Final Project

Tracie B.

Legislator:  Troy Fraser, Senator

 

LUNAR ONE will be an American city on the moon with a population of at least 100,000 and the possibility of further expansion. The United States will oversee the development of the colony. Within the area of the colony, the United States will provide water, oxygen, electricity, and waste removal for a fee. The United States will either develop water, oxygen, and electricity production itself, or contract the production to different corporations.

Individuals, corporations, etc. may purchase land from the United States for their own use with the approval of NASA. NASA approval will be based on the resources that the individual or corporation has available and the contribution the individual or corporation will make to the colony. Each individual or corporation will be responsible for finding and/or developing the equipment and facilities they need.  Strict building codes will be enforced to ensure safety and success of the colony. These building codes will require that each building have adequate radiation protection and micrometeoroid protection. Buildings will also be required to contain suitable insulation to reduce energy requirements while maintaining a comfortable and safe environment for inhabitants. Fire prevention, warning, and containment components will also be required in every building. Cigarettes will be banned from the colony.  The lunar colony would be an extension of the United States. For voting purposes, U.S. citizens will be considered residents of their previous states. The settlers would be allowed to vote in all elections. United States currency would be used on the moon. Credit cards and debit cards would probably be preferred to cash as they could be used to make purchases electronically. International settlers and visitors would have to go through the same processes to get to the moon as international visitors and immigrants to the United States do today. Once the population of the lunar colony reached a designated point, lunar settlers would hold an election to determine if the lunar colony would become the fifty-first state of the United States. If the measure passed, citizens of the colonies would then vote on a name, hold elections, make their own state laws, adopt a flag, etc.

Development of the lunar colony would take place in three phases as follows:

Phase 1: Research and Site Selection

Data from previous lunar missions will be analyzed to select up to ten sites on the moon with the potential to be the location of the first lunar outpost. Manned exploration expeditions follow. Explorers study the composition of lunar soils in each area to determine the type and quantity of resources available. Some of the tools used by the exploration expeditions would include spectrometers to determine the composition of different materials, and drilling equipment and /or seismographic equipment to attain an idea of the quantity of resources available. These expeditions would also carry out a more extensive study of the environment to determine temperatures, radiation exposure, and the frequency of micrometeor hits in each area. In addition, expeditions would gather information on the topography of each site.

Step 2: The data collected from the exploration expeditions would be analyzed and one site would be selected for location of the lunar colony.  Data would be made available to various organizations, corporations, etc. that were interested in providing mining services, building materials manufacturing, oxygen production and distribution, water production and distribution, power production, housing, and food production and processing.  Engineers would begin designing and testing the equipment and processes necessary to set up the infrastructure for the colony.

Step 3: Individuals and organizations begin to apply for land. NASA and all other groups involved would work together to develop a blueprint for a lunar colony of one hundred thousand people. The blueprint would include: Power plants- By this point, power companies involved in providing power for the lunar station would have a general idea of the power requirements for the lunar colony at various stages. They would also know whether the site was in permanent sunlight, permanent darkness, or a combination of sunlight and darkness. With this knowledge they would have developed a plan to provide reliable power to the lunar colony. If the lunar colony was not in total darkness or sunlight, the plan might include photovoltaic arrays for use during the lunar days. When not in use, these arrays would have the capability of being rolled up for protection from micrometeoroids. At night, nuclear power plants could provide power to the lunar colony. The actual power plant designs would depend on the initial needs of the colony, the building materials available on the moon, the cost of transporting materials from Earth, safety concerns, environmental concerns, etc. For example, nuclear power generators would probably be easier to construct and generate more electricity than solar arrays. However, nuclear power generators create radioactive waste and pose the threat of a nuclear disaster. Each factor will be carefully considered in designing safe and reliable power sources on the moon. Land in the colony will be set aside for the power plants needed initially, and for future expansion.  Mining facilities- At this stage, mining companies would know the composition of the lunar regolith in the area of the lunar colony. They would have an idea of the quantity of raw materials needed in the colony (oxygen, other gases, metals, silicon, etc.) They would also have an idea of the volume and mass of lunar regolith required to produce the needed amounts of raw materials. With this knowledge, they would design the equipment and processes needed to mine these materials. They would calculate their energy requirements and report these requirements to the power companies. Land in and around the colony will be zoned for mining.  If a great volume of raw lunar regolith is needed to produce the necessary products, plans might include an electric train system to move mining equipment to mining sites, raw lunar regolith to processing facilities, and intermediate products to manufacturing facilities.

