The following is a portion of an email I sent to the local high school science teacher, asking if the district had plans to compete in this year's NASA Space Settlement Contest (
http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/ ). As I wrote the email I started to piece together some of the recent developments that might be of interest to someone participating in that contest. Then it hit me: I think we might just have all the pieces in place, or within 10 years time, to be able to afford building cities in space similar to those envisioned by Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill and/or to colonize Mars and the rest of the solar system.
As an aside, for those of you not familiar with Dr. O'Neill's work on the subject I recommend the google or buy his book "The High Frontier" etc.
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Recently, I read about NASA's goal of developing a cheaper space launch technology using a MagLev track and a scramjet which will then launch a space-bound payload once it gets to 200,000 feet and Mach 10. It was in the December issue of Popular Science (nerd alert!). Here is a little info on it but the article was more informative:
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-09/nasas-next-gen-spacelaunch-system-could-launch-scramjets-massive-railgunAnother development with potential is telerobotics, such as the drones flying over Afghanistan but piloted by soldiers in Nevada.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4851765Then I read about GM's robotic assistant for the space station,
http://www.tgdaily.com/space-features/49371-nasa-trains-humanoid-robot-for-space-station-dutyAnd finally, I read an article entitled, Could This Robot Build A House In A Day? Contour Crafting is the term they've coined.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/16/business/realestate/main2487598.shtmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fhryxVAsa4&eurl%20= - excessive volume alert, turn your speakers down first...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idTj5JXgoLs&feature=relatedA different company is vying for a contract with NASA to build structures on the Moon with a robotic builder that uses a different technology.
3-D Printing Device Could Build Moon Base from Lunar Dust
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/3-d-printer-moon-base-100416.html...which led me to this story about using 3D printing to make a space station in orbit
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/3d-space-printing-101111.htmlRemote controlled robotic habitat building; think big or think small?
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9176655/NASA_looking_to_six_legged_robot_to_build_human_outpost_on_Marshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081021190644.htmSo, my naturally inquisitive side kicked in and I wondered: have we reached the "tipping point" of converging technologies that would enable us to be able to afford to build space cities or to colonize Mars and the rest of the solar system? I remember a TV show called "Connections" that delved into the history of all the innovations required for a product or idea to have emerged, starting with a thing then working backwards through time, highlighting all the inventions and innovations that were required and inevitably led step by step to the things we have today. Those kind of wheels started turning in my head and I came to the conclusion that the answer just might be an unqualified YES. Of course Humans can do anything if money was no object but the cost effectiveness achieved by all these inventions has, I believe, finally enabled the space cities that I dreamed of as a teenager.
So, to summarize, we have:
- An inexpensive launch system that can put all the parts, equipment and raw materials into orbit without sending us to the poor house.
- Telerobitics and robot workers that will build the spaceships and space stations but are controlled from some guy in Las Vegas
... no humans in space building these things means lower costs and increased safety.
- Automated construction robots that will build the structures we mere Humans need to survive in hostile environments.
- 3D printing technology could even build an entire space station directly in orbit, or pieces of a very large station.
- Robotic vehicles that can navigate the terrain on the Moon and Mars to dig, push, move, carry and haul everything we need to build a complete city on Mars that is buried deep enough to be safe from the intense radiation yet contains all the things that Humans need to live: hydroponic gardens to grow food, parks and green spaces to keep people sane, labs, living spaces, entertainment, etc.
- Possibly, tiny robots could do the job if enough of them are tasked with working together on the task.
- The Vasimir plasma rocket could get us to mars in 39 days, greatly reducing the need to carry extra food and water just to make it to Mars, leaving more left over to supply the colony.
- Scientists are working on ways to use the natural resources that exist on Mars to build structures, make oxygen, and even make rocket fuel and water. Whatever we can find (or make) there is one less thing we'll have to fly there at great expense...
Thus my question to you? What do you think? Do we have all the tools needed to colonize space?