Difference between revisions of "Mission 4"

Revision as of 14:27, 29 June 2009

The first manned mission.

This will probably be a solo mission with a week long surface stay.

The explorer will be launched, ride out in, and land "standing" in the lander, in their Surface Suit. Once on site, the explorer will dig in using any number of techniques and equipment varying from a pick and shovel to a powered machine to explosive loosening/clearing.

in the cleared hole, he will either place a small inflatable structure, or more likely, an overhead cover. The overhead cover will be recovered with the removed regolith to provide a 2m thick cover for thermal and radiation protection. whatever power, communication or other equipment will be set-up. (Probably removed from the lander.)

Once completed, the explorer will do a combination of scientific studies and prepare the site for the Outpost to follow on the next mission.

After a week stay, the explorer will again mount the lander, and use it to launch back to Earth. the lander may provide some limited braking before Earth orbital entry.

Landing will either be in the form of a GE "Project Moose" style or an inflatable heat shield. (Note, there are several examples of each. a simple web search will provide many of them.) This discussion of inflatable re-entry is also interesting. Georgia Tech has done some very cool research on the use of Ballute Entry Systems for Lunar Return Missions

Parachute to safety, and all is well!

Launch up to five astronauts (as many as possible given technology and supplies). Bring shelter materials and grade the site for a simple hab tank outpost. Construction workers wanted.

Assemble and furnish LunaLodge hab tank. Bury it >3 meters deep for protection from cosmic rays.

When it becomes feasible, leave a volunteer live human being Living on the Moon between MoonRuns.

Publicize this major human epochal event! This is when the skyrockets go off and the funding will avalanche!

Complete the outpost and offer highly profitable reservations to NASA, ESA, JAXA and other space agencies and to private individuals and organizations with big funding. Talk about a niche market!