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#1 Human missions » Colonizing The Moon! » 2013-11-15 20:07:51
- Gregori
- Replies: 2
I would like to open up the discussion to building human colonies on the Moon. Its our closest neighbor and transport to it is easier than it to Mars. You don't have to go through a six month journey to go to the Moon. The Earth is always there in the Lunar Sky and vice versa.
Solar energy is also more available on the Moon than on Mars and the means to obtain solar energy are readily available from the local materials.
Overall I think we are much closer to stationing people permanently there than we are to Mars.
Water Ice and other Volatiles were produced in LCROSS mission so the resources for water to drink, breathable air, rocket fuel, fuel cells is readily available. Carbon and Nitrogen containing compounds were found which could be vital to food production and chemical engineering.
With closed loop life support ( or close enough) these bases could really grow and more and more people could be permanently based there. The main industries would be producing solar power modules and parts for Lagrange point colonies. I think robotics would be heavily used in settling the Moon but they're always going to need people to operate and repair the robots.
#2 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Falcon 9R Launch » 2013-09-30 09:13:25
The launch was a success but the goal of slowing down the rocket at it reentered the atmosphere was a complete disaster. Looks like this stuff is harder than in simulations.
#3 Human missions » Problems with Mars Direct? » 2013-09-30 09:11:15
- Gregori
- Replies: 27
The Design Reference Missions that NASA has been doing increasingly are moving away from Mars Direct architecture. What are the problems with this architecture that have not been addressed?
For example, How does one land a 50+ tons lander on Mars when we have problems landing more than 1 ton, the heaviest being curiosity and that required an exotic solution? How does food last 3 years without going bad? How do they deal with poisonous perchlorates in the Martian soil?
#4 Re: Human missions » Glass » 2013-08-28 17:35:17
Plastic Bowls and Vessel will probably cheaper just to send with the initial colonists. They will be reusable and light
#6 Re: Human missions » Battlestars » 2013-08-23 15:31:48
You can't use quantum entanglement to send discernible information faster than light.
#7 Interplanetary transportation » Cyclers » 2013-08-22 14:51:54
- Gregori
- Replies: 27
I've heard these mentioned before but I don't get what the advantage of them is? Can anyone help me out here?
#8 Re: Human missions » Golden Spike / Northrup Grumman two-person lunar lander » 2013-08-22 14:32:13
I am convinced this is just another venture planning to suck of the government teat.
#9 Human missions » Battlestars » 2013-08-22 10:20:57
- Gregori
- Replies: 48
I am reading a book by George Friedman called The Next 100 Years. In the book its predicted that there will be manned orbital platforms called Battlestars in GSO by the 2050's that will manage constellations of military satellites and transfer command and control of ground based weapons to space. The platforms are supposed to be constructed because of innovations in commercial rockets that will lower the price to orbit of the necessary materials and partially because the vast amount of material being launched will cause economies of scale.
I am wondering what people think of this concept and what possible designs for such platforms are probable?
#10 Re: Life support systems » Solar thermal power » 2011-12-19 10:24:42
I don't think photovoltaic panels would be such a good idea, at least initially for Mars because of their mass. The panels would be light enough but you would have to choose between landing at the martian poles or bringing massive fuel cells or batteries. To store enough energy for night time usage, you have to double the amount of panels you bring. The distance from the Sun means that panels have to cover far more surface area than if they were near Earth. This mass all add up.
I think a small nuclear reactor for base load power would be far more flexible. This guarantees a minimum power supply day and night. This can then be supplemented and expanded with solar panels without the need for massive batteries.
Mars can have horrible global dust storms and I think this is a greater risk to the crew using solar than the use of nuclear when you look at the odds.
By the time we actually execute a Mars mission, there may be much greater breakthroughs in batteries making them lighter and store more energy. But thats not something that can be counted on any more than the warp drive. I think a mix of nuclear and photovoltaic makes more sense overall.
#11 Re: Human missions » The Myth of the trillion dollar mission » 2011-12-19 10:08:38
It doesn't have to cost a trillion dollars, but if its done the way NASA traditionally does such missions the costs will inflate to Epic proportions.
I am not expecting reform its ways at NASA anytime soon.
Take the ISS for example. It started of with a projected cost of $8 Billion...which went to $35 Billion......$100 Billion.... and so on and so forth.
