Return to the Moon to stay and going on to Mars A feasible scenario for the first half of the 21st century

In July 1988, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the first landing of humans on the surface of the Moon, President Bush proposed to return to the Moon to stay and going on to Mars. Shortly thereafter the cold war ended with the dissolution of the USSR and the U.S. congress did not feel that this was the right time to start a new major enterprise in space. With the completion of the International Space Station, now planed for 2003, an answer is due on what comes next? It appears advisable to have optional plans ready at that time to answer this question. This report outlines an integrated program for a Lunar Base combined with a Mars Laboratory for the first half of the 21st century. It would see about 230 people on the Moon and nearly 100 people on Mars by 2050. Representative base characteristics, benefit and cost data are derived, which indicate that such a program is feasible, desirable and affordable. This report comprises 63 pages, 40 tables, 15 figures and 30 references. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(330) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

On the prospects of lunar tourism: A credible scenario

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(359-2002) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Lunar outpost options revisited

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(347/3001) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Prospects of a settlement on the moon Development, operation, cost, benefits

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(364) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

The influence of size and life cycle duration of a lunar base on its logistics cost

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(349/2001) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

A method for estimating the benefits of a space program

Investments are made only if the investors can expect an attractive return within a reasonable time period. Investments in space by privat investors are made only in such space systems which are certain to find a market. Communication satellites are a very good example. On the other hand, space research remains a domain of the governments of space faring nations. Space projects, that have long range aspects are very difficult to finance, because even politicians would like to see a reasonable benefit during their term in office, because they want to be able to explain this investment to the taxpayer. Consequently, space advocates must demonstrate convicingly the benefits to be expected of new programs. This forces planners to develop benefit models simple and transparent enough to convince skeptical decision-makers to support new public investments in space. This report attempts to describe a procedure that allows to estimate the benefits to be expected from a new space venture. The examples used are extraterrestrial bases on the Moon and on Mars, both projects under discussion and candidates for space investments early in the 21st century. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(328) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

An experimental program for space solar power development compatible with human moon and mars exploration

The question of developing a space solar power system (SSPS) remains on the agenda as long as the energy supply of our planet is not secured for at least the next century. At the present time the oil and gas prices are low enough not to alarm the responsible governmental agencies and commercial enterprises. This may change in a few decades when the global population grows to over 10 billion people and energy prices are expected to increase drastically due to dwindling reserves. Furthermore, human space flight is expected to continue during the next century exploring and developing of space resources. Thus, it appears advisable to design an experimental program for the development of space solar power in concert with the further human exploration of the Moon and Mars, just in case there are no other viable solutions to the problem expected for the second half of the next century and thereafter. Its technical feasibility and economic viability must be periodically analysed. Past experience has demonstrated that it requires several decades to develop a new energy system. This forces early planning, thus studies of plans to develop space solar power compatible with the development of the Moon and Mars appears desirable. This model is attempting to do a first step in this direction. This report comprises 34 pages, 23 tables, 3 figures and 24 references. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(334) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Lunar development programs for the 21st century. Three initial options

Humans may return to the Moon in the 21st century to stay, as suggested by President Bush in 1989, twenty years after the first landing of the humans on the Moon. The geopolitical changes resulting from the end of the cold war did not allow to take up to SPACE EXPLORATION INITIATIVE as suggested by President Bush at that time. However, this question is expected to come up in the foreseeable future and then viable alternative programs must be available to consider and to choose from. There are several distinct options available to acquire and operate an initial lunar installation. Several of these options have been detailed and are described in this report in the form of Blueprints: OPTION I: Temporary Lunar Outpost (8+15 year life-cycle); OPTION II: Lunar Laboratory (8+50 year life-cycle); OPTION III: Permanent Lunar Base (8+50 year Life-cycle). These 'Alternative Lunar Development Programs' have been prepared for further analysis and consideration to assist decision-makers by concentrating on those relevant facts and trends only, which are deemed necessary for a decision to return to the Moon in the 21st century to establish a permanent facility on its surface. This report presents the primary characteristics of the initial options, their system behaviour and comparative cost-effectiveness data to enable a critical evaluation if or not and if yes, when such options should be actively persued by an international consortium of spacefaring nations. This report comprises 48 pates, 19 figures and 37 tables. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 342(302) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Choosing the next lunar transportation system

The purpose of the paper is to develop selection criteria while screening all feasible space transportation systems and make an attempt to put these in a preliminary order of preference for further refinement and optimization. (AKF)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(277) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman