inspiration 4 exploration

Inspiration 4 Exploration“…Challenges for the next 20 years: How to achieve a long-term sustainable MoonMars program of human and robotic exploration…”: 

Inspiration 4 Exploration “…Challenges for the next 20 years: How to achieve a long-term sustainable MoonMars program of human and robotic exploration…” Erik Laan (e.laan@dutchspace.nl) Dutch Space, the Netherlands MoonMars Workshop 2004 Vancouver

Inspiration for Exploration: 

Inspiration for Exploration Tools for discussion of Planetary Exploration: SWOT method Maslow’s hierarchy of needs History of Planetary Exploration Why Planetary Exploration? Strategies & Solutions for Planetary Exploration The Future of Planetary Exploration Programmatics Technical Conclusions

SWOT method: 

SWOT method S: Strengths W: Weaknesses O: Opportunities T: Threats Identification of S, W, O & T for particular subject leads to strategy & solution characteristics: Growth/Offensive (S & O related) Improvement (W & O related) Defensive (T & S related) Withdraw or Change (W & T related)

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: 

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Maslow’s triangle or Happyness Gradient

History of Planetary Exploration: 

History of Planetary Exploration Last humans on the moon during Apollo programme: 1972!! Apollo was cold-war derivative After Apollo: Lack of overall plan “One-off” or “2-off” strategies Focus on Space Shuttle & ISS Robotics “… The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn…” H.G. Wells, “The Discovery of the Future”, 1901

Why Planetary Exploration?Strength & Weakness: 

Why Planetary Exploration? Strength & Weakness STRENGTH: Can satisfy basic human curiosity Adventure It can inspire Appeals to basic philosophic questions: Why are we here? Are we alone? WEAKNESS: Disability to respond to valid questions like: Why not spend the same money on poor people? What would we not have if we wouldn’t do it? I am all fine in my comfort zone with my DVD player and my Playstation!

Why Planetary Exploration?Opportunities & Threats: 

Why Planetary Exploration? Opportunities & Threats OPPORTUNITIES: Increase knowledge Use space as economic multiplier Discovery oriented society Finding life in other world: major impact on society & religion THREATS: Politicians with short term vision World poverty Service oriented society Security passivity trap used by people in power

Strategies & Solutions For Planetary Exploration: 

Strategies & Solutions For Planetary Exploration Growth/Offensive: Public Relations & Exposure Define economic rationales & comparisons (Iraq-war cost: 177 million dollar per day…) Organise MoonMars conferences but watch out for only “preaching to the converted” Space Science back in the schools Change: Cheap access to Space Russian Launchers X-prize ConeXpress Improvement & change: Break the vicious circle of space hardware development At customer level At industrial level

The Vicious circle of Space Hardware development: 

The Vicious circle of Space Hardware development

Strategies & Solutions For Planetary Exploration: 

Strategies & Solutions For Planetary Exploration

Future of Planetary Exploration – programmatic challenges (1-2): 

Future of Planetary Exploration – programmatic challenges (1-2) Humans to Mars: (Unrealistic) design case for ESA’s 6 Humans to Mars Mission Earth orbit assembly: takes 4.6 years with 28 launches involving 1541 tonnes of payloads Earth departure: 8 April 2033 Earth arrival: 27 November 2035 Human Mars Reference Mission (NASA) Mars Direct (Robert Zubrin)

Future of Planetary Exploration – programmatic challenges (2-2): 

Future of Planetary Exploration – programmatic challenges (2-2)

The Future of Planetary Exploration – technical challenges: 

The Future of Planetary Exploration – technical challenges Enabling technologies: Miniaturization Solar cells on film Thermal protection materials In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) Leaping technologies: Advanced propulsion Nuclear fusion (large abundances of Helium-3 on the moon!) Medicine against radiation and zero gravity hazards

Conclusions: 

Conclusions Momentum for planetary exploration has increased last years Calls for new and young leadership (= You…) Cheap and fast access to space is required Space Hardware development strategy needs more focus on hardware than on documentation There is an angry & scared world out there focused on Security issues  major threat for science in general Inspiration is needed for exploration exploration is needed for inspiration

Further reading: 

Further reading Lunares report ISU SSP 2004: http://www.isunet.edu/Services/library/Exec_Sum_SSP04_LunAres.pdf ESA’s CDF Study Executive Summary “Human Missions to Mars”: ftp://ftp.estec.esa.nl/pub/aurora/Human_Missions_to_Mars/ Advances in Planetary Aerobots: http://home.tiscali.nl/eriklaan/IAFpaperPlanetaryAerobots.pdf