The same goes goes for James Webb Telescope and the Mars Science Laboratory. The SLS/Orion is already projected to have out of control costs.
Its wishful thinking to believe that these missions will cost what the initial minimum projection says, especially with something as complex as a manned mission to mars.
Bottom line is, NASA has to get its costs way down so that these mission can fit within its normal budget. The conditions that created Apollo are unlikely to happen again. It would be nice if they did but I would not count on it.
Ultimately, I think developments in re-usability and using available manufacturing plant are going to be needed to bring costs under control.
#12 Re: Not So Free Chat » Did Iran become a player in space ? » 2008-05-27 12:51:08
wait, isn't this thread about Iran and space?
On that note:
Iran has done a bunch of very impressive stuff developing its own nuclear power aswell as satellite and missile lauching capabilities.
Most of this is to improve military and defence capabilities and doesn't really apply to space exploration atm.. I could see them getting into the commericial launch market at some point with their technology. In a few decades, they could play a role in space exploration. Nearly all other space exploration programs started of as millitary ventures. Iran could co-operate with other nations or entities in space, providing lauch technology etc etc.
I don't really approve of Iran's goverment or the human rights record, but that doesn't mean I think they should be isolated or threatened. Its slightly hyprocritical of the West considering their dealings with Saudi Arabia, an equally aweful regime.
I think we can have more of a positive influence on Iran and its public through openess and economic co-operation. Threats will just cause the country to become insular and rally behind its leadership. We should be heavily supporting pro-democracy groups in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt..
I think we can have a positive influence on Iran, just like we are now having a positive influence on Iraq and Afghanistan.
I think Iran has a very dangerous government, I'd hate to have to subdue Iran after it has aquired nuclear weapons and has attacked us with them! I don't want to have a Cold War and 75 years of b**s**t with them either. What I really find discouraging after the end of the Cold War is the return of the "Reality Bubbles" that many leftwing types have constructed around their heads. For a time after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they were forced to confront reality, after their "Planet Soviet" had collapsed and their "reality bubbles" had popped. After all those Soviet plots were reveals and Soviet villany unearthed, many left wing professors struggled with the situation and on how to proceed from there. Later on they got MoveOn.org and they managed to weave their own tale of American villany and their favorite Antichrist George W. Bush, who must be "evil" because they say so. The leftwing media has waisted no time in putting the "White Hat" on Iran and the "Black Hat" on the United States.
turning countries into war zones isn't being a positive influence. Making them the most dangerous places on earth isn't either. the majority of Iraqi's support attacks on us soldiers because of the occupation and hell they've brought to the country.
Iran isn't very likely to attack with a nuclear weapon because they would be wiped off the map by the counterstrike. Owning a nuclear weapon however deters from being attacked by the US or Israel.
#13 Re: Not So Free Chat » Did Iran become a player in space ? » 2008-05-26 14:19:49
wait, isn't this thread about Iran and space?
On that note:
Iran has done a bunch of very impressive stuff developing its own nuclear power aswell as satellite and missile lauching capabilities.
Most of this is to improve military and defence capabilities and doesn't really apply to space exploration atm.. I could see them getting into the commericial launch market at some point with their technology. In a few decades, they could play a role in space exploration. Nearly all other space exploration programs started of as millitary ventures. Iran could co-operate with other nations or entities in space, providing lauch technology etc etc.
I don't really approve of Iran's goverment or the human rights record, but that doesn't mean I think they should be isolated or threatened. Its slightly hyprocritical of the West considering their dealings with Saudi Arabia, an equally aweful regime.
I think we can have more of a positive influence on Iran and its public through openess and economic co-operation. Threats will just cause the country to become insular and rally behind its leadership. We should be heavily supporting pro-democracy groups in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt..
#14 Re: Not So Free Chat » Did Iran become a player in space ? » 2008-05-26 08:56:04
Just show me the millionaires begging on the street because of income taxation, and I will have sympathy...
These people mysteriously aren't getting any poorer! Their wealth also didn't come magically from a vacuum. One of the biggest functions of the state is to protect property rights. The people with the most property have to most to gain from laws protecting it, so they're pretty much doing very well...
Also, everything Rune just said!!
#15 Re: Not So Free Chat » Did Iran become a player in space ? » 2008-05-26 07:43:17
But that's exactly what has happened in most democracies, a very small part of the population is forced to pay the majority of the taxes.
