Time to have lunch on the moon....

An example lunar polar base

From the pole, run out sheathed electrical cabling every 30° to exposed terminals. Due to the temperature difference on the sides of the moon, this should generate an electric potential that can be tapped at a polar power station. From a nearby terminal to we then run a coiled cable around the moon every mile or so (engineers may say this has to be done more or less frequently) to generate a magnetic field. This field it is hoped, would divert solar radiation away from a base around 5 miles out from the pole.

The base itself will be a standard module, semi-spherical in shape connected to the power plant. The power feeds will create an additional magnetic field around the module through additional coils in the outer structure. Magnetic coils are also recommended in the flooring to divert accumulated radiation on the surface of the moon away from the astronauts. Over the coils around the top and sides of the structure, we should have a layer of non-magnetic sheathing material. We will place layers of ice and regolith over this sheath to further reduce incoming solar radiation and increase insolation. Hatches will be present on the ground side (2 recommended) for access and a thick lens hatch available on the top as part of an observatory would be optional, though it is recommended that a lunar observatory be constructed in a different manor and remotely operated for the majority of its day.

Homo Exterra

A space race....

So I cheated... Homo Sapiens is the Genus and Species of the modern man. Exterra is a combination of 2 latin words ex (out of, from) and terra (earth, land, ground). When we move to space as a permanent habitat, we may have generations of people growing up in microgravity. A recent article suggested that bone loss from microgravity can become so severe for long trips that the astronaut may be unable to return home.

NASA has been studying bone loss to extend the active duty time of its astronauts as well as increase their level of comfort between extended trips (such as 6 months on the ISS). Here's their main concern as stated in the article:

Exposure to the microgravity environment of space causes astronauts to lose calcium from bones. This loss occurs because the absence of Earth's gravity disrupts the process of bone maintenance in its major function of supporting body weight.

Because of this, our first permanent settlement, not just an outpost, may be manned by generations of people who's bodies will be shaped much differently from our own or may just be too brittle to visit "Mother Earth" or Gaea, to borrow from Greek Mythology. Now, there are many stories where people have very dense or very light bone structure and can't handle a "normal" environment properly anymore. Do not be surprised if in the next generation, Homo Exterra are transmitting back to earth home sick letters looking for someway to experience their roots....

Living on a moon....

A harsh mistress

You may not think about it, because it's not common on good ol' terra firma but radiation is blasting out across the solar system every microsecond... some will strike the surface or atmosphere of a planet. This radiation is shielded from us by the very makeup of earth. However, out in space, it may be a completely different story.

Because of this, lunar habitats are going to require a slightly different construction plan than earth neighborhoods or the space station. You've all seen the drawings of huge domed cities on the surface of a planet or moon. This is only going to help the incoming radiation and the atmosphere. This does not help, however, our big concern: Is the surface of a lunar body harmfully radioactive to long-term habitation?

Since we don't have radiological studies of every potential habitat out in space, we have to start designing as if the answer is yes. We will need to create a bed of radiation absorbing materials that does not re-transmit or at the least redirects it away from the settlement. What might this structure look like? A layer of highly dense material, an ice layer, and a second layer of dense material? I myself do not know. What I do know is that even here on earth we are concerned about health hazards from the ground such as radon and carbon monoxide. Building for these settlements may catapult forward construction here on earth and protection from these dangers.

Until next time...

Artificial Gravity, Real Concerns

How to live with the weight of space

Once again I have come to you, my few random readers, to address concerns with future space life. We can't have dozens, hundreds, or the unlimited potential of humanity walking around using magnetic boots for their entire space life. So, for the real question:

How do we mimic gravity?

We have in the past heard of things terms as "artificial gravity". What do we know about gravity that makes us believe we can fake it. The answer is surprisingly simple: It is a force. We can spin a massive object and it will draw to the outer edges all of the force because of momentum.

Our biggest problem to date is that we do not have a massive enough object in rotation with people actually inhabiting it. This brings up our second major issue: Cosmic radiation. If you are being spun to the outside of the object, you are closest to the source of harmful radiation. The earth uses a multi-layer radiation defense system that we would have to mimic as well. This includes: a magnetic field, an atmosphere, a water barrier (clouds for example), and an ionosphere. Out in space, we also have to include thermal insulation (which is provided by the heat retaining quality of the oceans here on terra firma).

