Space Exploration: Should It Be Done? Nishith Patel

Components of the Plan Creation of a new manned space vehicle will return humans to the moon within 16 years. Creation of a new manned space vehicle will return humans to the moon within 16 years. Permanent presence on the moon Permanent presence on the moon Spacecraft could assembled and launched from the moon. They could easily escape its far lower gravity using and use less energy, decreasing costs Spacecraft could assembled and launched from the moon. They could easily escape its far lower gravity using and use less energy, decreasing costs

Components of the Plan: White House Release

Initiation Of The New Plan On January, George Bush On January, George Bush Bush proposed spending $12 billion over the next five years on the effort. About $1 billion of that will come from an increase in NASA's budget, while the other $11 billion would come from shifting funds from existing programs within NASA's current $86 billion budget. Bush proposed spending $12 billion over the next five years on the effort. About $1 billion of that will come from an increase in NASA's budget, while the other $11 billion would come from shifting funds from existing programs within NASA's current $86 billion budget. “The desire to explore and understand is part of our character," “The desire to explore and understand is part of our character,"

Return to the moon Trip to occur between 2015 and 2020 Trip to occur between 2015 and 2020 NASA has landed six manned missions on the moon since Apollo 11 in NASA has landed six manned missions on the moon since Apollo 11 in The next mission appear to have the following make up Target date: 2018 Length of trip: Three days Cost: $100 billion in today's dollars Staying there: atomic reactors, space suits, shelters, lunar vehicles. The next mission appear to have the following make up Target date: 2018 Length of trip: Three days Cost: $100 billion in today's dollars Staying there: atomic reactors, space suits, shelters, lunar vehicles.

Manned mission to Mars Target date: As early as 2030 Target date: As early as 2030 Program length: 15 years Program length: 15 years Trip time: 400 to 900 days round trip Trip time: 400 to 900 days round trip Large Crew size 7-20 Large Crew size 7-20 (yet to be determined) (yet to be determined) New spacecraft: Lift rockets or a new propulsion method Mother ship for crew Robot ship for supplies Landing craft Crew habitat module for Martian surface Rover for Martian surface Return launch system New spacecraft: Lift rockets or a new propulsion method Mother ship for crew Robot ship for supplies Landing craft Crew habitat module for Martian surface Rover for Martian surface Return launch system

Man on Mars: Background NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers, launched toward Mars on June 10 and July 7, 2003 NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers, launched toward Mars on June 10 and July 7, 2003 Solar powered machine, some limitations but ability to do many surface operations Solar powered machine, some limitations but ability to do many surface operations

Man on Mars: How do we get there? NASA has tested an ion rocket system NASA has tested an ion rocket system Nuclear Rocket a possibility (many risk involved) Nuclear Rocket a possibility (many risk involved) Spacecraft assembled and provisioned on the moon could escape its far lower gravity using far less energy and thus far less cost Spacecraft assembled and provisioned on the moon could escape its far lower gravity using far less energy and thus far less cost Minimum Trip would take about a year Minimum Trip would take about a year

Man on Mars: A reality? Estimation of Costs at 15 bil. but will escalate Estimation of Costs at 15 bil. but will escalate Robotic exploration costs about 1 percent of the price of sending humans Robotic exploration costs about 1 percent of the price of sending humans But “the only way we're ever going to understand Mars and its history is to have people there doing the work” But “the only way we're ever going to understand Mars and its history is to have people there doing the work” Radiation and Environmental concerns Radiation and Environmental concerns Health of the Crew Health of the Crew

Should we explore: Trip to Moon Almost certain it will happen in our lifetime Almost certain it will happen in our lifetime The moon "contains raw materials that might be harvested and processed into rocket fuel or breathable air." The moon "contains raw materials that might be harvested and processed into rocket fuel or breathable air."  With the experience and knowledge gained on the moon, we will then be ready to take the next steps of space exploration -- human missions to Mars and to worlds beyond"

Should we explore: Trip to Mars More unlikely, talk and capabilities have been around for while…money has been key issue More unlikely, talk and capabilities have been around for while…money has been key issue Safety of crew is also a factor, many unknowns Safety of crew is also a factor, many unknowns Technology developed along the way could be vastly beneficial to human society. Technology developed along the way could be vastly beneficial to human society. Next step in Space Exploration Next step in Space Exploration

Should We Explore: Yes  Bush touted the new space exploration effort as an investment that "will be repaid many times over" in technological advancements.  Private companies and other countries will play a role in financial issues  NASA will help with Safety issues.  500 years ago similar argument for exploration of seas…