In the US more than half the taxes are paid by less than 5% of the population.
Oh stop crying about it. Thats not what 'happened'. Terraformer said what if one single state in the union had to pay all the taxes.
The taxation system is designed around your ability to pay. If you're are very loaded, paying a lot of tax won't hurt you as much as if you are a relatively poor person. Even when you are poor. you're still have to pay taxes which are probably crushing you into the ground whereas a relatively rich person is doing just fine.
Lets remember that all the wealth of the "less than 5%" didn't just come from space 
#16 Re: Not So Free Chat » Did Iran become a player in space ? » 2008-05-26 05:52:26
I can't believe I'm saying this, but....
Democracy isn't always the best form of government, not if it means dictatorship of the majority.
For instance: What if America decided to vote that 1 state, say Massacusates, should from now on bear the main federal taxes? I'm sure the majority of people would be fine with that. Does that make it right? Not in the least.
Give me a break! What, do you prefer a dictatorship of the minority?
The whole point of democracy is that the will of the majority of the population matters more than that of the few!!
The example you cited is totally absurd. It would never happen. People are mostly pretty fair and would never vote to pick on one state. Even if they did, that state would probably leave the Union..
#17 Re: Human missions » Near Earth Object (NEO) missions » 2008-05-26 05:40:21
About which types of asteroids to colonize, Asteroid colonization isn't very important, mining maybe, but turning an asteroid into a spinning space station? no.
why not?
#18 Re: Unmanned probes » Phoenix - North Pole Region Lander (PHX) » 2008-05-26 05:33:41
W0000000000000000000000000000t!!!
Congrats on the successful mission. I can't wait to see what it finds out!! 
I completely disagree with Louis. I think if NASA find past or present life on Mars, It will get the public really interested in the Red Planet and will help speed up either sample return or manned missions.
People aren't so interested in a barren frozen rock...
#19 Re: Terraformation » Solarised Trade and Infrastructure. » 2008-05-25 09:15:17
If we had cheap access to space, why would those still on Earth have to survive only on what the Earth can provide? Wouldn't a lot of stuff be coming in from space?
For instance, all land given over to manufacturing and mining could be given over to farming, supplemented by off planet farms.
Humans would have to live in, Arcol, arcol, arcologies, but so what?
Maybe, but we don't have cheap access to space and won't have for a long time. Even the most promising future technologies will still make access to space very very expensive. Anything on Earth is always going to be cheaper for a long long time. The Earth still has has a lot of materials that are much cheaper to access than anything in space.
In short, Its not a solution to Earth's problems for next few decades.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't pursue manned space flight and viable colonies!
The best way to support such colonies would be to limit the amount of materials that need to come from Earth's gravity well. We achieve that by Investing in establishing space based infrastructure and industry on the Moon, NEO's, Mars, Asteroid Belt, Titan, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Io etc etc
This will eventually pay off big time.
#20 Re: Space Policy » President of India calls for joint - US/Indian habitat on Mars by 2050 » 2008-05-25 07:26:42
China has other adversaries besides the US, democratic Taiwan and India and potentially Japan and South Korea for example - all of them US allies of varying degree. China is attempting to extend its territory southwards by confronting Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam over the Spratly Islands. If China has to develop everything internally, it will slow them down and they won't be be able to match western power.
Not much news or information about Chang'e - CNSA are not open about their space program at all.
They will eventually catch up, even if they have to do most of it internally. Because of all the developments in modern technology, they can catch up a lot faster compared to what Russia and USA had to do to get where they are in space.
"western power" has pretty much slowed down in manned space flight. US got to the Moon in the 60's and haven't done much since. There hasn't bee n that much advancement. Its all been space stations and fecking around in LEO. The only significant things that have been really advanced are purely science based missions (which I'd admire and support).
China could easily catch up with everybody else in manned space flight. They've already flown some Taikonauts by themselves. they don't need very much more before they can build a small space station or put someone on the Moon.
To add to that, their most likely ally is going to be Russia, which has loads of experience in space technology. Russia and China are already planning on co-operation. Russia and Europe also are also likely to co-operate in space technology. The political landscape in two decades could look very very different to today.
#21 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Spacewarp: Relaxing the distances; Breaking the frontiers » 2008-05-25 05:31:23
If Burkhard Heim's 'theory of everything' is correct, we could slipping through space fairly quickly!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heim_theory
Apparently, We could get to Mars in three hours, and travel 11 lightyears in 80 days!!!
