Report of The Lunar Base Working Group (original) (raw)

1984

Workshop attendees generally believe that a lunar base goal has a high enough potential payoff that it should be adopted by NASA in the near future. Potential gains include new possibilities for scientific investigation, utilization of the natural resources of the moon to benefit lunar and space operations, and development of a long-term capability for human self-sufficiency on another planet. To reduce the risk that near-term decisions will be made that result in future difficulties or additional unnecessary costs to a lunar base program, we must consider near-term development issues, such as the Space Station and the orbital transfer vehicle technology, in light of their potential application to a lunar base program. The lunar base program is envisioned as being less of a technological challenge and less expensive annually than Apollo was.

1 A Human Lunar Surface Base and Infrastructure Solution

2015

Cargo Transport System and the Lunar Exploration Surface Infrastructure and discusses some of the critical challenges faced, alternatives considered, and Orbital’s solution for these challenges. In addition to presenting a Lunar Surface Exploration architecture that fits within program constraints and highlighting the architecture defining trade studies, e.g. habitat geometry, habitat radiation shielding, lunar surface power, and cargo delivery system, a launch manifest and strategy for lunar base expansion are also discussed.

A lunar base in the 21st century

We are at a turning point in history. We must either advance, technologically and societally or regress. If we choose the former, we can give birth to a future where Humanity travels the stars, inhabits other worlds, and potentially save ours. If we choose the latter, we may lose everything we have built over the last ten thousand years. Our current technology allows us to develop a manned moon base, this can become self sufficient thanks to minerals and metals that lunar mining can supply, this can be sold back to Earth or used in construction and expansion. Then process of building a lunar settlement will lead us to new and more efficient technologies that can be used to slow down climate change. These technologies will also contribute to Humanity extending past the Moon and potentially the solar system.

Loading...

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.