Paper Session II-C - Infrastructure for a Lunar Base

Exploration of the Moon is the most crucial and decisive step for human expansion into the vast reaches of space. The Moon is the natural and ideal testbed for determining human capability to survive, function, expand and settle into the space environment. Scientific studies, astronomic observations, and exploitation and utilization of space resources culminating in the establishment of a self-sufficient permanently human-tended lunar base are the goals of lunar exploration. Four development stages in the evolutionary exploration of the Moon are suggested: (1) exploratory; (2) pioneering; (3) outpost; and (4) base. Overall goals and specific objectives, functional requirements, construction conditions, and life support systems requirements needed in each stage are identified

Planetary Protection Issues in the Human Exploration of Mars

This workshop report, long delayed, is the first 21st century contribution to what will likely be a series of reports examining the effects of human exploration on the overall scientific study of Mars. The considerations of human-associated microbial contamination were last studied in a 1990 workshop ("Planetary Protection Issues and Future Mars Missions," NASA CP-10086, 1991), but the timing of that workshop allowed neither a careful examination of the full range of issues, nor an appreciation for the Mars that has been revealed by the Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder missions. Future workshops will also have the advantage of Mars Odyssey, the Mars Exploration Rover missions, and ESA's Mars Express, but the Pingree Park workshop reported here had both the NCR's (1992) concern that "Missions carrying humans to Mars will contaminate the planet" and over a decade of careful study of human exploration objectives to guide them and to reconcile. A daunting challenge, and one that is not going to be simple (as the working title of this meeting, "When Ecologies Collide?" might suggest), it is clear that the planetary protection issues will have to be addressed to enable human explorers to safely and competently extend out knowledge about Mars, and its potential as a home for life whether martian or human

Verification of a mathematical model for layered T-beams

CER73-74MLK-MEC-JRG-JB-EGT-MDV28.March 1974.Includes bibliographical references.An experimental program and the verification of a mathematical model for layered T-beams, developed assuming small deflection theory and including effects of interlayer slip, are described in this report. This research is a part of an overall program to develop a verified analysis procedure for wood joist floor systems. After a description of the construction and load-testing of 14 two-and three-layered T-beams, a brief discussion on the mechanical properties of the materials used is given. The deflections observed in the loading tests are then compared with the predicted deflections given by the mathematical model, which used a finite element solution technique. These comparisons for the fourteen T-beams, including two and three-layered systems, formed the primary basis for the verification of the mathematical model. Test results provided by a manufacturer of joist systems were also compared to the mathematical model. Good agreement between the observed and theoretical values were obtained for all tests. These favorable results show the validity of this general layered beam theory

U.S. Waterways Experiment Station Reports

This report describes damage to structures by Hurricane Camille in qualitative terms, and with photographs. The investigation was carried out by a team sponsored by the Office of Civil Defense, and it includes conclusions and recommendations