tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post2684909426907774650..comments2023-06-19T23:26:32.126+10:00Comments on QuantumG's Blog: Desperately Seeking: Moon First AdvocateQuantumGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17336493213317053535noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-23309157835733141482010-07-16T19:44:37.271+10:002010-07-16T19:44:37.271+10:00Neil, absolutely, and that's what a number of ...Neil, absolutely, and that's what a number of people do, including Dennis Wingo and Dr Phil Harris. To which, I have to ask, isn't it begging the question? The Moon is close to humanity's *current* home, but will it be relevant to our *future* homes? See http://quantumg.blogspot.com/2010/07/future-mines-of-humanity.htmlQuantumGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17336493213317053535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-7470995650848229152010-07-16T18:02:55.322+10:002010-07-16T18:02:55.322+10:00Hmm, I had a longer response written, but I seem t...Hmm, I had a longer response written, but I seem to have lost it due to a closed window or some-such. The gist of it is that one could make an argument that the Moon is a better mid-term target for commercial ventures, and so if one wanted to do a public/private exploration partnership of some sort the Moon might be a better option. Maybe.Neil Halelamienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08476584800855060234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-754037613149743892010-07-14T13:49:33.658+10:002010-07-14T13:49:33.658+10:00Where's SpaceX? In my novel?
Never explicitl...Where's SpaceX? In my novel? <br /><br />Never explicitly mentioned but "ITAR restricted" and thus unavailable to my protagonists would be a reasonable inference to draw from the text.Bill Whitehttp://platinum-moon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-77883298396046704272010-07-14T13:39:45.190+10:002010-07-14T13:39:45.190+10:00Thanks for the clarification Bill. I recommended ...Thanks for the clarification Bill. I recommended your book to someone today and they seemed interested enough to buy it.<br /><br />He did ask: where's SpaceX?!QuantumGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17336493213317053535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-54072265103307077932010-07-14T13:33:27.812+10:002010-07-14T13:33:27.812+10:00PS -- I am somewhat surprised by the NewSpace supp...PS -- I am somewhat surprised by the NewSpace support for FY2011, given the relative lack of in-space infrastructure found in that proposal.Bill Whitehttp://platinum-moon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-19857325421071169572010-07-14T13:25:01.213+10:002010-07-14T13:25:01.213+10:00What I advocate "in real life" is an EML...What I advocate "in real life" is an EML-1 facility that can simultaneously support:<br /><br />a) Lunar exploration and ISRU development (do as much with robots as is feasible and add people as is necessary). I note that a reusable lunar lander that parks at EML-1 between missions could deliver and recover Robonauts and rovers anywhere on the lunar surface as well as deliver people to various points on the lunar surface. <br /><br />b) Use the Gateway to stage exploration beyond cis-lunar space (whether NEOs or Phobos/Deimos or Mars). Recall that fuel, supplies (radiation shielding?) and equipment needed for sending humans beyond cis-lunar space can be stockpiled at EML-1 (or EML-2) efficiently using low delta v / high delta v trajectories.<br /><br />c) Task the EML-1 Gateway to support several spacefaring nations simultaneously. <br /><br />Whether "Moon First" makes sense (IMHO) is a function of how difficult it will be to harvest lunar water for rocket fuel. <br /><br />Also, how much of that lunar ISRU will be human or robotic is currently unknown (again IMHO) and therefore we should be willing to consider human presence for ISRU but curtail that if the robots can succeed without us.<br /><br />In any event, delivery of lunar water to EML-1 or EML-2 for use as rocket fuel would be a significant game changer, also IMHO, as always.<br /><br />Therefore, I am tentatively "Moon First" subject to amendment based on early results of robotic precursor missions.Bill Whitehttp://platinum-moon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-33202816468593021772010-07-14T10:22:26.764+10:002010-07-14T10:22:26.764+10:00Bill, your book is entirely about commercial devel...Bill, your book is entirely about commercial development of the Moon, so you're taking an end run around the question :)<br /><br />But if you were advocating for NASA to dedicate its limited resources to developing an EML-1 transfer station and then landers, before going beyond cis-lunar space, if at all, then yes, I think you'd be in the Moon First camp.<br /><br />Now, if you were advocating an EML-1 transfer station, lunar ISRU provided robotically, with a focus on deep-space capability, then I'd put you in the Flexible Path camp, even though you advocate more infrastructure than is envisioned by the new NASA direction.<br /><br />To be clear:<br /><br />Mars First = let's stay home until we're ready to land on Mars.<br />Moon First = let's stay home until we're ready to land on the Moon.<br />Flexible Path = let's go to low gravity destinations in deep space until we've got landers for the Moon or Mars or both.QuantumGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17336493213317053535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-62623036338647752302010-07-14T07:53:03.755+10:002010-07-14T07:53:03.755+10:00Would deploying an EML-1 transfer station count as...Would deploying an EML-1 transfer station count as "Moon First" or not?Bill Whitehttp://platinum-moon.comnoreply@blogger.com