may trigger further space exploration and may ultimately lead to colonization of other solar planets. As the resources and sources of power are depleting, it has become a necessity. We have already seen that such mission can be made self sufficient and economically viable. Moon is a better choice than anywhere else. With the current technological prowess it is less about feasibility and more about political will. 7. References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Nasa's new Moon plans- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4262168.stm 2 Russian Rocket Builder Aims for Moon Base by 2015- http://www.space.com/news/ap_060126_russia_moon.html 3 How to set up a moon base -http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4177064.stm 4 The Moon: Why and How We Should Return- http://www.lunar-reclamation.org/papers/moonreturn_positionpaper.htm 5 Habitation, International Journal for Human Support Research - http://habitation.rutgers.edu/ 6 Sam Dinkin, Colonize the Moon before Mars – http://www.thespacereview.com/article/221/1 7 Robert Roy Britt, Perfect Spot Found for Moon Base – www.space.com/scienceastronomy/050413_moon_perfect.html 8 Habitat Structures on Moon & Mars – http://www.lunar-reclamation.org/papers/habitatmoonmars_1.htm Read More