Manufacturing facilities- Manufacturing companies would work together with the mining companies to develop building materials that are needed in the lunar colony. Metals, such as iron, aluminum, and titanium, could be used to manufacture structural beams, rods, wires for power generation and distribution, pipes and storage tanks for fuel, water, and other fluids, furniture, transportation system components, etc. Manufacturing companies might manufacture solar arrays for power generation from lunar silicon.  Cast basalt or sintered blocks could be fashioned out of lunar regolith.  These blocks could be used for radiation protection, and in the construction of small buildings. The materials manufactured by these companies will be  dictated by the resources available in the colony and the demand for building materials.

Water facilities- The plans for water production will also be based on the lunar resources and colony demands. By the time the blueprints are being drawn up, water companies will know whether ice is available in deposits near the colony. This would probably be the first source for water if it is available. A second option is the creation of water from oxygen processed from lunar regolith and hydrogen brought from Earth. This option would also generate energy. Either option requires that mining companies work with water distribution companies to ensure a plentiful supply. Water companies will have a general idea of the volume of water that will be needed by the colony. Water will probably be an important component in various cooling systems and processes in the mining, manufacturing, power production, and air cooling systems of the colony, so these needs must be considered during the engineering phase of the water system. Water companies will need to design distribution systems, waste water collection systems, and recycling systems to handle the volume of water used by the colony efficiently. These systems will be included in the blueprints for the colony.  

Oxygen facilities- Oxygen for the lunar colony will be processed from lunar regolith. It will be mixed with other gases and distributed to various areas of the colony using pressurized gas lines. The air will be sold to customers by volume. Most customers will have individual air cleaning and purifying devices in their homes or places of work, but eventually the air will need to be recycled and replaced. Other pipelines will be used to collect gas containing high levels of CO2 and other harmful gases. The gas collected would be cleaned and redistributed. Air production companies may work with food production companies in order to take advantage of carbon dioxide absorbing, oxygen releasing plants in food production farms. The designs for air production, distribution, collection, and recycling systems will be included in the blueprint of the colony. Food facilities- Land in the colony will be set aside for food production and processing facilities.

Housing- Residential areas in the colony will be outlined.

Trade- Areas of the colony will be set aside for business and recreation.

Government- A central area in the colony will be set aside for government buildings.

Transportation- The blueprint of the colony will include designs for a spaceport. In the beginning stages of the colony, the spacecraft will primarily transport equipment, building materials, and supplies to the colony. Later, as the colony develops, the spacecraft will be used to transport people to and from the moon, and deliver supplies that are not made on the moon.  Blueprints for the colony will also contain designs for an electric subway transportation system for travel within the colony.

Phase 2: Infrastructure for the lunar colony is established.

Step 1: Initial power generators are set up. Mining facilities are set up and teleoperated mining begins on the moon.

Step 2: Living facilities for the first crews are transported and assembled on the moon. In addition, limited research facilities are set up. These research facilities are made available for colony food production and processing research, healthcare research, etc. (the organizations that require research in order to better serve the lunar colony in the future.)

Step 3: The following may occur in any order, or simultaneously as dictated by necessity:

-oxygen production, air purification, circulation, and recycling systems are established.

-water production, distribution, collection, and recycling systems are established.

-power plants are built along with distribution equipment.

-recycling and waste management systems are set up.

-spaceports are built.

-electric train transportation systems are built.

-construction of food production and processing facilities begins.

-construction of housing begins.

Phase 3: The colony is opened for settlement.

Once the infrastructure is set up, other organizations begin applying for land on the moon. A system of free enterprise develops, and travel between the Earth and lunar colonies becomes frequent and routine. The number and types of jobs on the moon is limited only by the imagination. Colonists will need schools, banks, healthcare facilities, recreational facilities, fitness facilities, transportation facilities,... The moon would be an ideal location to set up a telescope system to study the stars. The possibilities for research on the moon are endless. The moon would also be an excellent place for persons who have suffered strokes, spinal cord injuries, or other serious injuries to undergo therapy and rehabilitation because the moon has less gravity than the Earth.

