Moon Pie

A cutting analysis.

To continue the theme introduced in my last outing; this Loonie notes the re-emergence of (Liquid) “Gold Fever” notably here at the somewhat  excellent Space Review of Jeff Foust. In this piece Jim Gagnon sets out a rational for ‘divvying up’ the Moon and takes it further at his Blog: “On the Path to Space.”

One quote from the first article leapt out at this former space cadet.
So much so, that what was going to be just a simple comment; has evolved into the piece you are now reading. (Thank you! )

[A reason for HSF]“…that resonates with Americans and all peoples of the world at a visceral level.”

This somewhat innocuous statement is a quantum leap in the right direction. (Although you will note it is still the US and Them!) Nevertheless up to about a year ago this latter collective noun would not have been seen. There might have been a codicil for the “poor impoverished” Russians and some bleak sabre rattling statement about the inscrutable Chinese… But “all the peoples of the world?” It would seem that,  in the somewhat right of centre space community they are at last shaking off the Unilateralist Vision of Bush the Younger. Vide “Question (lunar authority)” By Taylor Dinerman (Space Review, 29th Sept 2008):

“Why should anyone in America accept the idea that a European straightjacket is a suitable garment for our next moves into the cosmos?” (ibid.)

Prior to this, there was the even more outrageous initiative set out by Alan Wasser (Space Future, October 2001) A massive (1,600,000 square km.) land grab for the first ‘private’ enterprise to achieve a settlement. Noting that this area neatly encompasses one of the lunar poles! One of the passages is telling:

“The profits on land sales which take place in the U.S. will, of course, be subject to U.S. taxes, so the Budget Office will score this legislation as a revenue producer, not a cost to the U.S.
It sounds strange because we haven’t done it yet, but there is growing sentiment for extending private property and the benefits of free enterprise to space. Former House Science Committee chair Bob Walker has suggested that the Bush administration would like to develop such a legal structure. “

However according to the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty such a concern would need to be operated by stateless persons, from a launch platform outside of any internationally agreed border and equipped and financed by a similarly stateless fashion. Shades of Captain Nemo! And it would still be illegal!

One imagines that as the gilt continues to peel off America’s Global Hyper-Trappings the concept of “first come, first served” is also losing its gloss.
Indeed such a lot of “Liquid Gold” has passed under the bridge since then, that the recent Committee on Human Spaceflight (Augustine II) took critical submissions not only from ESA but Roscosmos as well!  And thus, unless I am VERY much mistaken, the Unilateralist plan to ditch the ISS in 2015 is history. One also hopes that America will also be able to extend the  Shuttle… in one form or another.

But let us return to the Moon.

A good summary of the current state of play is the wonderfully prescient: “Who owns the moon? It’s ‘complicated,’ say experts!” (Lara Farrar, For CNN 19th May 2008) which ends with: “My feeling is until we know what is there, we shouldn’t mess with it,” [Henry Hertzfeld, a space analyst at George Washington University's Space Policy Institute. (ibid.)]

“It” of course is the infamous Moon Treaty currently languishing as a ratified but largely impotent international framework for advancing beyond LEO. This Loonie believes that one of the reasons why we, as a space faring species, have not advanced further… is because we know that  (re)negotiations are going to make Kyoto and Copenhagen look like petty domestic issues! But the discovery of substantial reserves of water compels the international community (Space Div.) to seriously revisit the Moon Treaty.  Now that we know that certain areas of the Moon are even more: “the most valuable pieces of real estate in the Solar System.” [To paraphrase Paul Spudis.] Namely the rather small polar locations possessing (near) continuous insolation and proximity to the shadowed depths where water and other volatiles might be found.

Some stop gap solutions:

A/ Peaks of permanent photoelectricity.
First come first served! After all we need a land rush don’t we? So the first persons; companies; space agencies or other entity to deploy an array gets to keep that bit of ground and rights of access via an associated  transmission line. Should the facility fall into disuse or abandonment: laws of salvage could be employed. No solar squatters as it were.  Hopefully though, the first settlements will be international in nature and thus power: a cooperative resource. Whilst the rush may be on at the poles;  at lower latitudes solar will only be 50% of the mix with nuclear the next most likely option. In the long term this Loonie would suggest that solar power will be beamed down from SPS constellations during the long lunar night.  Solar Power as a driver for a land rush is ideal as the short term urgency is replaced by irrelevancy in the long run.