So, how will you prepare for this? What feats of science will be required to make new worlds go around our own?

Next time: Living on a moon...

Pressurizing Life

Life without the bends...

"The bends" are a serious issue for deep-sea divers. What will the gases in our bodies do with prolonged exposure to various pressures from Jupiterian flying settlements or lunar colonies? We have an idea with some environments (the earth, our own shuttles, and the ISS). But what gases may be toxic in these extra-terrestrial environments?

Nitrogen under pressure builds up in the diver's body, so the diver uses a mix with less nitrogen in it. Are we going to find that pressure differentials in new environments is causing the same issue with oxygen, hydrogen, or some other gas we commonly breath on earth?

Unfortunately, I do not have the answers. Perhaps someone will soon.

Technology in space

STAIF - Space Technology and Applications International Forum - occurs yearly in February and covers the prospect of using current or emerging technology for exploration and intersteller settlement. In otherwords, my favorite topic: STELLAR COLONIZATION.

Alright, I checked SPACE.com for this one. This group has thought out how to use technology that seems unrealated to space exploration in colonization scenarios. One Site (STAIF 2007 hosted by the University of New Mexico) contains links to conference CFPs -- Last year they requested 58 different topics -- covering many possible disciplines. Take for example Research Warps into Hyperdrive posted on SPACE.com -- Just the title, before reading the store has me thinking of Star Trek style voyages -- definately a way to propel interstellar colonization. It is however, just a theoretical discussion of advanced propulsion.

Gotta go!

Interstellar Habitat modules

Living in Space: How to create a stellar colony

Everyone has seen the artistic impressions of space housing and lunar buildings, but where does the technology for these colonial habitat stand today? To find out, I did a simple search at one of my favorite websites SPACE.com and found these four stories.

Prototype Mars Base to Rise on Arctic Island. Dated in 1999, this describes the technology being tested in the artic for developing lightweight structures for deployment in the cold environment of Mars. The structure was to be dubbed "Mars Arctic Research Station" so I may find and post more information here for you later on that project. It should include the following based on the notes: garage, greenhouse, dwelling area, laboratory, and workshop for a crew compliment of 4-6 "martians" and be situated (unless this had been changed) on Devon Island. One thing I did not see covered in the article was the fine particulate dust said to exist everywhere in the martian atmosphere. Other issues they may be addressing in the future, although not listed, is ground level radiation, insulation repairs (the average temperature and its extremes are lower than here on earth), and disaster recover in case of habitat breech. In all, I would say this is a good first start on planet side or asteroid side interstellar colonization habitat modules. Related links:

• Mars Society: Artic Station
• Haughton-Mars Project
• Prototype Mars Base to Rise on Arctic Island

Private Sector, Low-Cost Lunar Plan Unveiled, dated 2005, discusses very briefly a proposal for a south-pole habitat on the moon. It is in very general terms and mentions the companies involved as: SpaceDev of Poway, CA; Lunar Enterprise Corporation; and Space Age Publishing Company (Parent of LEC). Related links:

• The Hawaii Moon Declaration
• Space Age Publishing Company
• Lunar Enterprise Corporation
• SpaceDev
• Private Sector, Low-Cost Lunar Plan Unveiled

Progress Made on Inflatable Private Space Module, dated 2005, describes a habit module for interstellar colonization (or at least a LEO colony) that can be inflated to "roughly 45 feet (13.7 meters) long and 22 feet (6.7 meters) in diameter". It is supposed to be launched this year (the story reports the 1st quarter, so it should already have been launched). It is backed by a major name in the Anasari X prize -- Robert Bigelow (owner of Budget Suites of America). Related links:

• Bigelow Aerospace
• America's Space Prize: Reaching Higher Than Sub-Orbit
• Inflatable space module cleared for liftoff

Designing Our Future in Space, dated 2000, discussed the people, technology, and process involved with space-based architecture from rockets to ISS focusing primarily on the differences to the design requirement and the training of future Space Architects. Ideas from this new generation of architects are definitely pointing in the direction of off-world, intersteller colonization. Related links:

• USC's Space Exploration Architectures Concepts Synthesis Studio
• Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture (SICSA)
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics: Space Architect.org

These are examples of the technology under development for our future in space, interstellar colonization, and planetary exploration. There are thousands more available around the internet and I encourage you to explore and comment on them.

