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NASA Project: "A Life Out in Space "
NASA Project: "A Life Out in Space "
CONTENTS:
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Computing, Networking, Security and Internal communication
Chapter 7: Construction sequence
Chapter 8: Energy
Chapter 9: Atmosphere Chapter 10: Population Chapter 11: Day-
Night cycle, Entertainment and LawsGovernment
I’m going to tell you so if we want to continue and survive, not to get extinct, that will be a
colossus disaster, we need to move further, no limits as our scientists and philosophers describe.
We can include many factors that will create a threat in the future, such as: asteroids, the
damage dealt by us humans, resources are limited, population is growing. Earth can only keep
up to 4-16 billion people, the number is still growing fast, space disasters and anomalies, death
of our sun, the age of the sun is 4.3 billion years, it’s at the middle age but its own gravity.
One of the main reasons we are going to Mars is to find life, think what will happen it we find
some complex cells there, a game changing evolution in our thinking about our position in the
universe and other many examples change the perspective of how we think, in ways we can’t
even imagine at this moment.
Life evolved through a continuous cycle to maintain the conditions we have now, every single
part of it having a crucial role in this adding a constant amounts of elements into the
atmosphere. Most of the planets had water the closer ones had a hell effect instead of green
house, one but Mars went to a runaway ice house, it cooled too quickly and volcanos died. And
the atmosphere, without green house goes to form an atmosphere to create pressure and black
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radiation, if we add the little amount of gravity slightly smaller it can’t keep it’s atmosphere,
became cold and freeze up.
A space settlement?
A space settlement is a construction in space that will give people a new opportunity to have a
new life on a new planet, Red Planet, Mars and this is the only way to save people from
overpopulation risk. This kind of settlement should allow people to live under the same
condition like Earth’s ones.
Although many people, like us, are interested in space settlements and find the idea of living in
space exciting (mostly young adults and teenagers), the adults and elderly think that such things
are impossible and extremely dangerous.
Some people believe we should not spend our money, time and resources on this enterprise,
because there are problems on Earth we still haven’t fixed. Other people believe that by
colonizing other planets, we will only bring chaos to those worlds, much like we did here, on
Earth. Still, another group of people believes that yeah, colonizing another planet would be cool,
but is not feasible, so why even bother trying?
Arguing about space expansion, people typically assume that even if we successfully colonize a
planet, everything else remains at the same level. Yes, there are some difficulties we still struggle
to fix here, such as poverty, starvation, diseases, poor economic growth, wars, climate change.
Yes, most of those problems are man-made or at least indirectly affected by people, so to some
extent it’s reasonable to fear that people will seed this destruction on other worlds if we ever
get there. And yes, space colonization is a very tricky task that requires us to gather all of our
intellectual and material resources to even start getting things done the way we want them.
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Chapter 2: Road map
Firstly, Moon it’s very close and can be reached in 3 days, this was in the Apollo and Gemini
missions, now it may be shorter with the present technology and finally it will turn into several
hours. It has a great economic impact, we can use lunar materials to facilitate continued
exploration and industry, from the Apollo studies, the sailor contained volatiles, substances
divvied from the solar wind, full of protons and electron, creating chemical reactions, there is
presence of hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen and perhaps water if we dig deeper. Water and
hydrogen will have a major importance in continued transport of materials and other economic
missions. Fuelling the rackets will consist of liquified hydrogen or oxygen mixed with methane,
kerosene and other substances combined with solid rocket fuel boosters.
Future missions to the Moon are going to push the economy dramatically, allowing the
production of more structures. In addition, raw materials are also predominant like aluminium
(light and very useful material for space voyage), titanium (hardest material able to resist the
high speeds of the objects, that could be a great danger for missions), magnesium, iron, silicon
can help in building the solar panels. If we produce and mine a large number of materials, it will
be very easy to get them back to Earth. It takes 20 times less energy to escape the Moon’s
gravity, it has no atmosphere, that means no drag. A cost-effective racket, not too big, to have
enough Delta V for a prograde from Moon’s orbit and perform an injection into Earth’s gravity
(Hoffman transfer), retro grade and land, of course it would be the best way to use a space
shuttle like Columbia, create a runway on the Moon, this will be a reusable process, that’s very
important, we are loading for money saving and efficient ways to sustain a positive increase in
the budget. The maintaining of this mining and extraction of materials from the Moon, will
consist of replenishing missions that will contain vital resources for keeping humans alive and
automatically keeping the machines in a good state. Food, water and materials processed on
Earth and from Moon’s material, so there will be a continuous development. But this trip can be
shortened and can be much efficient. We currently have the International Space Station
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(ISS),besides that we can link and build a gas station like on Earth, but on a more advanced
scale, this structure can be connected directly with Earth by an elevator, this is not science
fiction. This elevator will massively reduce the launch cost, even change the designs of the
future rackets. We will practically skip 400 km, for a racket it will take a great amount of energy,
DV, every racket taking effort and big amounts of money. Money is still the main problem for
space, if we find a way, we’ll take part of major experiences.
The elevator has two problems, the material needs to be the strangest material ever built,
it’s not impossible for us, with materials from the Moon and asteroids it will be much easier,
carbon can be a key factor and the second problem is the space debris, this is a very
complicated one, the exterior layer of the cable needs to consist of two or more layers of hard
and light materials, plus protection from radiation and the scattered oxygen molecules in the
law Earth orbit that will heal damage to the cable. So, this starts another project, cleaning the
space for the future of other solutions that will change the way we think. This tether elevator can
have its end extended to Moon, being connected and powered by solar energy and nuclear
power, this idea will drastically boost our space exploration, economy increasing, such as the
budget, the differences will be immeasurable, expanding our reach to Mars and other options.
Shipyards, fuel deports, and other stations can be attached to the elevator, transforming it in a
Metro, very similar.