B/ Non replaceable volatiles.
Common heritage. After scientific analysis, all deposits of non replaceable hydrogen, organics and whatnot are ring fenced by your local Life Support System and held in trust for future generations. In converse to the issue of Solar Power; it is important that the ideals set out in the Moon Treaty,  or its successor, are demonstrated right from the start.  Thus setting the tone for a Solar Commonwealth as our nascent ecologies move out into space. Again, in the long term, these volatiles are not in short supply but mining the Oort cometary halo may take a while!

C/ Replaceable Hydrogen and other volatiles
Conversely the big discovery by the Chandrayaan team that Hydroxyl ‘dew’ forms on the lunar surface is the real game changer. These volatiles: ‘mined’ from the solar wind can be expended for rocket fuel. Critically, as we run out of Helium here on Earth, lunar extraction may be our only source! This Loonie sees large scale concessions on the FarSide – so as not to spoil the view. Micro Graphic advertising requiring a really powerful telescope may also prove lucrative! These concessions fund the global ‘Divvy.’

D/ Oxygen (LUNOX) all the traffic will bear… Ditto: Al; Fe; Ti and any Platinum Group Metals you find using the Wingo Hypothesis! Again concessions and some form of profit sharing would add to the ‘Divvy.’

E/ Land With the exception of sites of special historical interest:  the  various probes, Apollo landing sites,… or those of special scientific interest; this Loonie would propose that a base would claim a radial 10km per person in permanent residence; allowing for crew rotation.  Or a generous 314.16 sq km. (MoonPi!) However a multinational base  would get a radial 100 km and a truly international base: 1000 km! (i.e. roughly one tenth: 3. 142 × 10⁶ km² vs 3.793 × 10⁷ km² total lunar surface area)
However when it comes to the Moon we have to think of “Cubic.” And there’s plenty of Cubic for everyone: 2.7245 cubic km/person. 2.195 8 × 10¹⁰ km³/  World Population (2020) 8.0563 x 10⁹

(Bagsies the bit at the centre!)

Lunar Authority: A solution.

Before very long we will need some sort of straightjacket governing body to oversee the exploration and exploitation of the Moon. Whilst this may be an anathema to Taylor Dinerman and other MegaCapitalists who want the MegaCorporate approach; this Loonie believes that the capitalistic meme is not one to be perpetuated. Especially in the light of recent events and  lessons learnt by the Captialisation of Russia. Outer Space Oligarchs? No thank you! Nor should the Nationalistic meme prevail. Instead we take one step away from a pure national interest by using the various Agencies: NASA, RosCosmos, CNSA,… as the founding members of a Lunar  Cooperative. Whilst each would, in practice, represent their respective governments’  national interests;  in the long term a Lunar Authority charged: “with the sacred trust of Luna for all Humankind” [To paraphase RAH in "Moon is a Harsh Mistress."] …might just evolve into a body with a Supra-National outlook without the need to placate the Shareholders.
Or stuff the expense account!

This would consist of permanent members; rotating members and a Chair.

• Permanent members. Those Organisations/Nations with an indigenous human launch capability. Thus encouraging the same. Currently: Russia, America, China. Soon: France (not ESA!) India, Brazil …UK (Last to the party. As always!)
  Permanent Members supporting a Lunar Base would have the right of Veto!
• Rotating Members:
  Countries without an indigenous launching capability and equal in number to the permanent members. Chosen in the same mysterious manner as the current Security Council!
• Chair: Chosen from the great and the good in the same way as the U.N. Secretary-General and again from those Nations without an
  indigenous launching capability. Has veto and casting vote!

For an existing parallel this Loonie would suggest the International Seabed Authority set up by the Law of the Sea Convention.

