Interplanetary Logistics - Essay Example

The reality is that human interaction with space was once consider a fantasy that was not remotely possibly, yet we are now perhaps only a few generations from being able to make that fantasy become reality (Bainbridge 2009). Space is largely seen as a mechanism by which we can increase our existing supply train. As such, the process by which modern civilisation conducts sustainable space exploration in the future will depend directly on an innate ability to effectively manage the supply chain, leading to a discussion centring on interplanetary logistics.

The process by which this is undertaken today takes on a drastically different shape than it did during the original Apollo moon missions. During those early attempts at space exploration, required materials and tools were simply carried along for the wide. Future space exploration, however will depend on a complex network focused on the supply chain that enables sustainable colonisation based upon resources being available to people in real time, as they are needed, rather than simply relying on this on a mission by mission basis.

This process will soon begin a new with scheduled missions to the moon beginning in the year 2020. The moon will literally become in a stepping off point for exploration deeper into space, and the vision is to have it become a supply command post where supplies and other associated items in terms of logistics are planned for in advance and are available as needed. No longer will astronauts be forced to rely only on what they can carry, but the objective is to have a system of logistics in place where needs are not only anticipated, but provided for in advance in order to keep the work going.

This is a critical concept in terms of interplanetary travel due to the reality that lost or misplaced items can literally take months to replace, costing the crew valuable time to conduct experiments and get