Space Exploration: Should Space Exploration: Should It Be Done?It Be Done?

Nishith Patel Nishith Patel

Components of the PlanComponents of the Plan Creation of a new manned Creation of a new manned

space vehicle will return space vehicle will return humans to the moon within humans to the moon within 16 years. 16 years.

Permanent presence on the Permanent presence on the moonmoon

Spacecraft could assembled Spacecraft could assembled and launched from the moon. and launched from the moon. They could easily escape its They could easily escape its far lower gravity using and far lower gravity using and use less energy, decreasing use less energy, decreasing costscosts

Components of the Plan: Components of the Plan: White House ReleaseWhite House Release

Initiation Of The New Plan Initiation Of The New Plan On January, 15 2004 George Bush On January, 15 2004 George Bush Bush proposed spending $12 billion Bush proposed spending $12 billion

over the next five years on the over the next five years on the effort. About $1 billion of that will effort. About $1 billion of that will come from an increase in NASA's come from an increase in NASA's budget, while the other $11 billion budget, while the other $11 billion would come from shifting funds would come from shifting funds from existing programs within from existing programs within NASA's current $86 billion budget. NASA's current $86 billion budget.

““The desire to The desire to explore and explore and understand is part of understand is part of our character," our character,"

Return to the moonReturn to the moon Trip to occur between 2015 and Trip to occur between 2015 and

20202020 NASA has landed six manned NASA has landed six manned

missions on the moon since Apollo missions on the moon since Apollo 11 in 1969. 11 in 1969.

The next mission appear to have The next mission appear to have the following make up the following make up Target date: 2018Target date: 2018Length of trip: Three daysLength of trip: Three daysCost: $100 billion in today's dollarsCost: $100 billion in today's dollarsStaying there: atomic reactors, Staying there: atomic reactors, space suits, shelters, lunar space suits, shelters, lunar vehicles.vehicles.

Manned mission to MarsManned mission to Mars

Target date: As early as 2030Target date: As early as 2030 Program length: 15 yearsProgram length: 15 years Trip time: 400 to 900 days round tripTrip 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:New spacecraft: • Lift rockets or a new propulsion method • Lift rockets or a new propulsion method • Mother ship for crew • Mother ship for crew • Robot ship for supplies • Robot ship for supplies • Landing craft • Landing craft • Crew habitat module for Martian surface • Crew habitat module for Martian surface • Rover for Martian surface • Rover for Martian surface • Return launch system • Return launch system

Man on Mars: BackgroundMan on Mars: Background

NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers, launched toward Mars Exploration Rovers, launched toward Mars on June 10 and July 7, 2003on June 10 and July 7, 2003

Solar powered machine, some limitations Solar powered machine, some limitations but ability to do many surface operationsbut ability to do many surface operations

Man on Mars: How do we get Man on Mars: How do we get there?there?

NASA has tested an ion NASA has tested an ion rocket systemrocket system

Nuclear Rocket a possibility Nuclear Rocket a possibility (many risk involved)(many risk involved)

Spacecraft assembled and Spacecraft assembled and provisioned on the moon provisioned on the moon could escape its far lower could escape its far lower gravity using far less energy gravity using far less energy and thus far less cost and thus far less cost

Minimum Trip would take Minimum Trip would take about a yearabout a year

Man on Mars: A reality?Man on Mars: A reality? Estimation of Costs at 15 bil. but will escalateEstimation of Costs at 15 bil. but will escalate Robotic exploration costs about 1 percent of the price of Robotic exploration costs about 1 percent of the price of

sending humanssending humans But “the only way we're ever going to understand Mars But “the only way we're ever going to understand Mars

and its history is to have people there doing the work”and its history is to have people there doing the work” Radiation and Environmental concerns Radiation and Environmental concerns Health of the CrewHealth of the Crew

Should we explore: Trip to Moon Should we explore: Trip to Moon

Almost certain it will happen in Almost certain it will happen in our lifetimeour lifetime

The moon "contains raw materials The moon "contains raw materials that might be harvested and that might be harvested and processed into rocket fuel or processed into rocket fuel or breathable air." breathable air."

With the experience and With the experience and knowledge gained on the moon, knowledge gained on the moon, we will then be ready to take the we will then be ready to take the next steps of space exploration -- next steps of space exploration -- human missions to Mars and to human missions to Mars and to worlds beyond"worlds beyond"

Should we explore: Trip to MarsShould we explore: Trip to Mars More unlikely, talk and capabilities have been around for while…money has More unlikely, talk and capabilities have been around for while…money has

been key issuebeen 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 Technology developed along the way could be vastly beneficial to human

society. society. Next step in Space ExplorationNext step in Space Exploration

Should We Explore: YesShould We Explore: Yes

Bush touted the new space Bush touted the new space exploration effort as an exploration effort as an investment that "will be repaid investment that "will be repaid many times over" in many times over" in technological advancements.technological advancements.

Private companies and other Private companies and other countries will play a role in countries will play a role in financial issuesfinancial issues

NASA will help with Safety NASA will help with Safety issues. issues.

500 years ago similar argument 500 years ago similar argument for exploration of seas… for exploration of seas…