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White Paper, mission to Mars Via the Moon
Vision Overview
Establish a Moonbase to prepare for a Martian visit, then make that visit. A Martian vehicle would probably be assembled from pre-positioned pieces on the Moon, brought there by an Earth-Lunar shuttle.
A possible partial solution to radiation shielding would be to surround the vehicle with a water bladder, which could also serve as an oxygen supply and a hydrogen fuel supply, although more concentrated propulsion would probably be used for final braking and takeoff from Mars. The use of Hydrogen from water, as oxygen is pulled for breathing, may allow acceleration and deceleration throughout the trip, shortening the time required vs. the typical route of making Hohlman transfers and orbit matching, although one would expect that some solid or liquid rocket would be used as well.
First stop, Moonbase
The base should consist of a ?spaceport? & base, solar power systems, and radio and optical telescopes set up on the dark side of the satellite. The telescopes themselves would nearly justify the base, and could easily be permanently manned by scientists in advanced middle age, including personnel with physical handicaps. The low gravity would actually lengthen the lifespan and ease the challenges of many elderly or handicapped persons, so finding scientists willing to live there would not be an issue. A possible particle accelerator would also be a potential scientific boon, as it would greatly advance research into particle physics.
1. The Base:
A medium sized crater should be located such that it is approximately 6 stories deep, yet only a little wider than is needed for the planned structure.
Bottom Floor: 3 composting waste chambers, which will handle kitchen, human and paper waste. Additional fibrous material should be brought along to add to the composting process. They would each be used exclusively for 3 years, then another chamber would take over while this section is allowed to compost. It should have near normal atmospheric conditions, and be vented to the greenhouse described later. When the 3rd chamber has been in use for 3 years, the first chamber is emptied (it will have had a minimum of 6 years to compost) and used in the greenhouse. The bottom of this floor could easily be the surface of the crater, coated with a plastic sealer.
2nd Floor: Sleeping quarters. By placing the sleeping quarters low, the personnel would be shielded from radiation and meteorite strikes by the structures above. All floors would be compartmentalized such that personnel could survive for a time if the rest of the structure was damaged.
3rd Floor: Kitchen facilities and work spaces.
4th Floor: Dry storage, refrigerator space. By having this storage above the work and living areas, personnel are further protected from radiation and meteor strikes.
5th Floor: Water tanks or bladders. Water will be the lifeblood of any moon base, and large quantities will need to be transferred to the Mars vehicle, so what better place to store it but here, where the bulk of it would greatly reduce the exposure of men and machines to solar radiation. By having water above the people, the structural challenges of holding the water replace the less productively solved challenges of radiation shielding.
6th Floor (includes glass roof): Green house. This structure would have an atmosphere, and feed on the product of the composting system. For the first 6 years, shorter term kitchen compost and fertile soil / soil enhancers would have to be brought in. No attempt at ?bio-dome? self sufficiency should be attempted here, but enough vegetables and fruit should be possible that with supplementary shipments of meat and other protein food that the permanent and visiting occupants will be healthy and satisfied with the food. The green house will also help clean the air, and remove stale odors. UV reducing glass should be used, and this will again help reduce solar radiation risk to occupants, and even to the plants
2. The Spaceport
This would be a flat spot that would be a modest walking distance from the base, but far enough that any fuel explosion or crash landing would be unlikely to damage the base. For starters, a large quanset-hut type structure, open ended (preferable with a natural upraising on one side) would allow for workers to assemble maintain or fuel a spacecraft out of direct sunlight. This would be an advantage not just for personnel and sensitive equipment, but it would help prolong the life of any rubberized material, such as what may be used for gasketing. The structure may also provide some protection from micro-meteorite damage. An emergency room, one capable of taking a shipload of persons, or injured workers, plus medical personnel, which can be brought to life-supporting atmosphere very quickly, would be a good idea. Possible some sort of catapult device would be used to help craft leave Moon orbit.
3. Solar Power System
Solar panel arrays would be used to power up the base, and keep battery banks charged. They should be placed such that they get the maximum effect for the energy used to deliver them.
4. Telescopes
Based on the natural sweeping the galaxy by and particular point on the Moon?s surface, very large radio telescopes could be set up in semi-permanent positions in large craters on the moon that would provide fantastic amounts of information. With the ultra-low gravity, many of the challenges of building large radio telescopes disappear. The cost/benefit analysis of installing such devices, if we are planning of going there anyway, would be extremely favorable. Regarding optical telescopes, the main cost of the Hubble Telescope had to do with the complicated enhancing electronics and positional controls. For a Moon- telescope, such costs would be insignificant, even Hubble-sized optics mounted on the moon would be far more useful to science than an orbiting telescope, which is subject to light pollution from both the Earth and the Sun, whereas a telescope just below the lip of a crater on the moon could operate with very little interference. If glass could be poured in a Moon ?factory?, the largest telescope ever put into space could look tiny in comparison. It may prove to be more cost effective to make a large mirror on the moon from imported silica than to try to launch one (acceleration would break any large piece of glass).
To Mars
1. The Structure
The body would be taken to the moon in pieces, to be assembled there. Rocket motors, water supply, all would be ferried to the Moonbase. As solar radiation is a big worry, the ship should be surrounded in a water bladder. Using solar power, the water would be broken down into oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen would supplement the carbon dioxide scrubbers, while the hydrogen could be used as fuel to provide continuous thrust to shorten the journey. Solid or liquid rocket motors would also be used to provide power for orbital changes. This craft would not enter Mars atmosphere, but would serve as space station in Mars orbit. It should contain plenty of fuel for the shuttles to make the planned trip to the surface, and for emergency visits, and for an emergency return to the Moon. If possible, It should be designed such that it will be useful to further Mars visits in the future.
2. The Cargo
Two spacecraft probably similar to the Earth-Lunar shuttle, but adapted for both low atmospheric pressure and strong winds. Possibly the main adaptation needed would simply be very ample power for maneuvering. As the Earth-lunar shuttle will be used to ferry men and cargo to the Moon, it should also be useful for Mars surface/ Mars orbit trips. They should be preloaded with a shelter and air / water supplies to be set up on the Martian surface. Enough fuel should be available that one of these could be fully loaded with fuel and make a return trip to the Moon, in an emergency.
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Nothing wrong with specualtion, I myself I'm going to take my first attempt at writing a novel, it features a moon base much like this. You want to look at my site to see were I'm going. go to the this link and click on Darkside. portal.holo-spot.net, I plan to have a user submitted story page, that may be a good place for something like this. My aim of the novel is to make it as technically acuarate as possibe. Completion date maybe end 2004.
portal.holo-spot.net
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