We’ve explored just a tiny amount of the Moon, we left it with no reasons, but Moon can
be a blueprint for Mars, the main method for building a settlement on Moon, is to dig, if we dig
7 to 10 metres, we will be safe from radiation and it will raise to the surface building more and
more, so we can construct runways, solar panels and other innovative ideas. We have sufficient
life support technology for humans, technology from the ISS can be applied here. A night on
the Moon lasts 15 days on Earth and at the pales 4 days, so the first lunar station will probably
have to be at the pales where we will find iced water and more solar energy income. The cost
will be getting so slow, maybe we don’t even need to think of NASA doing it. The cost of this
settlement will be around 10 billion at the start and the upkeep cost of about 2 billion per year,
some for International Space Station, so the time will take 20-30 years to build a stable home on
the Moon and taking the additional factor is that NASA wouldn’t pay the bill alone. If water
deposits will exist on the Moon, a base could pay for itself, generating 40 billion in racket
propellant per year. Propulsor robotic missions are essential for filling strategic knowledge gaps
related to sale and successful human missions and for ensuring maximum return of the
investments required for subsequent human exploration. Activities to increase the synergy and
human exploration goals remain a high priority. In order to build a sustainable human space
exploration endeavour that lasts decodes, agency leaders should maintain a focus on delivering
value to the public. Agencies should increase efforts to pursue a coordinated approach to
mitigating the human health and performance risks of extended duration exploration missions,
putting priority on efforts to reduce countermeasure mass and volume, and on driving risks to
an acceptable level. We must perform key supporting objectives to have a coordinated prosper
future, such as demonstrating, test power generation, storage systems, develop and test
highperformance mobility, extravehicular activity, life support and habitation capabilities,
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demonstrate the use of robots to explore autonomously and to supplement astronauts
exploration activities, develop and validate tools, technologies, systems that extract, process and
utilize resources to enable exploration missions, demonstrate launch and advanced in-space
propulsion capabilities, learn how to best perform basic working tasks and develop protocols for
missions operations. Test and demonstrate advanced entry, descent and landing technologies,
an orbit assembly and satellite servicing capabilities, develop and demonstrate technologies to
support scientific investigation, develop space communications and navigation capabilities. We
need to stimulate Economic Expansion. To provide opportunities for the integration of
commercial transportation elements into the exploration architecture, provide opportunities for
the integration of commercial surface and orbital elements into the exploration architecture and
evaluate potential for commercial goods and services at destinations, including markets for
discovered resources.
“NASA’s Orion will be the crew vehicle capable of delivering a crew to exploration
destinations and back to Earth. Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (CPS), included in SLS evolution
plans, an in-space propulsion capability utilizing cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen as
propellants”. Could provide additional performance for missions to the lunar vicinity, lunar
surface to Mars and so on. Cargo Logistics Delivery Systems provide service and tools to enable
crew and robots to service space systems and assemble larger capabilities. These systems can
augment the functionality of the Orion and for the evolvable Deep Space Habitat. Advanced
InSpace Propulsion needs attention too, we need mobility. Using non-traditional propulsion
technologies, such as high power electric and nuclear propulsion, to enable deep-space crew
exploration and so on. Mars is an essential step to Mars exploration. Space is indifferent to what
we do, it has no feeling, no design, no interest in whether we grapple with it. But we cannot be
indifferent to space, because the grand, slow march of intelligence has brought us, in our
generation, to a paint from which we can explore and understand and utilize it. To turn back
now would be to deny our history, our capabilities.
This Global Exploration Road Map highlights the efforts of participating in the preparation
for human and robotic exploration of destinations where humans may someday live and work.
This goal informs capability evolution and technology investments. The pathway to Moon and
resources extends human presence to enable exploration of multiple destinations.
This Road Map creates a form work in three eras. Common goals and objectives to a long
range human exploration strategy and coordination of exploration preparatory activities, those
being divided in many other parts, each of them having an important role in forming our future.
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Chapter 3: Radiation Protection
Uncertainties
Despite many years of space explorations and intensive studies, radiation protection still
remains an important challenge for any space mission beyond the Low Earth Orbit. Current
technology allows full understanding and protection of solar events. However galactic cosmic
rays (GCR) and its secondaries still not completely understood. For example using a shielding
which is not thick enough may produce even greater problems due to secondaries and
increasing the thickness of used materials results in significant increase in total mass and
indirectly cost. The longest human mission beyond the LEO was Apollo Moon mission. Even
during this mission, Apollo didn’t have a full protection from cosmic rays. It was assumed that
the trip will be short enough that exposed radiation will be still under the limits. Protection from
GCRs remains as the main obstacle for any space mission currently. Considering we need a
protection for a permanent mission, careful evaluation of shielding approaches is very important
both for health of our inhabitants and also for total cost of settlement.
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Comparison of different materials on the figure shows that in almost all the tests liquid
hydrogen shows better results however keeping hydrogen in liquid form requires proper
thermal insulation.
Due to its high performance on GCR protection, liquid hydrogen seems to be very effective
option but the cryogenic container removes all the advantages of less mass of liquid hydrogen.
A better solution would be using water as the shielding material since water can be acquired
from in-situ resources, launch cost considerations can be omitted.
As well as water, titanium and aluminium that will be used primarily for tensile strength and
overall structure can also help radiation shielding.
10gr/cm2 water will be used as the main protection layer from GCR, with the help of other layers
contribution, the desired protection from radiation will be acquired.
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Chapter 4: Construction Materials
Currently, the building of a space colony would present a set of huge technological and
economic challenges;
But,
The primary argument calling for space colonization is the long-term survival of human
civilization. By developing alternative locations off Earth, the planet’s species, including humans,
could live on in the event of natural or man-made disasters on our own planet.
The theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking has argued for space colonization
as a means of saving humanity. In 2001, Hawking predicted that the human race would become
extinct within the next thousand years, unless colonies could be established in space. In 2006, he
stated that humanity faces two options: either we colonize space within the next two hundred
years and build residential units on other planets, or we will face the prospect of long-term
extinction.
In 2005, the NASA Administrator Michael Griffin identified space colonization as the ultimate
goal of current spaceflight programs, saying:
“... the goal isn't just scientific exploration ... it's also about extending the range of human habitat
out from Earth into the solar system as we go forward in time ... In the long run a singleplanet
species will not survive ... If we humans want to survive for hundreds of thousands or millions of
years, we must ultimately populate other planets. Now, today the technology is such that this is
barely conceivable. We're in the infancy of it. ... I'm talking about that one day, I don't know
when that day is, but there will be more human beings who live off the Earth than on it. We may
well have people living on the Moon. We may have people living on the moons of Jupiter and
other planets. We may have people making habitats on asteroids ... I know that humans will
colonize the solar system and one day go beyond.”
A space settlement is a very challenging task because finding resources in space is very difficult.
The best place for extracting materials would be the Moon. The structure of material design
needs to have a very careful selection of materials which is based upon their strength, thermal
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properties, electrical properties, strength, stiffness, toxicity and the shielding ability and space
vacuum factors.
The main problem is weight! Weight means funds, we need to minimise the weight
but this should happen without affecting functionality and usability. That’s means a careful
design and construction material selection procedure should apply.
Generalised requirements for choosing the right material, obviously it is impossible to find
materials that provide all these properties, we will make optimum solutions.
➢ Strength
◦ Must support itself and the payload through all phases of the mission.
➢ Stiffness
we can easily say that stiffness has more importance for us.
