Global Environmental Change: Geoengineering Technology
The `overview effect,' looking at the entire Planet Earth from space, has communicated the reality of the limited extent of our environment and its apparent fragility. Space continues...
The Potential for the Department of Defense to Use Space-Based Remote Sensing to Support DOD and Other Government Agencies' Environmental Programs
This paper describes the potential for the Department of Defense (DOD) to support other government agencies in the management of national and worldwide environmental programs. The DOD...
A Summary of the NEPSTP Nuclear Safety Program
The Nuclear Electric Propulsion Space Test Program (NEPSTP) is sponsored by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) to demonstrate and evaluate the Russian-built TOPAZ II nuclear...
TOPAZ II System Description
The TOPAZ II single-cell thermionic space reactor power system was designed, built and tested by the former Soviet Union (Russia). It has been purchased by the United States (U.S.) for...
TOPAZ II Qualification and Nuclear Testing Program
This paper presents an overview of the Topaz II qualification and nuclear test program. The program combines the joint efforts and resources of Russian and American specialists and organizations...
A Discussion of Nuclear Propulsion in Space Travel
Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is gaining popularity as a safe alternative to conventional propulsion. Such alternatives are desirable to meet the goals of lunar colonization and manned...
Is It Possible to Colonize Mars?
Is it possible to colonize the planet Mars? A planet that is believed to be the most clement planet in the solar system, next to Earth. Despite the fact that it is a very clement planet,...
Construction of a Lunar Base
The United States' space program has the capabilities to build a lunar base, but must build an infrastructure which allows the easy transportation of the construction materials. Once this...
Biosphere II - Its Effects on Space Colonization
In the middle of the Arizona desert, a strange sight can be seen. A small world with ecosystems and different climate zones, just like Earth, is enclosed in glass and steel. The 3.15 acre...
Space Stations Past, Present, and Future
The paper discusses the evolution, present state and future of space stations. Man's interest in the stars led to many inventions and the ultimate launching of the Russian satellite Sputnik,...
Space Exploration: Getting a Handle on Why?
The two prominent economic issues facing the U.S. today are competitiveness and the huge federal deficit. Economics being the counter-intuitive science that it is, a reasonable exploration...
Habitat Configuration Evaluation Criteria for Moon/Mars
The purpose of this paper is to identify the methodology, evaluation criteria, criteria definitions for evaluating surface habitat configuration concepts for the Moon and Mars. The main...
Science Operations and Engineering Impacts to Lunar Outpost Design
Recent work by scientists and engineers at the Johnson Space Center ha led to a better understanding of the requirements and interfaces needed at an initial lunar outpost to enable scientific...
Logistics Carriers for the First Lunar Outpost
This paper describes that aspect of logistics concerned with the design parameters and operation of hardware that may be used to deliver and protect spares and resupply items for NASA's...
Utilization of Liquid Carbon Dioxide for Planetary Exploration
The major component of the atmosphere of Venus and Mars is carbon dioxide CO2. This proposal is to use this carbon dioxide for planetary exploration...
Transferring Construction Technology to the Moon and Back
This paper examines past NASA contributions to the construction industry, analyzes the challenges ahead for space-based construction, cites examples of new technologies currently used...
Terrestrial Analogs: Implications for Lunar Lava Tubes
Earlier work has demonstrated that lava tubes did form on the Moon. Comparison of terrestrial lava tubes to their lunar counterparts suggest that they are very similar despite the order...
Kinetic Interpretations of First Reactivity Experiments on Lunar Basalt Samples
For the first time, water/oxygen production from Apollo program lunar samples has been experimentally demonstrated. The experiments gave extremely encouraging results as all ilmenite was...
Lunar Base Aspects for Biotechnology Industry
A lunar base can provide unique services to biotechnology research, development, and production. A lunar location as well as the vacuum environment can protect experiments from contamination...
Design Criteria for Lunar Construction Equipment
It is anticipated that lunar installations will, from the beginning, require moving and assembly of components and the use of lunar regolith as a construction material. The functional...
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