Show Stoppers
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Show Stoppers
Major problems that can stop our whole effort
Show Stoppers are problems for which we currently have no solutions, yet we cannot accomplish some major part of our mission until these very problems are solved.
Often there will be a long list of pros and cons around a technical idea, yet one small, insignificant problem will block all progress. All the other problems then become nothing but smoke or red herrings. Spotting and solving Show Stoppers is one of the great skills for a technical person that approaches being a Zen master.
The following Show Stoppers are blocking our way to returning the Moon. Can you come up with viable solutions?
Great Problems
The Interest of the American Public is Missing
The American people are not showing any interest in returning to the Moon.
What is at risk:
The entire Return to the Moon program is at risk of being dropped, again. Funding could dry up completely.
Technical Details of the Problem:
The idea of returning to the Moon was put forward by President George W. Bush, but did not catch on. It was subsequently driven from the public stage by the War in Iraq and Global Climate Change. Funding for NASA has been cut.
We will need to keep the return to the Moon idea alive even while moving substantial amounts of our space resources are moved back to Earth science to develop the data needed to understand and address the Global Climate Change problem.
Available Actions:
On Lunarpedia the Purposes List provides a wide selection of ideas on possible action to strengthen the Return to the Moon mission. Some of these articles look at what needs to be done and some look at how to do it.
The most important idea is to assist the American public to build a powerful vision of success around returning to the Moon. Once that vision is in place, actions will follow.
Global Climate Change
The climate of the Earth is changing due to the unintended actions of people and other factors.
What is at risk:
The entire Return to the Moon mission could simply be forgotten – again--.
Technical Details of the Problem:
Greenhouse gases are building up in the atmosphere from human activity. This is causing the over all temperature to raise and producing unexpected weather patterns with serious consequences for many human populations. The primary culprit is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels.
Space resources are needed to study the Earth’s atmosphere. This is by far the best way to do this job. We need the difficult decisions our leaders must make to be based on solid science and not on hand waving hysterics.
The total amount of money available for space related activities is limited. If we go back to stressing Earth science we must cut back some where else. The Return to the Moon project is a prime candidate for these cut backs.
We will also need robotic studies of the Sun, Mars, and Venus to provide the widest possible information on Earth’s problems. There however is little need for manned space missions to get key data.
This problem has a major political component. This should not come as a surprise because the space programs have always hand a major political component. Right now the Return to the Moon mission is seen as a Republican issue. And, climate change is seen as a Democratic issue. A flip-flop is therefore expected in the direction of the American space effort in 2008.
Such flip-flops are extremely detrimental to large space operations. Consider the many design changes the ISS when through in the 1990’s and problems and expense this incurred in this program.
Available Actions:
We have hand at least two practice runs on addressing similar environmental problems: Acid Rain, and the Ozone hole. In both cases we have made good progress but not entirely solved the problems. The Climate Change problem is in many ways similar, but much bigger.
A large number of technological innovations will be needed and are under development. We do not yet know which technologies will be the winners (wind, solar, etc.) so we have to back a great many horses in this race.
Space resources in the form of robot instruments are providing the key scientific data we need to both measure the severity of the problem and to monitor efforts to address it. There is no shortage of good ideas for science missions in this area.
Massive societal change during this century is certain. Change beyond historic levels is currently being driven by technological innovation, the population raise, and resource depletion. Big changes to address the Climate Change problem will be just part of the mix. When the dust settles, we do not know where we will be as a society and we do not know where the Return to the Moon mission will be. Wish us luck.
Technical Problems
Afternoon Temperatures at the Equator
The afternoon surface temperatures at the Lunar Equator are so high that it is very difficult to maintain human life support and protect critical equipment.
What is at risk:
No lunar site near the Equator can be visited for more than a few days until this problem is addressed. A permanent settlement in any of these promising locations is currently impossible. This, and only this, has driven us to the poles.