➢ Environmental protection
◦ Shielding from radiation, should be protective high space radiation level (e.g:
electromagnetic, solar flares, gcr and secondary particle effects), those being
◦ Regulating heat retention (it must not be too hot or too cold)
Good specific strength and higher stiffness Not as common use as aluminum More
expensive compared to aluminum Titanium (and alloys) ρ=4540 kg m-3, melting
point=1933 K
It has lightweight and high specific strength. Stiffer than aluminum (but not like steel)
Resistant at corrosion Capable to resist at high temperatures Are less ductile than
aluminum/steel. It has lower availability and is much less workable than aluminum is ( around
6 times expensive than steel) Ferrous alloys (stainless steel) ρ =7874 kg m-3, melting point
(Fe)=1808 K
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higher strength Very high rigidity and hardness Resistant at corrosion Resistant at high
temperatures (1200K) Very cheap
Stiffest material in nature High specific strength, low density High tolerance of temperature
Very expensive and difficult to work Low atomic number Already used in rocket construction
Composite materials
Composite materials is a combination of two or more materials (reinforcing elements, fillers and
composite matrix binder) differing in form or composition on a macro-scale.
Advantages of composites
• Very high specific strength. Which means very high strength and low weight
• Great freedom of shape. Double curved and complex parts can be simple produced.
• High degree of integration possible. Which means simple integration of stiffeners,
inserts, cores, and production of self supporting structures in one or two production
cycles.
• Material can be tailored. Which means fit for the loads / performance the end product
has to perform during its lifetime
• Excellent fatigue endurance concerning number of load cycles (many times higher than
with metals) and residual fatigue strength (aramide and carbon epoxy laminates retain
more than 60% of their residual static strength, which is far more higher than is possible
with metals.)
• Excellent chemical resistance against acids, chemicals etc.
• Excellent weather/water resistance. Material has almost no corrosion, takes on little water
which leads to low maintenance cost especially on the long run.
• Composites have excellent RAM features (Radar absorbing materials). It's also possible to
make special laminates which are radar and sonar transparent.
• Excellent impact habits
• Excellent electrical habits, concerning isolation but also conduction, dielectric habits, EMS
shielding etc. Structures can be tailored on RF transparency but can also be made RF
reflecting. Great for telecom especially UMTS frequencies.
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• Great thermal isolation habits, fire retardancy habits, and high temperature performance
-lightweight, high strength-to weight ration, corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity, low
coefficient of thermal expansion and non-magnetic.
The difference between composite materials and other materials (e.x. Metals)
The basic difference of composite materials and metals is that they have a “An-Isotropic”
behaviour which means that the habits of the composite material or formed laminate are
directional depended. Metals have in general an “Isotropic” behaviour which means that their
habits are in all directions the same.
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• End material is formed during production process, in most cases in the end form of the
end product.
• Materials habits are also determined by production/curing process
• Fibrous composites are more versatile than metals and can be tailored to meet
performance needs and complex design requirements.
• Higher specific strength (material strength/density material). Aramide and Carbon Fiber
reinforced epoxies have approx. 4 to 6 times higher spec. tensile strength than steel or
aluminum
• Great fatigue endurance especially for aramide and carbon reinforced epoxies, compared
with metals.
Production methods:
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• filament winding (thermo set, thermoplastics and ceramics)
• vacuum bagging (prepregs lay-up and cure in oven)
The Moon
One of the goals of the space settlement is to find natural resources on other planets and
satellites. Looking to Mars or the Moon as the perhaps the best places to find many of the
natural resources we are using up on the physical planet.
NASA's Apollo missions of the last century found that Lunar surface soils are comprised of
about 20 percent metals (suitable for space construction) and 20 percent silicon (which is
needed for making solar power cells). Much of the rest of lunar soil is composed of oxygen.
Lunar soil
Oxygen 42%
Silicon 21%
Iron 13%
Calcium 8%
Aluminum 7%
Magnesium 6%
Other 3%
The NASA Apollo missions found that Lunar soil is composed of useful elements such as oxygen,
silicon, and metals such as iron and aluminum. The Moon also has other advantages as a source
of construction materials for near Earth orbit . Its weak surface gravity is only one-sixth as strong
as Earth's. As a result, in combination with its small diameter, it takes less than five percent as
much energy to boost materials from the Lunar surface into orbit compared with the launch
energy needed from Earth's surface into orbit.
The Apollo missions were surprised by the difficulty of extracting subsurface samples. While the
top was powdery and soft, attempts to drill into the surface and extract subsurface material
resulted in seizing of drill tubes which could not be removed and had to be abandoned.
It is now thought that underneath the very top layers, lunar soil is actually more dense than
equivalent Earth soils at the same depth. Due to small, repeated vibrations by distant meteor
impacts over the eons, the soil particles have settled down by shifting relative to each other into
ever more dense geometrical orientations.
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The table below shows the amount of time astronauts spent on the surface of the Moon during
each lunar landing.
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MODEL OF A SETTLEMENT
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3. The Docking Ports part: Ensure that residents
and visitors can reach your colony.
Part mass (Kt): 144
Volume: 7.320.507
Air (Kt): 7.91
Cost: $53.9 M
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7. The Solar Panel: Provides energy from the sun
for the settlement.
Part mass (t): 873
Cost: $88.1M
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Chapter 5 Moon mining Challenges
The concept of mining on the Moon has been for decades, the basic idea is to extract materials
from the Moon that create new capabilities in space. The Moon’s resources could be put to a
number of uses, such as a source of fuel for farther flung journeys through space, or providing
an alternate source of rare metals and minerals for use on Earth.
There is a hierarchy of material resources, arranged according to their ease of acquisition and
their utility. The easiest stuff is bulk regolith (lunar soil), which can be used to backfill
installations on the moon and to make shielding to protect habitats thermally and from
radiation. Regolith would not be transported to Earth, but for missions such as SpaceX’s, which
include building a lunar base, it could be very beneficial.
When, in 2008, samples from the 1970s Apollo 15 and 17 missions were re-examined, the
presence of water brought greater hope of establishing lunar habitations. Since then, multiple
studies have confirmed that the Moon has water in abundance.
Why mining the water on the Moon? Water ice (and other volatile substances) is found in
the dark areas near the poles and have many uses, including life support and rocket propellant.
Water is the oil of the solar system and those companies who are able to harvest and harness
extraterrestrial deposits of water will make Exxon look like a lemonade stand. Along with water,
the Moon has a number of other materials which would be useful for space exploration. Metals
can be extracted from the oxides in the soil by chemical reduction – iron, titanium and
aluminium are the principal useful metals to be manufactured on the Moon.
ENGINE
Electrical propulsion; Why use electric propulsion? The system has been stimulated by
limitations in conventional chemical propulsion that derive from Newton’s laws of dynamics. A
rocket-propelled spacecraft derives its acceleration from the discharge of propellant and its
equation of motion.
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:
The result of rate of mass expulsion and the exhaust velocity is the thrust generated by the
propulsion system.
The integral of the thrust over the time for which it is applied is the impulse, or change of
momentum. The ratio of thrust to the rate of expulsion of propellant measured in units of
weight expelled per second is known as the specific impulse.
