Problem Solution Advantages Disadvantages Conclusion Overview

• Problem

• Solution

• Advantages

• Disadvantages

• Conclusion

Overview

Problems

• Deep space exploration is difficult to initialize from Earth

• Lack of excitement in today’s space program

Problem * Solution * Advantages * Disadvantages * Conclusion

Lunar Surface

Courtesy of NASA

Courtesy of NASA


Lunar Surface – Past

• Space Race

• John F. Kennedy Speech: May 26, 19611

• Deadline: Within the decade

• Accomplished in 1969– Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin


Lunar Surface – Past

• Mission Objectives:

– Beat the Russians

– Explore the Lunar Surface2

• Surface Samples – Compositions, Resources, Minerals

– 20 kg of Lunar Samples

• Surveying• Habitation


Lunar Surface – Base

Eric Burgess Outpost on Apollo’s Moon



• Establish a permanent base facility on the Lunar Surface– Central Command– Habitation Modules– Research Facility– Launch Facility– Mining Facility



• Central Command– Facility controlling day-to-day base

operations

– Control of surface and L1 launch facilities

– Communication Station• Earth Inbound/Outbound

• L1 Station



• Habitation Modules– Housing personnel– Water recycling– Provision Storage– Agriculture– Physical fitness facility– Equipment Storage– Waste Management– Energy – Solar



• Research Facility– Low-gravity Laboratories– Biological Laboratories

• Medical Facility

– Surface-material testing Laboratories



• Launch Facility

– Lunar surface launch platform

– Responsible for assembling and preparing launch vehicles for flight


Lunar Surface - Base

• Mining Facility– Bulk excavation of lunar resources for

processing and utilization in base activities2

• Base Maintenance and Repair• Study and Experimentation• Construction


• Collinear equilibrium points theorized by Leonard Euler

• 1772 – Joseph Lagrange showed the existence of 5 equilibrium points in a two-

body gravitational field

• Lagrange further showed that the equilibrium points lie within the plane of

rotation of the primary bodies

• Collinear points found to be unstable while the other two points were found to

be stable

• The equilibrium points have come to be called Lagrange Points, or Libration

Points

Lagrange Points – History


Lagrange Points – Figure


Lagrange Points – Figure

Bishop, R.H. Autonomous Navigation for Libration Point Formation Flying Missions


Halo Orbits – History

• An orbit by which an object may remain in close proximity to an equilibrium point

• Suggested around 1950 by Arthur C. Clarke for communication purposes

• Considered for use on Apollo 17 mission until the mission was altered


Halo Orbits – Figure


L1 Station

• Configuration– Launch platform at L1

– Construction yard in halo orbit about L1

• Capabilities– Launch platform

• Must be able to perform deep-space launches• Must be able to receive supplies from the Moon

– Construction Yard• Must be capable of assembling deep-space vehicles• Must be capable of performing maintenance on L1

station


• Need for transportation– Form Earth to Lunar colony– In-between parts of colony

• Types of vehicles

Transportation


Actual Ferry Vessel Orbit

Transportation

Bishop, R.H. Autonomous Navigation for Libration Point Formation Flying Missions


Simplified Ferry Vessel Orbit

Transportation


Earth Loading Phase

Transportation


Moon Loading Phase

Transportation


Moon to L1 Transfer

Transportation


• Ferry vessel– Transports materials back and forth between

the Earth and Moon

• Docking vessels– Located at both primary bodies– Dock with Ferry during the Ferry’s flyby with

primaries– Loads/unloads the Ferry

• Moon-to-L1 vessel

– Transports materials from Moon to L1

Transportation Summary


Lunar Surface – Advantages

• Permanent presence in space – further than LEO

• Secondary perspective for interplanetary observations and measurements

• Cost feasibility for interplanetary exploration (i.e. Mars)3


Lunar Surface – Advantages

• Advance Technology

• Lower long-term space expenditures

• Revitalize space program– Promote manned interplanetary space

exploration


L1 Advantages

• “A manned station at L1 could support an infrastructure expanding human presence beyond low-Earth orbit…”3

• Proximity to bodies within the system4

– Attractive for uses related to space missions– Well-suited for applications such as gateway

stations for launching deeper exploratory missions


Lunar Surface - Disadvantages

• High Initial Cost5

• Implementation Time

• Hostile Environment


L1 Disadvantages

• Unstable equilibrium position– Difficulty in controlling the station– Expense associated with fuel consumption

• Takes time to reach L1 from either of the primaries

– Emergencies may not be quickly solved– Supplies may be delayed– Crew transfers will be lengthy


ConclusionA lunar outpost should be built because:

• Space exploration will expand since a spacecraft launched from the lunar outpost can have a greater payload, size, and range than a spacecraft launched from within the Earth’s atmosphere

• The space program will be revitalized by giving future engineers something to look forward to

• The advancements to technology that will be necessary to the development of a lunar colony will greatly benefit the rest of humanity


References1"Apollo Program," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-

2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

2Burgess, Eric. Outpost on Apollo’s Moon, New York Columbia University Press, New York, 1993.

3Bishop, R.H., Huxel, P.J., DeMars, K.J. Autonomous Navigation for Libration Point Formation Flying Missions. NRA-03-GSFC/AETD-01. Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Texas at Austin. August, 2003.

4Condon, G.L., Wilson, S., and Ranieri, C. L., “Performance Requirements and Kickstage Disposal Options For a Cislunar Gateway Station Transfer Vehicle,” NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX.

5Dunham, D.W., Farquhar, R.W. Libration Point Missions, 1978-2002. Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University. 2002.

6Mendell, Wendell W. (1996). “Lunar Base as a Precursor to Mars Exploration and Settlement,” NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/HumanExplore/Exploration/EXLibrary/DOCS/EIC040.HTML (6 October 2003).

7Boles, Walter W., Lunar Construction, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 1990.

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Problem Solution Advantages Disadvantages Conclusion Overview