This is not just science fiction. By Richard Doran

e-mail: richdoran@erols.com Last updated July 25, 1999

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We can develop a basic colonization at limited risk and expense on the moon. The laboratory will ‘impact’ on the moon as an unmanned rover. Remote driving could deliver the rover near a location to meet arriving astronauts. The Delta-X rocket could be used to bring astronauts from a shuttle to the moon and return them to the shuttle. This has potential as a reusable system.

We have joined the Russians because the Mir station is "open for business", they joined us in the Sky lab for the same reason. The European Space Agency, Canada, and Japan are ready to join anyone. I believe industry will also join the effort when exploration and development expand. The current questions are "Where will these astronauts stay before or during construction of any habitat?" "What can we do to repair a $1 billion process when it stops?" and "Who will be first?". Everyone needs a place to stay. How much would they pay for a "room with a view"?

The cost of delivery will be about the same for any craft. The cost of construction will not vary much between any habitat construction. The research is already finished. The only unknown expense will be to collect information and complete the design.

$5 Mill design + $10 Mill construction + $55 Mill delivery =

$70 Mill 4 people x 90 (24 hrs) x 2 (1 re-supply) = 720 people/day.

A cost of $100,000 to $200,000 per people/day (24 hrs) could save money and the headache of passing the budget through Congress. A straight cost with no cost over runs!

You can send an unmanned hotel to the lunar surface and visitors can land in taxicabs to test their new process or repair existing equipment. An "Apollo" or a "Gemini" type craft will serve this purpose, the "Delta Clipper" would be perfect. The good news is that it is all existing technology.

Agencies and industries need clearly defined checkpoints and goals! Everyone on the team has to know and feel success when they complete each step of the project. They need more motivation and less politics, not a bigger budget to throw at it. NASA knows how to build space platforms, they are waiting for an act of congress to allow them to build it. I believe this is the opportunity for free enterprise to flourish, please let me illustrate one way this may be accomplished.

Step 1

Develop an information research and study, records office to store books and ref. material, preliminary models, have meetings and receive drawings (etc.). Obtain data using the "Freedom of Information Act" and NERAC to compile resources. This approach will provide the results of the latest and greatest documents available (NASA has documented this topic very well). Knowledge is the difference between a guess and a decision. For this estimate lets guess a library & office (20' by 30') with the typical office supplies (books, fax, phone, and a computer with software). This should be sufficient to store prototype models and develop working drawings as the project progresses.

Step 2

Develop a modest simulation research tank to explore our choices, improve existing data and understand equipment interactions. Keep the test as simple as possible and evolve into more difficulty. Earthly research with modular components will help to evaluate the alternatives, keep costs basic and minimize the impact of errors. We need to fully understand atmospheric control, the shell of containment thermal losses, CO2 elimination, water reclamation, and the impact of size, weight, power consumption, reliability, efficiency, maintenance requirements, computer integration, earth base remote controlled operation, vibration compatibility, landing impact results and re-supply losses before artistic values become involved with public display. Imagination without technology is only science fiction, Biosphere Two has shown us the value of hands on proof. In addition, We must be able to guarantee that the system is safe, reliable and efficient. You do not have to live in space to explore and learn. Your existing staff may be able to explore the possibilities of a small, totally enclosed ecological system but they must think a little differently. Space construction is as easy as building a house while standing on a wagon and eating in zero gravity is similar to eating upside down on Earth. Newton and a lot of other well known scientists have discovered new astronomical concepts through basic earth bound research.

An estimate of 16' to 18' diameter and 40' to 50' long (10,000 to 12,000 cubic ft.) should be a fair estimate for the research tank. It will weigh about 100,000 lb. (see Table 2 - Spacecraft Weight Summary), including parking and future expansion it requires less than 1 acre of land. The cost breakdown is as follows:

Most sub systems will be added later to modify the existing system until full comprehension is obtained. $500,000 / yr. for new equipment and developments as they become available. The system will use up to 100 kw of power. This simulator can be open as early as 1997. This is the most important part of the project. When long term closed ecology is understood and controlled there is no limit to where people can live. This can also be a draw to public interest and may even provide some visitor income to offset expenses.

Step 3.

Research is required for any level of confidence but there comes a time when you pass the optimum system and progress is more expensive than beneficial. Build our lunar hotel using existing technology and experience. It will be like the lunar landers used in the moon exploration, except larger, using the space operation center equipment

(see Table 3 - Hotel Weight Breakdown and Craft Distribution) (TO BE ADDED)

It can be used for long periods of three to six months without re-supply

(see Figures 1 to 3 - Layout of Hotel) (TO BE ADDED)

The major problem is a long term initial design investment. Expensive, high technology building materials can be minimized by a minor weight penalty, providing a long duration, quality product. The cost of construction and delivery will be as much for you as any agency, the advantage is the "freedom of information act" and low rental rebate from many other organizations. Future studies will reveal the best construction times, launch dates and landing sites. It would be a tight schedule, but completion in the year 2000 is possible. Landing impact on the lunar soil will limit orbital decay problems to time required for space assembly. With the open competition of booster rockets, any of the aeronautical centers can compete for launch rights. It may be possible to move the habitat using solar power or existing rockets controlled by earth bound guidance transmissions, servicing more locations and providing more versatility and appeal to the customers. Re-supply containers (approx. 16' diameter by 15' to 20' long) will need to have internal power sources and many of the features of an air lock. These can be sold later to companies as "life boats" or used actively for entry ports to underground structures and new constructions.

Weight of 90 day re-supply for an 8 person crew - 22,000 cu. ft. craft ECLSS re-supply summary compiled from: (ref. from NASA Table 9.2-2 Space Operation Center) (ref. Ad Astra July/Aug. "90" page 26)

Step 4.

New theories can be developed to maintain the lead during expansion of space exploration, building a new public appreciation and enthusiasm for space adventure. We would have to get universities and organizations to compete for the most creative ideas. We can use robots that are controlled from inside or let Avis rent space for lunar rovers. Build a orbiting space hotel for transportation to Mars, placing another lunar type hotel on the planet of course

(see Figure 4 - Astronomical Data) (TO BE ADDED)

Full scale replicas can be viewed at the research center, the list is almost endless.

WE NEED EARTH BOUND EXCITEMENT

Rotating space hotel: Many studies have established that zero gravity allows bone decalcification, muscle deterioration and a number of other physical detriments that must be chemically and physically corrected for people to survive. It is not a good policy to send people to a hostile environment with 100 lb of life support on their back and expect them to perform after a year of weightlessness. Artificial gravity must be established before man will live on Mars, or survive for long terms in space confinement (see Figure 5 & 6 - Radial Habitat). Centripetal force is the force applied to a body to keep it rotating about a central point. One example of this is an orbiting satellite. Centrifugal force is the reaction of the contents of an object experiencing centripetal force. Centripetal force is equal and opposite to centrifugal force. The Coriolis effect is a force resulting from a different (inner and outer) radius of gyration acting on the same body

DO MARS LIKE THE MOON

Nobody knows when the pressure will cause the next surge in space travel. Will it produce exotic materials, a medical break through, or will it be a staging area for deep space probes? What may be revealed by new research? The dreams of humanity ... a natural curiosity in people ... we can be sure that it will happen, it is our destiny!

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