The Nomad Explorer assembly assist vehicle: An architecture for rapid global extraterrestrial base infrastructure establishment

Traditional concepts of lunar bases describe scenarios where components of the bases are landed on the lunar surface, one at a time, and then put together to form a complete stationary lunar habitat. Recently, some concepts have described the advantages of operating a mobile or 'roving' lunar base. Such a base vastly improves the exploration range from a primary lunar base. Roving bases would also allow the crew to first deploy, test, operationally certify, and then regularly maintain, service, and evolve long life-cycle facilities like observatories or other science payload platforms that are operated far apart from each other across the extraterrestrial surface. The Nomad Explorer is such a mobile lunar base. This paper describes the architectural program of the Nomad Explorer, its advantages over a stationary lunar base, and some of the embedded system concepts which help the roving base to speedily establish a global extraterrestrial infrastructure. A number of modular autonomous logistics landers will carry deployable or erectable payloads, service, and logistically resupply the Nomad Explorer at regular intercepts along the traverse. Starting with the deployment of science experiments and telecommunication networks, and the manned emplacement of a variety of remote outposts using a unique EVA Bell system that enhances manned EVA, the Nomad Explorer architecture suggests the capability for a rapid global development of the extraterrestrial body. The Moon and Mars are candidates for this 'mission oriented' strategy. The lunar case is emphasized in this paper

Planetary defence: a duty for world defenders

This poster is an advocacy document. We believe that it is now time for an international coalition of military/industrial/atomic agencies to take on the tasks of designing, building and maintaining in readiness active defenses against asteroids and comets threatening to impact Earth. We visualize a policy environment where a relatively small portion of existing defense resources is redirected to Planetary Defense, with already-established ground and space PD efforts allocated increased backing and increased responsibility in supporting roles. A main part of the needed policy structure is already in place. An International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and a Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) are functioning under auspices of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). In the near term, intercept action will be launched upon validation of an impact threat by IAWN and SMPAG. The activity should start with conventional technology while awaiting needed international policy changes allowing use of nuclear energy, essential in the case of less-likely but more dangerous threats. An important side benefit of the proposed collaborative military involvement would be increased knowledge of the risk and increased trust among nations

The Moon: resources, future development and settlement

The Moon: Resources, Future Development and Settlement describes feasible human settlement of the Moon in the coming century. Small scale, tele-operated and autonomous robotic in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) projects are first, followed by electric power, communication, and transportation networks manufactured from lunar resources. These infrastructure networks are field tested an commissioned in the polar regions of the Moon, and permanent human settlements are then established. Through several phases of development, the utility networks grow, and the number of permanently inhabited bases increases to inculde all areas of interest on the Moon. The book stresses that the envisioned "Planet Moon Project" will link the technological and cultural expertise of humanity to the virtually limitless resources of space. From that beginning, the people of the Earth reap substatntial benefits from space, and the human species will evolve into a spacefaring civilization

The International Space University Space Studies Program 2015 Planetary Defense Project

Asteroid and cometary impacts on planetary bodies are a natural, ongoing residual process that remind us of solar system genesis and evolution. Established spacefaring countries are currently working on plans to engage the world community of nations in dealing with this threat that has already caused recent havoc in the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia. Defending our home planet against hazardous asteroids and comets is a very high priority issue because a high energy impact by larger objects has the potential to literally wipe out large population centers, decimate flora and fauna, upset our fragile climate and cause incalculable damage to critical physical infrastructure. So it is imperative that we prepare to defend our home planet, especially since new technologies allow us to do so. Space systems and allied technologies must play a key role in planetary defense. However the advanced systems and technologies to be employed will also require unprecedented cooperation and coordination among nations that can only be achieved using state of the art information and communication networks that are maturing right now. Global involvement and innovative and agile organizations, creative structures in policy making and governance are a prerequisite for agile action that is necessary for effective response. Since asteroid or comet impact poses a global threat, like climate change, Planetary Defense aspires to all humanity. Technologies are maturing that can be commissioned to mitigate this threat. It is imperative that we find ways to integrate all peoples and nation states in this global endeavor. Nations and their space agencies are currently joining forces to examine the problem. The International Space University (ISU) Space Studies Program (SSP) will hold its 28th summer session at the Ohio University, Athens, Ohio between June 08 and August 07, 2015. Over a hundred highly qualified graduate and post graduate students as well as young space professionals in leadership roles selected from a large pool of candidates from various space agencies around the globe will once again come together to study space exploration in a interdisciplinary, intercultural and international environment, with experts informing them on all aspects of space activity. They will explore the future of space activity and create innovative concepts for all the world to engage in and share. One of the team projects selected for this session is planetary defense. This paper and presentation will report on the findings and recommendations of the 2015 ISU SSP Planetary Defense team project