Specific impulse
If the exhaust velocity is constant during the thrusting time, the spacecraft experiences an
increment in velocity which is linearly dependent on the exhaust velocity and logarithmically
dependent on the propellant mass ejected.
Increment in velocity
Velocity of the exhaust stream
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Chapter 6 Computing, Networking, Security and Internal
communication
What is a supercomputer? Is a third generation machine Blue Gene, projected by IBM, that can
reach operating speeds in the petaFLOPS with low power consumption. The Blue Gene runs on
1.6 million processor cores and the speed that can be reach is up to 20 petaflops.
Radio communication; You can also communicate through radio connection. You can use many
frequencies to establish a connection internal or external. Internal in the settlement or between
spacecrafts and external in different countries from our planet. Countries use different
frequencies from 136 MHz to 32.3 GHz.
NASA with DSN (Deep Space Network) uses the following frequencies:
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:
Deep Space Network (DSN); The Deep Space Network - or DSN - is NASA’s international array
of giant radio antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions, plus a few that orbit
Earth. The DSN also provides radar and radio astronomy observations that improve our
understanding of the solar system and the larger universe.
The DSN has three ground stations located 120 degrees apart for 360 degree coverage. The
ground stations are located in Canberra, Australia, Madrid, Spain, and Goldstone, California. The
antennas are parabolic dishes, up to 70m in diameter (the equivalent of the height of a 20 story
building!
NASA also launched Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) which has as a mission
to increase traditional radio data rates that are transmitted to spacecrafts or astronauts by 10 to
100 times. As an example, radio frequency communications system take up to 9 years to send a
1 foot resolution “Google Map” of the entire surface of Mars back to earth and laser
communication process could take only 9 weeks to transmit the data back.
External communication; Communication with the outside of the settlement is important from
several points of view. Information exchange in cultural, economic, political and social terms is a
crucial matter for the existence of space settlements. Communication with Terra can be made
through the Internet, telephone and television. To establish a connection with other space
stations and satellites Internet and radio waves can be used. Radio waves are indispensable in
communication similar to the “walkie-talkie” principle, especially for coordinating arrivals and
departures on and from space settlements. For the communication with other celestial bodies
with material potential, useful for improving the life quality on the space settlement, some
similar antennas with the one on the central cylinder can be placed. This antenna has a metallic
parabolic reflector, segmented in mobile plates, to facilitate the compaction and expansion of
the transmission-reception surface.
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Chapter 7 Construction sequence
The Space Shuttle – a mostly reusable, human-rated launch vehicle, spacecraft, space
habitat, laboratory, re-entry vehicle and aircraft was an unprecedented structural engineering
challenge.
The design had to meet several demands which resulted in innovative solutions. The vehicle
needed to be highly reliable for environments that could not be simulated on Earth or fully
modelled analytically for combined mechanical and thermal loads. It had to accommodate
payloads that were not defined or characterized. It needed to be weight efficient by employing
a greater use of advanced composite materials, and it had to rely on fracture mechanics for
design with acceptable life requirements. It also had to be certified to meet strength and life
requirements by innovative methods. During the Space Shuttle Program, many such structural
design innovations were developed and extended to vehicle processing from flight to flight. So
the spacecraft structure small or large must be made of materials that resist without failure or
excessive distortion the static, dynamic and thermal stresses that occur during launch,
deployment and service.
Although the spacecraft structure and the material of which it is composed are inextricably
linked entities in their influences on cost, strength, stiffness, weight, reliability and adaptability
to change.
1. STRUCTURES: In small spacecraft a simple truss structure provides the primary resistance
to static and dynamic loads and flat panels (often of sandwich construction) support the
payload and associated spacecraft contents.
2. DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES: A small spacecraft may require an appendage, such as a
boom or a surface, that is very large relative to the size of the spacecraft.
3. CONTROL-STRUCTURES Interaction: It refers to the coupling between the displacements
of deformable structures and the performance of control systems.
4. SMART STRUCTURES: It has sensors and actuators as integral parts along with a control
computer that is required to actively control vibrations and shape.
5. MATERIALS: Aluminium is the conventional material for flight structures of all types. In
addition, graphite-fiber/polymer-matrix composite materials having much higher
strength to density ratios and stiffness to density ratios are finding substantial use in
aircraft and spacecraft.
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:
The structure: In order to start attacking the problem of designing an orbital space settlement,
after deciding the exact location in space (one of the liberation points along the Moon’s orbit
around the Earth), the next logical step would be to define its outward shape.
How to generate the pseudo gravity? As we have already seen, an inertial force called
centrifugal force will be generated whenever a body is rotated. The familiar expression for the
centrifugal force is :
Fc = m w^2 . R where m is the mass of the object, R the radius of rotation and w the angular
speed. The acceleration generated by this force will be equal to the force divided by the mass of
the object
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: ac = w^2 . R In this way, any acceleration can be radially generated. By giving different values
to the two variables that determine the acceleration, the angular velocity and the radius of the
circular structure, gravity can be obtained.
Problems of rotating structures: Although pseudo gravity will solve some of the biomedical
problems of living in space, it will generate others. Living on a permanently rotating structure
can be harmful to human beings. The rotating motion and subsequent Coriolis acceleration can
cause equilibrium and inner ear problems. Although research is difficult due to the impossibility
to recreate pure g downward rotation on Earth, it appears to show that eventually humans can
adapt to rotation rates of several rpm. Most negative effects are hardly noticeable at rotation
rates below 2 rpm.
Sphere or Cylinder?
A good way to decide upon the suitability of each shape would be to compare the surface areas
that could be utilized in comparably sized spheres and cylinder.
Taking a sphere of radius R and a cylinder of radius R and equal height (2R) the surface areas
would be :
Sphere = 4. PI . R^2
Cylinder = 2.PI.R. 2 R = 4. PI . R^2
The ring: Based on gravity considerations, a rotation rate of 1.25 rpm is adopted for the ring
structure, with an external radius at the surface of 570 m.
The cylinder: Calculation of surface areas and volumes become simpler in the case of the
cylinder shaped colony. In accordance to the above expressed criteria, the cylinder will be
dimensioned in a way that ensures maximum comfort and with enough of an atmosphere to
guarantee the smooth flow of natural processes. An angular speed of 0.75 rpm is adopted and
this consequently results in a radius of approximately 1580 m.
ILLUMINATION:
Due to radiation hazards, the colony will have to be completely shielded by means of a
composite material. This will apparently be incompatible with the requirement of sunlight for
the settlement and views of space.
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The ring: In the case of the ring sunlight will enter naturally through the ceiling. This seems to
be the most natural arrangement, and it helps from the point of view of radiation shielding. The
ring will be oriented in such a way that its axis of rotation is always parallel to the orbital path. In
this way mirrors are uniquely placed for both sections of the ring. Because light will enter the
ring in an opposite direction from the Sun's rays, it will help in adequate shielding. In order to
achieve the day - night effect, 3 plane mirrors and 1 concave mirror will be used.