Transportation to LUNAR ONE:

Travel will be expensive, but not astronomical. The average lunar settler will travel to the earth three times a year. This means that transportation systems will need to accommodate that volume of travelers. A fleet of Second Generation Shuttles will provide transportation from the Earth to the International Space Station Spaceport. Second Generation Shuttles will take off in a vertical position, dock with the ISS Spaceport to exchange passengers, re-enter the atmosphere and fly like an airplane to land at any airport. The ISS Spaceport will be a changeover and resting point for travelers. Travelers on their way to the moon will board a Lunar Shuttle and take off. The Lunar Shuttle will land on a runway on the moon, unload passengers and cargo, be refueled and inclined to a vertical position, and take-off for another trip to the ISS Spaceport.

Living Areas on LUNAR ONE:

During the first developmental stages, the United States will furnish crew quarters for a fee. Slowly, businesses may see the need to provide more diverse housing options than those provided by the government, and they may begin to build other housing complexes on the moon. Eventually, the majority of the housing on the moon will be owned by individuals or corporations rather than the government. Some groups may decide to buy the limited government housing stations and convert them into "hotels" for short-term visitors to the lunar colony.

Food on LUNAR ONE:

In the beginning stages, those working in the colony will eat food transported from the Earth. Food will be prepared and distributed from a central area as the individual quarters will not have food storage and preparation devices. Everyone will be required to purchase a meal ticket.  In later stages, housing complexes may include food storage and preparation appliances. People could buy food and prepare it on their own. At this stage in the development of the colony, some groups may begin building and operating businesses that produce food. Hydroponics facilities may produce fruits, vegetables, and grains. Dairies and chicken farms may be developed to provide settlers with dairy products, eggs, and meat. Fish farms could also provide food for the colonists. Other facilities will be developed to process, store, and distribute the food. By the time the population of LUNAR ONE reaches 100,000, there will be many places to get food. In shopping and recreation centers, food courts and restaurants will offer food. Also, supermarkets will provide a variety of foods produced on the moon or transported from Earth.  

LUNAR ONE

The first lunar colony will probably never be completely independent of the Earth, but is any city completely independent? It may be possible for LUNAR ONE to isolate itself from the Earth and provide the food, water, oxygen, power, etc. for all the settlers to survive, but settlers do not want to be isolated. Instead the LUNAR ONE colony will be an extension of human space travel. The establishment of an extensive lunar colony will allow a great number of people to experience space travel. LUNAR ONE will show an example of how a free enterprise system can accelerate the development of new technologies and the achievement of goals. LUNAR ONE will also provide an excellent station for research and testing of new technologies needed for an expedition to Mars.

Sources:

http://www-sn.jsc.nasa.gov/PlanetaryMissions/EXLibrary/docs/ISRU/00toc.htm

Mining in Space

http://www-sn.jsc.nasa.gov/PlanetaryMissions/EXLibrary/docs/ISRU/05Prod.htm

Some Useful Space Products

http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/results/lunarice/eureka.html

Eureka! Ice found at lunar poles!

http://www-sn.jsc.nasa.gov/PlanetaryMissions/EXLibrary/DOCS/EIC048.HTML

LUNAR OXYGEN PRODUCTION - A MATURING TECHNOLOGY Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space IVAmerican Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 1157-1166, 1994 Carlton C. Allen, Gary G. Bond, and David S. McKay

http://www.sciam.com/explorations/1998/0316moon/

Scientific American Forum Luna Inc.

http://howstuffworks.lycos.com/nuclear-power3.htm

"How Nuclear Power Works" by Marshall Brain Copyright 1998-2001 Howstuffworks, Inc.

http://www.southernco.com/learningpower/whats_electricity.asp?mnuOpco=&mnuType=sub&mnuItem=

Southern Company Explanation of electricity

http://powerweb.lerc.nasa.gov/psi/DOC/lbpaper.html

NASA TM 102090 SP-100 Power System Conceptual Design for Lunar Base Applications 

 

Lee S. Mason and Harvey S. Bloomfield 

NASA Lewis Research Center 

Cleveland, OH 44135 

 

Donald C. Hainley Sverdrup 

Technology, Inc. 

NASA Lewis Research Center Group 

Cleveland, OH

Last Updated: 09/07/01