Interstellar shielding

Okay... time to go trekkie? No... This is real science

Shields Up! New Radiation Protection for Spacecraft and Astronauts on SPACE.com describes shielding based on electrostatic charges and arranging the "cryogenic" fluids in such a way that they capture interstellar radiation. Other articles discuss cold-plasma, the art and science of plasma torpedos and shielding.

Why post this here? Simple enough. You can not expect a large long-term crew or colony to exist in space if they are constantly bombarded with micro-particles and radiation. The earth has a natural series of protective devices (some of which, may or may not be in the process of being destroyed depending on who you talk to) that eliminate most of this threat. This natural shielding, unfortunately is not imparted to space-craft and station components, of which, the most sensitive is the contained life - you, me, and anything else shot into space that has the opportunity to learn, grow, and procreate.

Let me ask you, who is responsible for deploying your shield or your children's when we finally decide to vaction on the moon or take a tour of Mars up close and personal? If the technology is not developed, tested, and used now, what harm can befall those brave pioneers of our first permanent, non-research settlement I expect the ESA, JAXA, and/or NASA to attempt to setup on the moon by the end of the decade? This is not a time to take colonization lightly, each day, each test, each aerospace corporation whether or not owned by a government entity brings us closer to Asimovian visions of space life.

Intrasolar/Interplanetary Travel

Shipping Lanes

I know that traffic is light now on the Earth2Mars route, but one day, I envision major traffic from settlements and planets to other locales and destinations.

There will be major routes designated by the intrasolar habitats that will become crowded (relatively speaking of course). There will be a temptation to make excessive port fees. This is good for competition where multiple settlements share similar routes, but a hub-settlements, where all routes must pass will have no competition and therefore no external natural forces dictating prices. At this juncture I hope the ground work I have laid down on previous posts help eliminate extremes, however, it is possible that the other settlements and shipping industry will need to seek injunctions against extreme costs. I will not comment on the validity of this possibility beyond pointing it out.

Nomenclature

While scientists poke about

It may be no suprise to many of you that scientists do not know what the difference is between a planet, gas giant, star, or asteroid is. I have a simple solution to the definition problem that will also play heavily into stellar colonization in the future.

1. Cosmic Dust - Dust, just like on earth usually fractions of an inch in particle size.


2. Cosmic Rubble - Particles between dust and bolder sizes (say 5 metric tons)


3. Asteroid - Any object larger than rubble whose own gravity does not force the object into a spheroid, or very close approximation.


4. Minor planet - Any spheroidal rocky object incapable of sustaining more than .5G


5. planet - Any spheroidal rocky object sustaining .5G - 2G (essentially being livable gravity)


6. Major planet - Any spheroidal rocky object sustaining greater than 2G


7. Minor Gas Planet - Any spheroidal object incapable of sustaining more than .5G at surface with no rocky core, or whose rocky core comprises less than 2% of its total mass


8. Gas Planet - Any spheroidal object sustaining .5G - 2G at surface with no rocky core, or whose rocky core comprises less than 2% of its total mass


9. Gas Giant - Any spheroidal object sustaining greater than 2G with no rocky core, or whose rocky core comprises less than 2% of its total mass


10. [Added 05/23/2006]Minor Liquid Planet - Any spheroidal object incapable of sustaining more than .5G at surface with a rocky core comprising more than 2% of its total mass and none of the surface area.


11. [Added 05/23/2006]Liquid Planet - Any spheroidal object sustaining .5G - 2G at surface with a rocky core comprising more than 2% of its total mass and none of the surface area.


12. [Added 05/23/2006]Liquid Giant - Any spheroidal object sustaining greater than 2G with a rocky core comprising more than 2% of its total mass and none of the surface area.


13. [Changed 05/23/2006]Gas Super Giant/Dwarf Star - Any spheroidal object capable of self-sustaining fusion that does not consume or involve enough mass to maintain a specific absolute brightness.


14. [Changed 05/23/2006]Star - Any spheroidal object whose fusion consumes or involves enough mass to maintain a specific absolute brightness.

Beyond this, according to currently held views, is just collections of these objects. Please comment or refine these definitions below.