The cylinder: A similar mechanism can be engineered for the cylinder shaped space settlement.
A novel idea is considered in the design : two mirrors, one on each side or cap of the cylinder,
that will present two suns instead of one. Because the intensity of the sun's rays will be dimmed
by the mirrors, having two sources og light instead of one will result in amore uniform
illumination. To generate days and nights the external mirrors will be movable and tend to close
into the structure. When this happens, the sunshine will first be attenuated and finally
semidarkness will prevail.
Construction:
Materials: The construction of both types of structure will basically use the same methods and
materials. The ring and the cylinder will be made up of a light and strongly resistant metal like
titanium or aluminium, both of which can be obtained from the Moon.
In particular, the decomposition of ilmenite (Fe i O6) will yield iro, titanium and oxygen. The
University of Wisconsin has already designed an ilmenite processing plant.
These metals would constitute ribs that would serve as a framework for the regolith based
composite material blocks (NASA has studied the facility of creating lunar bricks) that could be
glued together by special resins. Sealing techniques would need to be especially careful to
prevent the gaseous atmosphere from leaking out.
Construction techniques: The fact that the structure will be both built and assembled in space
complicates matters from the point of view of workers, that could be replaced by robots. But
moving things around in microgravity and in the vacuum of space can result helpful.
New techniques currently being developed could be used, like solid freeform fabrication (SFF),
vapor molecular deposition, etc.
Although this should of course be studied further, both the ribs and the regolith blocks could
shaped by using sliding molds, taking the lunar ore and concentrating solar energy until it is
transformed into a hot liquid, then framing it against the mold while it remains hot. Once the
desired shape is obtained, we could use the cold of space to solidify it. Putting it into place
requires minimum energy due to microgravity.
Testing: The importance of testing before putting in practice is essentially due to many factors
that are outside of Earth. First step which is hard for the spacecraft is the launch, the dynamic
and thermal stresses that occur during the process. Then the deployment and service. That’s
26
why the materials have to be choose carefully because they have to resist without having
problems to any of the factors.
Communication: radio communication has been the go-to method of communication for
spacecrafts. Well, that's about to change. NASA has recently announced they will be making a
major change to some of their upcoming communication systems by implementing new,
cutting-edge, laser communication technology.
Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) has a mission to increase traditional radio
data rates that are transmitted to spacecrafts or astronauts by 10 to 100 times!
For example, a radio frequency communications system would typically take up to 9 years to
map and send a 1 foot resolution "Google Map" of the entire surface of mars back to earth.
However, with the implementation of laser communication, the whole process could take only 9
weeks to transmit the data back.
Training: While teaching undergraduate physics at Princeton University, O'Neill set his students
the task of designing large structures in outer space, with the intent of showing that living in
space could be desirable. It is very important for the population to be prepared for a life out of
Earth and to be educated.
27
Chapter 8: Energy
Humans are trying to find a solution for colonization in Space. They have explored space
without the benefits of gravity and sufficient radiation protection for more than 50 years. Four
fundamental problems must be solved before humans can survive long-term in space:
i.) sustainable food supply; ii.) radiation protection; iii.) gravity; iv.)
a growable technology that enlarges the habitat as economics dictate.
In the future people may live and work on the moon for weeks or even months. Energy and
power will make it possible to travel to and live on the lunar surface. The idea is to choose the
appropriate energy source and technological means to produce that power.
Nuclear power: A nuclear fission reactor might fulfil most of a Moon base's power
requirements. With the help of fission reactors, one could overcome the difficulty of the 354
hour lunar night. According to NASA, a nuclear fission power station could generate a steady 40
kilowatts, equivalent to the demand of about eight houses on Earth. Radioisotope
thermoelectric generators could be used as backup and emergency power sources for solar
powered colonies.
Solar energy: Many of the raw materials needed for a solar panel production can be extracted
on site so this is one of the main reasons that solar energy is a possible source of power for a
lunar base. Since lunar regolith contains structural metals like iron and aluminium, solar panels
could be mounted high up on locally-built towers that might rotate to follow the sun.
Concentrated sunlight could also be relayed via mirrors and used in Stirling engines or solar
trough generators, or it could be used directly for lighting, agriculture and process heat.
Combining fuel cells with electrolysis would provide a "perpetual" source of electricity – solar
energy could be used to provide power during the lunar day, and fuel cells at night. During the
lunar day, solar energy would also be used to electrolyze the water created in the fuel cells –
although there would be small losses of gases that would have to be replaced.
A habitat suitable for long-term human presence in space must shield from space cosmic
radiation and provide an adequate thermal environment with enough light for agriculture
28
support and personal consumption. Mass of the structure required to sustain the centrifugal
forces and the atmospheric pressure is minimized using the tensegrity structural paradigm.
The total habitat system is composed of four rotating bodies: the shield, the habitat, and the
two isolated mirrors. Part of the shield is composed of a 5 m blanket of regolith and water on
the outside surface away from the spin axis. To allow light inside while protecting from
radiation, 5 m glass shields are present on the side faces pointing in the direction of the spin
axis. Finally, there is a thin circular ring on the outside as a radiator.
Here we seek energy balance at desirable values of heat, solar and electrical energy. To maintain
a sustainable environment for habitat, energy needs to reach an equilibrium to avoid the surplus
heat. A detailed quantitative analysis regarding inlet and outlet energy is necessary. The habitat
collects solar energy when sunlight enters through the glass and collects electricity from PV
panels attached outside of the shield. The habitat grows crops for food supply and a green park
that consume solar energy, and people consume electricity in daily life.
Solar light reflected from side mirrors will pass through the glass shields and light the interior.
Several assumptions about reflectance of mirrors, transparency of glass and solar power
constants are established to estimate the amount of absorbed solar energy.
Also the devices have to be chosen very carefully due to consummation factors,
What do we choose between LED light bulb, CFL Light bulb or Incandescent
bulb?
Or between LCD/LED/TV and CRT monitor display? Laptop or Desktop computer?