Business Model

Alas this former space cadet has no head for money. Let alone high finance. Clearly the Lunar Society of Equitable Pioneers cannot consider a per capita ‘divvy’. The last thing we need is a positive reinforcer for population growth. Perhaps a backdated inverse relationship to terrestrial pollution: CO2; radiation; toxic chemicals;… might figure in the algorithm. Which would bring the Green Movement into the fold, instead of growling at its contents from outside the pen: currently milling around in confusion!  Reluctantly this loonie must leave the division of the Moon Pie to experts in Game Theory and Cake Cutting.

In researching this article I have also found other worthies pondering this problem:

Who Owns the Moon? (20th November 2009 Richard Elkind, Cornell Daily Sun)

There’s Water on the Moon, But Who Owns It? (18th November 2009 Ashby Jones, Wall Street Journal)

We do!

Water Water everywhere!

But not a drop to drink!

The recent announcement and release of preliminary findings from the LCROSS impactor probes is indeed good news for the Lunatic fringe (Myself included!) Who want to see the O’Neillian and Marburgerian Vision of Lunar resources being utilised to boot-strap Humanity out of  the Cradle.
One wonders what the world would be like if we had adopted the:

Alternative Plan for U.S. National Space Program

(Gerard K. O’Neill, President Space Studies Institute)
http://spacestudiesinstitute.wordpress.com/papers/alternative-plan-for-us-national-space-program/

Or, indeed, if NASA had not been sidetracked from the VSE into the current ESAS mess it finds itself! But we are where we are. The question is how do we go about getting there?

Some words of caution before we get all gung-ho.

Access
The lunar poles are not easy to reach. Indeed the Ares/ Orion/ Altair system, although designed initially for “any-point access” and “any-time return” is now somewhat constrained from these goals. Previous posts have sketched out an alternative architecture so this author will not dwell on the topic here.

Legality
Whether unilateralists  like it or not, the Moon Treaty is in force. The various space superpowers may not have signed or ratified but unless its provisions are paid lip service the ramifications will not bode well for our mutual expansion into our solar system. I would rather see our failure as a species: doomed to planet bound oblivion than see the export of the current model: “Might makes right!” …into the Cosmos. Whilst sorting out the current mess we as a species have created in “The Cradle” it behooves us and, more importantly, our collective political class to make sure it does not happen all over again in “The Nursery”. We must learn to equitably share the remaining resources here on Earth, notably at our rapidly melting polar regions, before melting the resources at the lunar poles.

Or perhaps we can use a Lunar model of equitable exploitation as the basis of  a real New World Order!

Science
If, as I suspect, the ice deposits in the shadowed depths of Cabeus and other deep polar craters is a sequence of deposited solar protons/nascent hydroxyl radicals layered with cometary impact residue and meteorite ejecta fines. Then, as a historical record of our solar system its value is incalculable! Just as we learn of past events from dendro-chronology “tree-rings” and cores taken from sources ranging from your local pond to the deepest ocean depths. These polar deposits will unlock key processes in the evolution of this solar system and, by extension, the other solar systems that are being revealed in our galactic neighbourhood. Perhaps it would be a good idea to use the opportunity of revisiting the Moon Treaty to preserve the deepest and most scientifically important deposits before the Space Cowboys move in!

Contamination
Apart from the commercial destruction of a pristine scientific resource, the data indicates: carbon dioxide, methanol and sulphur dioxide. So far. If the other cometary gases are also present there may be cyanide too! But Carbon and Nitrogen, in whatever form, is a definite bonus. If we are to have a meaningful lunar ecology these low atomic weight components would have to have been imported from Earth before NEO colonial exploitation could provide a low cost in-situ source for these precious elements.