Technical Details of the Problem:
Maintaining living temperatures for the crew is one of the most important parts of a life support system. Also designing equipment, such as your return vehicle, to withstand high temperatures for long periods of time is difficult and expensive. High surface temperatures create a significant risk to both crew and mission.
In space the only way to dump waste heat is to radiate it to deep space. Specialized thermal radiator panels are used and must have a wide view of space. If these panels also see an expanse of hot lunar surface, they will work very poorly.
The temperature of lunar surface in the afternoon at the Equator can be above 100 C for more than 100 hours. Some key temperatures include:
| On the Earth: | Celsius | Kelvin | Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Body | 37 C | 310 K | 98.6 F |
| Room Temperature | 22 C | 295 K | 72 F |
| Hot living limit on Earth | 50 C | 322 K | 120 F |
| Boil an egg | 100 C | 373 K | 212 F |
| Afternoon on the Moon at the Equator: | |||
| Mean | 107 C | 380 K | 225 F |
| Maximum | 127 C | 400 K | 260 F |
| Daytime on the Moon at the Poles: | |||
| Mean | 0 C | 272 K | 32 F |
Very little equipment can stand being soaked at these high temperatures for this long. Normal space suits would keep you alive only a limited time. Your return spacecraft could become unusable even after it cools after sunset. At present this is seen as an unacceptable risk.
Available Actions:
This is the primary reason that sites for the first lunar station are only being considered at the poles. This one problem trumps everything else.
Life support could be maintained with a complex double cycle refrigeration system. These systems are complex and require significant mass shipped from Earth. The reliability of these systems is under question.
Some form of umbrella or tent is possible for outside equipment, such as your return spacecraft, but the protection is limited. Again this brings up safety issues.
In the long run a number of actions are possible:
- A polar base could provide a relatively easy to reach safe heaven in emergencies.
- Living space can be covered with Lunar Regolith as described in Architecture as Mole Hills. This both stabilizes the temperature and provides radiation protection.
- Partially buried hangers for outside equipment and robots are also possible.
If you favor an equatorial site for the first lunar settlement, solve this problem.
Lunar Dust
The damage to suits, equipment, and seals done by the dust portion of the lunar Regolith could be so high that long term settlement and commercialization of the Moon will be uneconomical.
What is at risk:
All long-term lunar settlement and industrial operations are at risk.
Technical Details of the Problem:
Maintaining equipment on the Moon is a big problem. Ware from grit is a major source of equipment wearing out and breaking down. Failure of seals from grit abrasion is a major risk for spacesuits and habitat entrances.
The spacesuits used on the Apollo missions were worn out in only three days. Problems included both the retention of dust by the outer Bata cloth layer and damage to seals, particularly at the wrists.
Another example of a piece of standard industrial equipment that is causing concern is the hydraulic piston. These are used extensively on Earth for construction and industrial activity as they can provide great force through a linear distance. It is quite common to see their exposed polished steel cylinders in construction site equipment. These pistons must be sealed against high pressure hydraulic fluid to work.
The seals for these cylinders have several stages. The outer most stage wipes off dust and dirt, while the inter stages apply a film of oil to keep the cylinder rust free.
The lunar environment is radically different from the one the pistons see on Earth. The oil film is broken down by ultraviolet light from the Sun to make a sticky brown film. The omnipresent grit coats everything and can even move around on its own by electrostatic forces. Currently we are denied one of the real work-horse devices of industry.
Available Actions:
A great deal of work is being done on seals, particularly for the new spacesuits. All the surfaces of these suits are also being designed to be smooth and shed dust.
We need more work on hydraulic oil and lubricants for space use. Currently very high priced space versions of these materials (for example $700.00 a pound for grease) are available.
We need more work on elastic boots to cover moving parts on the Moon. One Earth example many people are familiar with is the neoprene boots on the CVC joints in the front end of a car. If boots fail, then CVC joint soon follows. A lunar rated flexible boot would be a real step forward.
Materials designed for the worst Earth industrial environments are becoming available for lunar work.