• the electricity cost of a single LED light bulb running at 10 Watts for 5 hours a day:
Cost per hour: 0.0010
Cost per day: 0.0050
Cost per month: 0.15
Cost per year: 1.83 kWh
per day: 0.05
• the electricity cost of a single CFL light bulb running at 14 Watts for 5 hours a day:
Cost per hour: 0.0014
Cost per day: 0.0070
Cost per month: 0.21
Cost per year: 2.56 kWh
per day: 0.07
• the electricity cost of a single incandescent light bulb running at 60 Watts for 5 hours a
day:
Cost per hour: 0.0060
29
Cost per day: 0.0300
Cost per month: 0.91
Cost per year: 10.95
kWh per day: 0.30
• the energy consumption of a 22 inch LED-backlit LCD display using 30 Watts for 5
hours a day:
Cost per hour: 0.0030
Cost per day: 0.0150
Cost per month: 0.46
Cost per year: 5.98 kWh
per day: 0.15
• the energy consumption of a 17 inch CRT display using 75 Watts for 5 hours a day:
Cost per hour: 0.0075
Cost per day: 0.0375
Cost per month: 1.14
Cost per year: 13.69
kWh per day: 0.38
30
Chapter 9: Atmosphere
Carbon dioxide concentrations are approximately 0.04 in the atmosphere. Humans produce
carbon dioxide in the human body when our cells break down food and release it when they
exhale.
In the confined cabins of spacecraft like the space shuttle or space stations, the carbon dioxide
can get much higher which this is a big problem because carbon dioxide is toxic. If the
concentration in the air around people increases it may cause certain symptoms:
• At 1% - drowsiness
• At 3% - impaired hearing, increased heart rate and blood pressure, stupor
• At 5% - shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, confusion
• At 8% - unconsciousness, muscle tremors, sweating
• Above 8% - death
Earth reduces the carbon dioxide with the help of the plants through the process of
photosynthesis. The plants take in the carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
In the spacecraft or in the settlement, carbon dioxide from the cabin air can only be removed
through chemical processes. One of the most common process for removing the carbon dioxide
is by using canisters that contain powdered lithium hydroxide. When carbon dioxide (CO 2) gets
passed through the canister it combines with the lithium hydroxide (LiOH) to form lithium
carbonate (Li2CO3) and water (H2O).
CO2 (g) + 2LiOH (s) -> Li2CO3 (s) + 3 H2O (l)
Once all the lithium hydroxide is used up, the canister must be replaced and discarded. The
Apollo 13 mission is the most famous example of using lithium hydroxide canisters.
One of the easiest way to make it from the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air. The Martian
atmosphere is 95% (CO2) so you can make oxygen by:
Another method is simply use electrolysis on water. Take water and add power:
The hydrogen is very valuable (can produce plastics, hydrocarbons and rocket fuel) so to store it
and breath the oxygen.
NASA: “We’re going to try and make oxygen from the atmosphere on Mars. We have to get
there and then we have to survive.”
In my opinion getting humans to land on Mars is the biggest space project this generation will
ever see. After the successful launch of SpaceX’s CRS-12 mission, NASA Acting Chief
Administrator Robert Lightfoot Jr. explained how getting to Mars requires small, incremental
steps and he noted that NASA has a remarkable project in the works:
“When you look at our plans today [for getting to Mars], we use the International Space Station
as much as we can…for example, our life support systems, we test them up there.”
The Red Planet’s atmosphere is thinner than Earths with some 95.32% carbon dioxide, 2.7%
nitrogen, 1.6% argon and about 0.13% oxygen. As a contrast, the Earth’s atmosphere has 78%
nitrogen and 21% oxygen.
Mars habitable include plans of building a magnetic shield around the settlement, similar to
Earth’s and also building a nuclear reactor.
32
So making oxygen on the settlement so people can live there is not a big problem by using
plants, trees and create photosynthesis or chemical methods which guarantee 100% that will
work it out.
33
Chapter 10: Population
The population for colonizing Mars if one of the most important task because they will be the
future of the Red Planet. Developing a settlement on another planet it takes many tasks but this
can only take place with a very good population.
In my opinion the selection should also include some tests that will help the researchers to have
a good view about the population selected:
• Emotional test – because people might be affect by the new life there;
• IQ test – because people need a very high IQ level for developing a new world;
• Health test – people should have a good health condition due to a big atmosphere
changes;
• Physical test – they need a good physical condition for creating a new habitat;
Mars. It’s a pretty unforgiving place. On this dry, desiccated world, the average surface
temperature is -55 °C (-67 °F). And at the poles, temperatures can reach as low as -153 °C (243
°F). Much of that has to do with its thin atmosphere, which is too thin to retain heat (not to
mention breathe).
During the 1950’s, many classical science fiction authors wrote about colonizing Mars:
• Arthur C. Clarke and his 1951 story The Sands of Mars, which is told from the point of
view of a human reporter who travels to Mars to write about human colonists. While
attempting to make a life for themselves on a desert planet, they discover that Mars has
native life forms.
• In 1952, Isaac Asimov released The Martian Way, a story which deals with the conflict
between Earth and Mars colonists. The latter survive by salvaging space junk, and are
forced to travel to Saturn to harvest ice when Earth enforces an embargo on their planet.
• Robert A. Heinlein’s seminal novel Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) tells the story of a
human who was raised on Mars by the native Martians, and then travels to Earth as a
young adult. His contact with humans proves to have a profound affect on Earth’s
culture, and calls into questions many of the social mores and accepted norms of
Heinlein’s time.
• Philip K. Dick’s fiction also features Mars often, in every case being a dry, empty land with
no native inhabitants. In his works Martian Time Slip (1964), and The Three Stigmata of
34
Palmer Eldritch (1965), life on Mars is presented as difficult, consisting of isolated
communities who do not want to live there.
NASA’s proposed manned mission to Mars which is planned to take place during the 2030’s
using the MPCV (Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) and the SLS (Space Launch System) is
not the only proposal to send humans to the Red Planet. In addition to other federal space
agencies, there are also plans by private corporations and non-profits, some of which are far
more ambitious than mere exploration.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has long-term plans to send humans, though they have
yet to build a manned spacecraft. Roscosmos, the Russian Federal Space Agency, is also
planning a manned Mars mission, with simulations (called Mars-500) having been completed
in Russia back in 2011. The ESA is currently participating in these simulations as well.
“Mars One” Mission selects final 100 candidates to colonize the Red
Planet…
Already, for some time we’ve known that we are consuming our planet and it’s limited
resources can not sustain our ever-burgeoning population. A various possible “ideas” came
out, such as building floating cities in the ocean, but the most popular idea is migrating to
Mars.
This idea of migrating to Mars may seem radical and unfeasible to some, but there are
people who thinks it is doable, including big names like SpaceX’s Elon Musk. There is even a
project already taking steps toward getting humans on Red Planet, called “Mars One”.
Since 2013 when the application process started, more than 202.000 aspiring astronauts applied.
After the first round they were only 1.000 then 660. Now after online interviews with “Mars One”
medical director Norbert Kraft, these have been culled to just 100. “The large cut in candidates is
an important step towards finding out who has the right
Age 19 to 60 50 men/50 women stuff to go to Mars,” said Mars One co-founder and CEO
Bas Lansdorp in a news release. “These aspiring Martians
39 USA provide the world with a glimpse into who the modern
day explorers will be.”