An additional word of caution:

Temperature!
The crater floor was determined to be -220° Celsius or roughly 53° Kelvin (Absolute zero: −273.15° Celsius.) In comparison those two plucky Mars rovers “Spirit” & “Oppy” have endured temperatures of the martian winter -95° C;  Phoenix *may* endure a Martian Polar Winter of  -128° C and Huygens lasted some ninety minutes at -179.55° Celsius (93.6° K) on the surface of Titan. All of these somewhat chilly places are warmer than the crater floor of Cabeus! Our tele-robotic avatars will also be contrained by access to power. Bearing in mind that photovoltaics are not an option in the permanent shadows and that a RTG may well destroy what the ‘Bot has been sent to find! This author is thinking Tolkinesque sized spidery ‘bots with narrow spidery legs for locomotion and spinning a long spidery thread back to a source of power!

Super-Heuristic Experimental Lunar Observation Bot?

The repair teams sent out to recover frozen spider-bots are unlikely to have similar problems. The human body is an efficient heat generator, so cooling will still probably be required! The Apollo Lunar Suit could cope with -156° C although, in practice, the exposure to cold during EVAs conducted during the lunar day was somewhat limited! The modern suit used for EVAs conducted from the ISS constrains space glove ‘touch temperatures’ of between 120° C and -120° C however the steady state temperature of the ISS superstructure is roughly – 23° C One must assume that the proposed Lunar/Mars Suit Prototype (I-Suit) will be even more robust!

Synthesis
As the HSF Committee concluded: Mars is the long term goal. However these findings have conclusively moved the goal posts! The Moon looks a deal more inviting since those days of “magnificent desolation” at the end of the 1960’s. The robotic exploration of the Lunar poles should take centre stage. We now know it’s there. So let’s find out how much and then we can argue about how best to use it!

A new age of Polar exploration beckons:

“For scientific leadership, give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but if you are in a hopeless position, when there seems no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”

Sir Robert Priestly

USSS NASA/Time for an Acorn/Hopeless

Whilst the Space Blogoverse awaits: the report of the HSF (Augustine) Committee; the subsequent decision by President Obama and finally its ruination by pork barrel partisan politicking in Congress…
Some ideas to sort wheat from chaff:

• Disincentive – a universal paycut, pro-rata with grade. If anyone works for NASA for less than 10k$ (1$ nominal) I would be surprised, as the really low paid workers: cleaners, ground staff, etc. would be likely already privatised and then even further ****ed by their employer! So: 10 to 100k$: 1% of salary. 100k$+: 10%! All external contracts and contractors should be terminated. As NASA files for the equivalent of Chapter 11. Renegotiations to be carried out by independent body. Fixed Price; Penalty Clauses and no more “Business as Usual.”
  And NASA is not just financially Bankrupt…
• Performance Review
  (Inverse) – instead of the usual exercise in kissing a$$, the junior
  grade would assess the senior! Rating them for intransigence, stealing ideas, failing to give due credit and general incompetence. Heads should roll!
• Efficiency Drive – each centre be given one year to cut costs and bureau-crazyness[sic]. Then independent auditors are sent in. The centre that fails by the most CLOSES. (And the kicker! The centre that makes the most savings also closes, for sheer bloatworthyness!)

Whilst all this is going on the Captain Bolden and First Mate Garver (of the Good Ship USSS NASA) should be “Having A Field Day” with less of the make-work: deck swabbing; brasswork polishing and the like. Get into the bilges and scuppers where the real dirt is! Haul the ship into space dock and scrape off the Vacuum Weed, Space Barnacles and Hull Worms. You could consider keel hauling for some of the teredos! “Pour encourager les autres” (Voltaire) Although IMHO execution by firing squad would be justified if even half of *IT* were true.

Now for some advice to the President! Rather than a Rice University “Moon” Moment or an Oval Office “Freedom” Moment or indeed any other more grandiose scheme doomed to failure… Why not start off with something small? Like an Acorn. And a: National Tree for Space! the ‘National Acorn’ should be germinated in space; grown in space and ideally transplanted to the Moon when it gets too big. Educational outeach. Environmentalism. National planting of Trees. International planting of:  Maple, Yew, White Birch, Eucalyptus, …Bamboo! Mighty Metaphors…

---

And some Hopeful advice for Congress? None. From what I have seen (thankfully from afar) …they are beyond Hope. But I understand there are some elections coming up.
Time to send a message!

