an alternative master plan from a space based strategy
- Paper number
IAC-08.D3.1.3
- Author
Mr. Giorgio Gaviraghi, exponential design lab, Italy
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Since the beginning of space activities all programs have been Earth based. Earth , being at the bottom of a deep gravity well is one of the worst locations to perform extraterrestrial activities and launch space missions. Such location has forced the space program to severe limitations such as high cost per Kg of payload in orbit with unaffordable or non economic returns from most missions, limited payload size due to the limited dimensions of the rocket booster, need to assemble in space bigger hardware such as the space station or other planned missions. For the future the Orion plan for a return to the Moon, while representing a positive step forward from decades of no progress , is still based on the traditional Earth based approach and is a further example of the disadvantages of all the previous limitations. A completely different picture can be considered if we could base future missions not from the traditional earth based spaceports but from a space based platform, utilizing mostly materials and resources already in space, avoiding high costs and dimensional limitations. Such approach, requiring a completely different strategy that the existing one as well as the development of alternative technologies ,is based on the deflection of small asteroids (from 100K to 500K tons) in specific locations to maximise the results and benefits . Such strategy could change drastically the entire space plan allowing Moon or Mars missions at a fraction of the estimated cost with traditional approach as well as an acceleration in the overall schedule. Small asteroids rich in life support materials and resources properly deflected in cycling Earth-Moon or Earth Mars trajectories, equipped with a ring shaped automatic manufacturing plant to start production while still in travelling mode, called Retriever, developed by the author and described here, could slash general costs and guarantee a safer vehicle than the traditional system as well as an operational reusable and expandable base, guaranteeing life support requirements in situ for most needs such as water, air, fuel and food production, while being entirely reusable and at a reduced maintenance cost. Once in their operational trajectory and equipped with the AstroHab station system such transportation as well as operational habitat system could represent the new space based facilities from where an alternative new space plan could be based. A reduction of nearly eighty percent in overall costs and thirty percent in overall schedule for Moon and Mars manned missions could be possible with a space based dedicated strategy. Such data is shown in the Master Plan for space including cost comparisons with more traditional systems. In this paper we want to detail such space based strategy master plan for the 21st century highlighting and sequencing most main activities, milestones , basic requirements, alternative technologies and the advantages from such approach including a proposed alternative for asteroid deflection utilizing an exostructure anchored in the asteroid as a support for two properly sized deflection engines located at the end of a virtual line crossing the asteroid baricenter and assembled and built in situ utilizing local materials and properly equipped for mineral transformation and manufacturing facilities.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.D3.1.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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