RIDE REPORT (continued from page 3) live and work on a hostile world beyond Earth. This should be done in an evolutionary manner, and on a time scale that is consistent with our developing capabilities. The natural progression of human exploration then leads to Mars. There is no doubt that exploring, prospecting, and settling Mars should be the ultimate objectives of human exploration. But America should not rush headlong toward Mars; we should adopt a strategy to continue an orderly expansion outward from Earth. The National Commission on Space urges 21st Century America “To lead the exploration and development of the space frontier, advancing science, technology, and enterprise, and building institutions and systems that make accessible vast new resources and support human settlements beyond Earth orbit, from the highlands of the Moon to the plains of Mars.” The United States space program needs to define a course to make this vision a reality. ■ VICE PRESIDENT (continued from front page) and gravitational forces acting on a satellite exactly counterbalance. “The first of those free-flying space colonies will be designed to provide a near-perfect, self- sufficient environment for about 10,000 people. Subsequent models would be much bigger — for 100,000 or more and range several miles in diameter and several tens of miles long. They would have mountains, clouds, streams and trees. Slow rotation would provide a gentle gravity, while shields of magnetic fields would ward off radiation. “At first, space colonies would be settled by pioneers, by people with daring and inquisitiveness and exuberance — people who wanted to strike out for a new life. Later, others would hear the call of space, listen to its promises and go out to accept the challenges and seize the opportunities it presents. “Far-fetched? Perhaps. But not far-out. In fact, nothing 1 have talked about is beyond today’s knowledge. Consider the following scenario: “The first generation space transportation system called the Space Shuttle leads to permanently manned Space Station by the mid-1990s, and from there, to the manned outpost on the Moon. Mining of lunar resources makes possible the development of space colonies. But the real breakthrough comes when the lights here in Brighton are first lit with energy derived from the Sun — energy collected in space and beamed down with microwaves to provide all of the city’s electrical needs in any kind of weather. “Given the hard economic realities of 1987, many of you might be asking by now: Does Fletcher live in a dream world? Is he a hopeless visionary? Rather than try to answer, let me remind you of some words in the Book of Proverbs. And they are, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ ” RIDE REPORT DISCUSSES LUNAR OUTPOST Dr. Sally Ride in a report prepared for the NASA Administrator, suggested that a lunar outpost should be NASA’s next major human spaceflight goal beyond the Space Station. The 70 page report (now available for $15 through McGraw-Hill) examined four possible major areas of endeavor, including Earth observation, unmanned planetary science, a lunar outpost, and manned Mars expeditions. This issue of Update contains excerpts from the report, particularly those sections concerning the lunar outpost. SSI readers will be pleased to know that Dr. Ride’s report specifically suggested that the agency not engage in “one-shot” space endeavors of the type that SSI has characterized as “flags and footprints” missions. Dr. Ride’s report is the logical extension of the National Commission on Space deliberations. Whereas NCOS showed the broad range of possibilities over the next 30-50 years, Dr. Ride’s report discusses steps that can be taken now to achieve U.S. leadership in space. Additional excerpts from Dr. Ride’s report are being made available through the SSI Bulletin Board (609-921-7079). I encourage you to become familiar with the contents of the entire report, which is having a profound impact on the space community. One noticeable element is a great proliferation of activity in support of lunar bases. The Institute is deeply involved in a number of these studies and we shall keep you apprised through the newsletter. A TWENTY YEAR SHORT-CUT TO SPACE COLONIES What single event could hasten the human breakout into space by decades and profoundly affect all future human space activities? The answer is the discovery of lunar water. .For over twenty years, scientists have theorized the existence of water in permanently shadowed regions near the Moon’s poles. Contrary to popular belief, we actually know very little about large areas of the lunar surface, particularly the areas near both of the lunar poles. The resources which may be available at these areas remain one of the Moon’s most tantalizing secrets. The Institute has long advocated low-cost dedicated missions to prospect for this potential bonanza. Although SSI’s work has demonstrated ways in which lunar resources can be used even if no water is detected on the Moon, lunar water would dramatically affect future spaceflight in a number of ways. The most profound effect would be in space transportation. Having both hydrogen and oxygen available beyond the Earth’s gravity well would enable spacecraft refueling from nonterrestrial materials with a minimum of processing. This would have impact beyond transportation in the Earth-Moon system and would greatly enhance deep-space missions, such as those to Mars and its moons and the asteroids. Water would also greatly simplify the processing of lunar resources. Many conventional processing techniques which are now considered impractical, assuming hydrogen import from the Earth, would be feasible if local sources of supply are present. In 1985, SSI conducted a study performed by James French, (formerly of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and now Chief Engineer for American Rocket Company), on the design and cost of such a simple dedicated lunar prospector. Results of this study were given to the members of the President’s National Commission on Space. The Commission subsequently recommended such a probe, saying “it is a first priority to search the permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles, where ices containing carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen may be found.” Xenon-ion lunar probe deploying solar array (courtesy Ronald D. Jones). In addition to our discussions with the National Commission on Space, the Institute has been in touch with a number of international space organizations in order to educate them about the opportunities that such a probe offers and to solicit their help in small but effective missions of this type. In 1987, the staff of the Institute accelerated its efforts regarding lunar water probes, and we have identified a number of government and private opportunities which could enable such a probe to be flown in the next few years. We are presently engaged in discussions at the highest level about possible probe designs, launch vehicle availabilities, and instrumentation. At present, the most likely possibilities include the use of a surplus Apollo science instrument which could by clever modification be made 400 times more sensitive in water-seeking. Among the novel delivery systems studied is an xenon-ion engine probe which would be deployed from a Get-Away Special aboard the space shuttle and would spiral out to the Moon in about two years. SSI modeler/ photographer extrordinaire Ron D. Jones has produced a number of slides of this type of probe. They will appear in the AIAA magazine Aerospace America in an article on this type of probe. Ensuring the rapid development of a lunar prospector is at the very heart of SSI’s mission. However, we need your help to continue this work. I therefore ask each of you to make a special contribution in support of our lunar prospector effort at the earliest opportunity. To show our thanks we will send a copy of a fascinating paper detailing the xenon-ion lunar probe to supporters who contribute $50 or more to this effort. Whether or not lunar water exists, Dr. Fletcher’s comments and the results of the National Commission on Space and Ride Reports show that we are indeed on our way toward human colonies in space. With your help we have made great progress in 1987 and look forward to an incredible 1988. On behalf of Dr. O'Neill and the staff, Trustees and Members of the Institute, I wish you and your families a happy holiday season. Gregg Maryniak To obtain a copy of the Ride Report, entitled Leadership And America’s Future in Space (Stock #63-033-01009-5), send a check for $4.00 to the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.G.P.O. Washington, D.C. 20402, or call 202-783-3238 and pay by credit card.
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