31 Europe
Although the 100 have proved themselves as individuals,
16 Asia they now have to demonstrate that they can work
effectively as part of a team, because working as a team
7 Africa is the future of the settlement, of creating a new life on
the Red Planet. Probably the
7 Australia next step will be a group challenges created to test their
willingness to deal with the strains of living on Mars. After this the remaining candidates will be
split into groups of four which they should receive some trainings in a replica base on Earth so
35
they would be prepared for what is going to happen inside the settlement. So the final group
will consist of 24 cosmonauts who will become employees of “Mars One” helping the project
prepare for colonization in 2025.
So as a result, there are people interested in this idea of colonizing the Red Planet, but there are
some issues that should be solved before. A good preparation of the chosen ones is the most
important, so we should have many replica bases on Earth so they can be prepared for what’s
next, on Mars. Replica bases would create a real settlement with all the factors from out there.
But before that the selection will be very hard because medical condition is important so you
can survive there, after that the life experience from Earth will be a point of view in choosing
them. But after all the project in the next decade is not impossible.
36
Time Upper level Lower level
The importance of light;
00:00 Sleep Lunch Break
Light is the most important element that contribute to the
01:00 Sleep Work development of natural life and human activities. The
02:00 Sleep Work absence of light it is known that can cause severe damage
to living organism like plant and human beings leading to
03:00 Sleep Work biological extinction. Also light has a very serios role in
04:00 Sleep Work influencing people’s morale and mentality. So we can not
image a long term habitat or a settlement without light.
05:00 Sleep Free Time
A adequate sunshine on the body, on exposed skin, on a
06:00 Wake Up Free Time regular basis is important for human health, without this
07:00 Morning Activity Free Time we can not expect to achieve superior health onboard the
space settlement. But there are also bad sides of artificial
08:00 Work Free Time light so before everything we have to be aware for any
09:00 Work Free Time influence, so we can have an optimum well-being on the
colony.
10:00 Work Sleep
As human activity onboard, the settlement in very
11:00 Work Sleep important, a full-spectrum lighting in a closed work place
12:00 Lunch Break Sleep will create an important lower stress on the nervous
system than standard cool-white lighting and will reduce
13:00 Work Sleep the number of absences due to illness. The full-spectrum
14:00 Work Sleep lighting will act to boost the immune system in the same
way as natural sunlight.
15:00 Work Sleep
But the effects of artificial light will remain, and they can
16:00 Work Sleep be notice in both plants and animals. As an example,
17:00 Free Time Sleep plants can grow using artificial light, but they should be
stimulated by subjecting them to longer hours of light but
18:00 Free Time Wake Up although this forces growth will produce plants with a low
19:00 Free Time Morning Activity quality of their products (fruits, flowers) than those that
are using natural light. Fluorescent light can cause genetic
20:00 Free Time Work mutations, cancer and death.
21:00 Free Time Work The most important fact is the negative effects of
22:00 Sleep Work unnatural light on our body rhythms. By turning night into
day this may imbalance the regular cycles of rising and
23:00 Sleep Work falling body temperature, variations in body chemicals
that naturally occur approximately once every 24 hours.
The result is called “light stress”. All life forms (plants, animals, humans) require alternating
periods of light and dark so that some vital process may rest while others become activated.
This is the reason that a space settlement needs an artificial 14 hours days and 10 hours nights.
37
Mirrors and light generation:
The best option for illuming the residential and recreation areas inside the settlement using
natural sunlight is to dispose of two big mirrors to reflect the solar rays in the desired location. If
the two mirrors will be placed symmetrically towards the centre of the ring ( 0 gravity point),
directly being connected by two long cylindrical bars made of titanium.
Another idea, less stressful and more rapid accommodation of people in space, would be
creating an artificial “sky”. So, we can generate the illusion of having a sky by using a
transparent ceiling made of special glass which will not allow the passing of UV radiations.
As we said, the regular sequence of days and nights plays a major role in the proper
development of human beings, affecting both metabolism and social activity. There are three
possibilities for simulating the circadian cycle.
There will be some communication and media limitations due to the distance between the Red
Planet and Earth, resulting in time delays, but should not affect the way that they will
communicate.
Easy Internet access will be limited to their preferred sites that are constantly updated on the
local Mars web server. Other websites will take between 6 and 45 minutes to appear on their
screen - first 3-22 minutes for your click to reach Earth, and then another 3-22 minutes for the
website data to reach Mars. Contacting friends at home is possible by video, voice or text
message (e-mail, WhatsApp, sms), but real time dialogue is not possible, because of the time
delay.
38
Private companies are perfectly free to set out for Mars, build permanent habitats, and start a
new society there--just as long as that society follows the rules of the Outer Space Treaty.
Outer Space Treaty is Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration
and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies and is a treaty that
forms the basis of international space law. The treaty was opened for signature in the United
States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union on 27 January 1967, and entered into force on
10 October 1967.
The Outer Space Treaty represents the basic legal framework of international space law. Among
its principles, it bars states party to the treaty from placing weapons of mass destruction in
Earth orbit, installing them on the Moon or any other celestial body, or otherwise stationing
them in outer space. It exclusively limits the use of the Moon and other celestial bodies to
peaceful purposes and expressly prohibits their use for testing weapons of any kind,
conducting military manoeuvres, or establishing military bases, installations, and fortifications
(Article IV).
For launching a rocket into space, you have to ask for permission from the government, then it
depends on the activities in space, you need a second license to do specific things.
We're supposed to avoid contaminating the celestial bodies that we explore, according to the
Outer Space Treaty. Not only does that mean 'don't spread trash all over the solar system,' but
it's generally interpreted to mean 'keep your microbes to yourself,' too.
So, everything is followed by rules and laws so everything will take place in a normal order so
we can be away from disasters because if we want to colonize Mars the only purpose is to
create a new habitat, a new world, so we can live there happy and safe.
Waste management;
On a long-duration space mission the amount of waste produced must be used in a good way
or recycled. For using we can transform the waste into useful gases to be either vented to space
or used in various propulsion systems.
The recycle process is also an option, we can use different colours trash bins to separate the
amount of waste. For organic ones that we can also obtain from animals, plants we can use a
red trash bin. For inorganic waste which are the most dangerous because they do not
decompose naturally we can use blue trash bin. And for the metallic wastes a green trash bin
and these can be easily recycled over and over.
Over long-duration missions away from Earth, significant amounts of waste will be generated.
Saving this waste to package and return to Earth or burn-up in orbit will no longer be an option
and alternative solutions must be developed. One option that has been suggested is to dispose
of the waste to space through a small airlock. An evaluation of physical reactions of the waste
when exposed to a vacuum indicated that minimal water flashes to vapor upon initial exposure
to the vacuum.
39
Thermal management in space;
The habitats or the vehicles for space industrialization of another world needs energy systems.