#22 Re: Intelligent Alien Life » Why No Contact Yet ? » 2008-05-25 04:52:29
Hmmm, Think of this example:
Native Americans didn't really advance much in terms of technology over thousands of years!! They're cultures evolved and became more complex etc etc
I doubt anybody wouldn't consider them intelligent life!
Its very plausible that intelligent Alien speices may have taken a different route to western society on Earth. They may well be tribes of hunter-gatherers going around for a very long time.. Maybe they're still in a medievil state..
#23 Re: Space Policy » President of India calls for joint - US/Indian habitat on Mars by 2050 » 2008-05-24 18:30:36
Sure, cooperation and trade between free independent democratic states is usually a very good thing. Space technology has direct military uses, and it's not usually a good thing to transfer military technology to your adversaries.
In an ideal world, open transfer and trade of all technologies would definitely be a good thing, but we don't live in an ideal world.
what is china going to do with it? they can't really attack the US, they would be h-bombed to shit if they did.
what they don't get from the US/Russia/Europe to develop space technology, they will inevitably develop themselves. Unlike the cold war countries, China has the benefit of all the advances since to help it catch up. The probe they sent to the moon was pretty sophisticated compared to what US/Russia were doing 40 years ago.
Even if there is to be no transfer of sensitive technology, cooperation could still take place.
#24 Re: Intelligent Alien Life » what do you think aliens would look like? - like what color, how tall.....etc. » 2008-05-24 17:52:37
god only knows, I'm thinking a mix between a spider and a monkey
#25 Re: Terraformation » Solarised Trade and Infrastructure. » 2008-05-24 16:07:08
yup!
Not only that, we don't even have the materials to create a space elevator. We've only a basic concept. Even if we did, all sort of little problems could creep up on us. Perhaps uneven heating of the tether could cause it to weather and snap. A good portion of its is in space and would be subject to rapid heating and cooling. The temperature at the base is going to be much different cause its in Earth atmosphere etc etc I don't know if those will be problems - but they could be and things like that will make the costs sky rocket.
We can (and should) do space exploration. Its brilliant to extend our presence off Earth, settle and explore the universe. We can build infrastructure for that, to bring industry, trade and transport to outer space.
Its not a magic bullet for the Earth problems. Whiltst we're colonizing outer space, we're also going to be coming up with practical and afforadable solutions to Earth's problems at the same time!!!
To quell the Earth population explosion, we should be thinking of ways to be increase the standard of living in poor and developing countries. Approx a Billion people are living in poverty today. Most of the diseases these people suffer from are relatively easy and affordable to treat. Education and better job opportunities also help.
In the developed industrial countries (Japan, USA, Europe) , the Birth rate tends to decline and become stable
To ensure humanity's long term survival, we need an expanding population, not a declining one. We need to get into space and expand our numbers, and perhaps make raising our children a little easier by making allowances for stay at home housewives. The more people we have, the more minds to solve problems like the ones confronting us with space exploration. I grew up in an age of discovery and progress, and since then things have slowed down, people have started putting things off and procrastinating. Why does it take twenty years to build a fusion reactor anyway? Why do we keep on putting off going to Mars? After the Apollo Moon landings, the Democrats took control of congress and it seems they said, "Hey wait a minute, lets slow down here!" Nixon was complicit with them too, he was one of those "moderates", much like McCain is today. We need someone with ambition. If we want to build a space elevator and we allocate enough resource to the project, we can build one. Just like we built the Atomic Bomb.
to ensure humanities survival, we need a stable, balanced an highly educated population. If we allow the populous to explode every natural resource will be consumed and the effects on planet will be pretty horrendous. There is no lack of brilliant and intelligent people on the planet to make great breakthroughs and innovation. There is a lack of support for these people and for pushing through their brilliance. Corporations don't really do it because they're only concerned with what's immediately profitable. they don't like taking risks.
I don't think as many women are all that enchanted about being house-slaves either.
Billions have been spent on fusion - the most brilliant minds have worked on it. This is just an inherently complicated engineering problem. its very very difficult, much more than fission.
After Apollo, somebody had to pay the bills.(also after vietnam) A mission to mars is really complicated and expensive. maybe had the shuttle been avoided and saturn V continued in some capacity we would be there sooner, but thats history now...