Due to the duration of these missions it is mandatory to consider systems that involve
expendables such as non-regeneratable fuel cells. Hundreds of kilowatts to tens of megawatts
of electrical power is needed to a product a fabrication system by using raw materials.
Pump loop system. Here heat is collected through a system of fluid loops and pumped into a
radiator system (like conventional radiators on Earth). The best advantage of pump loop system
is that you can easily introduce it in a spacecraft or space factory.
The liquid droplet radiator. The basic concept of the liquid droplet radiator is to replace a
solid surface radiator by a controlled stream of droplets. The droplets are sprayed across a
region in which they radiate their heat; then they are recycled to the hotter part of the system. A
aluminium radiator would require 256 m2 and have a mass of nearly 1300 kg to radiate the low
temperature waste heat from lunar processing. Using the properties of a liquid droplet radiator
and a low density.
40
7.If we have means to colonize another planet,should we at least try to do
so?
8.Can establishing a colony on another planet allow us to learn much more
about the universe,possibly helping us understand where we came from and
why we are here?
9.Do you think that time and money spent on space colonization would be
better spent on bettering our species on Earth?
10.If a colony is established on another planet,would you be willing to
leave?
Clustered Analysis
Question 10
Question 9
Question 8
Question 7
Question 6
Question 5
Question 4
Question 3
Question 2
Question 1
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
41
Strongly Agree Agree Unsure
1; 4% 2; 10% 1; 5%
4; 16% 3; 14% 2; 11%
4; 16%
2; 10% 3; 16% 1; 5%
1; 4% 2; 10%
1; 5%
1; 5% 3; 16%
3; 12% 3; 12% 1; 5% 1; 5%
2; 11%
1; 5%
2; 8% 2; 8% 3; 14%
4; 19% 1; 5%
1; 4%
4; 16% 2; 10% 4; 21%
2; 10%
1; 5% 3; 20% 1; 7%
2; 10% 2; 13%
1; 7%
4; 20% 1; 7%
1; 5%
1; 5%
Question 1 Question 2 Question 3
Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 4 Question 5 Question 6
Question 5 Question 6 Question 7 Question 8 Question 7 Question 8 Question 9
Question 9 Question 10 Question 10
42
R ad ar w i t h mar k e r s
Strongly Agree Agree Unsure
Disagree Strongly Disagree
Question 1
Question 10 4 Question 2
2
Question 9 Question 3
Question 8 Question 4
Question 7 Question 5
Question 6
43
Because it gives me joy. There is no further questioning beyond this. Because joy is final. It is
the very nature of our soul, that's why we are extremely comfortable in that state. Curiosity has
worked out very well for us. All art, science, technology, culture, and so on have resulted from or
at least heavily benefited from our curiousity.
Hundreds of thousands if not millions of years of being rewarded for expiring and learning has
pretty well baked it into our nature. It is an evolved response. The people who were curious and
exploratory accomplished important things. These discoveries helped survival for the group and
encouraged others to act the same way. I think the urge to explore is innate within our species.
Whether we live out our desire to explore in the form of a very strong interest in, and advocacy
for, manned interstellar travel as we spaceheads at Tau Zero do, or take an interest in seeing
just how much money we can acquire such as those who make billions on Wall Street, every
one of us on this planet seems to yearn for something new and beyond our current experiential
horizon.
In a sense, we are all open to the infinite whether we believe that ultimate infinite reality is God,
the Universe, the Cosmos, some sort of Cosmic Consciousness, or an ever ascending series of
ever more advanced and intellegent bodily ETI beings.
It can even be said that certain military generals who are anxious to prove the utility and
effectiveness of a new weapon system, even in the very dark theme of the situation of modern
warfare, experience the desire to reach into the unknown.
This desire to reach into the unknown is lived out even in the perhaps unfortunate instances of
young adolescents or pre-adolescents experimenting with sex with class mates, or those of the
same age who experiment with illegal drugs.
The desire to explore seems to be ever present everywhere in our modern society and in every
previous eras in human society. We have human groups that are nomadic while we have other
groups that never travel more than a few miles from their homes. A big difference. One that I
doubt is genetic. Probably it is more due the very adaptable human animal adapting to its social
environment.
A culture that encourages exploration is probably more likely to have explorers. Of course even
if one’s culture does not encourage exploration exploration might still occur. People with no
desire for exploration might be fleeing persecution in which case exploration is just a side affect
of their main purpose – to get away from the persecution. Some might go for the profit, in which
case it would be the drive for wealth that might be innate to human kind rather than a drive for
exploration. Some might go just because of religion in which case it just means that people are
susceptible to religious influences, not that they have any more desire to explore than your
average person does to randomly fast on any particular day of the year.
Of course there are a few that explore just for the sake of exploring.
44
How to encourage exploration in the long term? Finding a way to make a profit would be
effective. Maybe a major find in space that draws and focuses the attention of people, such
as life on Europa, would work. Either that or constant bombarding of people with issues on
space via the media and schools. Make space real to them, not just something a hundred or
so kilometers up that they believe will never affect them. Also improved economic standing –
a poor person in a gang who is wondering if they will get shot in the next fight probably isn’t
going to concern themselves with space or its development in any way (this would probably
apply to countries as well as gang members). We humans have a deeply curious nature, and
more often than not it is about the minor tittle-tattle in our lives. Our curiosity has us doing
utterly unproductive things like reading news about people we will never meet, learning topics
we will never have use for, or exploring places we will never come back to. We just love to
know the answers to things, even if there's no obvious benefit.
Exploration and learning gives us joy, so, humans inherently want to learn and explore.
Because, in the moment of learning and exploration, we come in contact with our true self,
whose inherent nature is joy. But as this joy is not permanent, we have to learn and explore
endlessly and both the internal world and external world being infinite, there is no end to our
exploration and learning.
We all have the experience of our limited beings as separate individuals, but when we learn and
explore, momentarily and unconsciously, we come in contact with our infinite being or true self
and that is the cause of joy.
Bibliography
Chapter 1: Space settlement
Data source: https://martianchronicles.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/nine -good-reasons-forspace-
exploration/
45
Data source: https://futuretravel.today/why-we-must-colonize-space-ea7d54e2deb6
Book: Space Resources Overview NASA-California Space Institute 1992 Summer Study.
46
Data source: https://www.quora.com/What -frequencies-do-spacecraft-use-to-communicatewith-
earth-How-is-communication-done
Chapter 8: Energy
Book: Space Resources Volume 2, Energy, Power, and Transport NASA-California Space Institute
1992
Chapter 9: Atmosphere
Data source: https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/how-many-trees-does-it-take-
toproduce-oxygen-for-one-person/
47
Chapter 11: Day-Night cycle, Entertainment and LawsGovernment
Data source: https://www.universetoday.com/14717/how -long-is-a-day-on-mars/
48