More questions. Some answers…

Being a (modest) response to the questions set out by Professor Ed Crawley at the Human Spaceflight Meeting 5th August 2009 Carnegie Institution for Science.

What is the phase out plan of the space shuttle?
The Shuttle should be flown out to beyond 2015. Simultaneously reducing the “GAP”; enabling the augmentation of the ISS beyond “Core Complete” with, in addition to the scheduled AMS: one, two or all three of the space hardened MPLMs, all the ORUs we can eat, a new centrifuge module and everything else but the kitchen sink! Plus lifting some of the next generation space hardware Hypergol Orbital Transfer Vehicle prototype and Hypergolic Propellant Depot testbed. (Crash projects. Not programs! Building on from Orbital Express.) The retiring Shuttles (Atlantis, Discovery) will be recycled for flight spares, depending on the current manifest and launch constraints. Finally all three shuttles will have their Thermal Protection System removed and the tiles apportioned out to suitable sites with a emphasis on the next generation: schools, planetariums and space camps rather than dusty museums. The Shuttles (or what is left of ‘em) can be outfitted by the receiving museums AT THEIR COST.  In this way NASA achieves public outreach and finds a second use for those $$$ing tiles!

This extension maintains the current infrastructure: ET + solids + SSME and allows America the option of pursuing either the in-house “Not Shuttle-C” or the in-line “Not DIRECT – Really!” Hence a smooth transition to the next iteration of the best Heavy Lifting Vehicle [HLV] BAR NONE. Thus America maintains invaluable expertise, workforce, and the lead in an unparalleled reliable heavy lift architecture.

If  Bo-Lock-Mart [BLM] wants to develop their own Heavy Lifter they can do it on their own dime. Or cough up some serious cash! As neither NS-C nor ND-R will be operated by NASA/USA! Instead a new streamlined Public-Private Partnership should be set up to operate the system with the incentive of 12 launches/year downstream. Fixed Price Contract. But a commitment to backing additional launching sites and commercial payloads with an expanding space market. LEO SPS test systems, new ISS modules as well as modules and infrastructure for further Stations at: L1, L2, LLO, ESL2 etc…. Even leasing the technology to other trusted International Partners [IPs]. (c.f. Soyuz at Kourou) In all cases the Federal government would retain a “Golden Share” as would the State of Florida. Private Investment will be used to accelerate development.

Whilst the crewed variant of NS-C is more problematic, both systems would provide last resort crew launch. This now becomes the remit of private enterprise with NASA merely the purchaser of launch services.
Initially the ULA should be encouraged to “man rate” their choice of rocket ASAP at their own cost; with the promise of all crew launches in the short term. BUT with the proviso that this agreement will be revised if a further round of COTs-D is outrageously successful: Currently Falcon, Dreamchaser and Blue Origin are still too experimental. By the time that they are regarded as reliable there will be a greater requirement for “UpCrew” especially if there are multiple locations requiring multiple crew rotations. As well as an expanded ISS.  Free return Lunar Tourism etc.

There should be plenty of work for everyone!

Synthesis
America retains existing capacity (skills, workforce, infrastructure, pork,… ) in a proven HL architecture without a “Gap”and with additional NON-Federal funding. Architecture provides more than enough Upmass for any of the proposed “Beyond LEO” mission profiles: Moon Base, Global Lunar, Flexible Path, Mars Direct.

Thus some 864 options are reduced to 2: NS-C or ND-R both systems enable Commercial Enterprise, Propellant Depots and International Partnerships. Sorted! As we say here in the U.K.

Corollary
Ares V and I are cancelled. The latter duplicates existing commercial infrastructure at a higher cost to launch and is unsustainable. Ares V as currently projected is just unsustainable! Increasingly so as it evolves further and further away from the original SDLV design.

What is the future of the ISS?
To put forth an historial precedent the ISS MUST become an Orbital Mulberry Harbour (used in the D-Day Landings) a LoPort and Hub of all LEO activity. In the distant future the permanent inhabitants of LoPort will point out bits of hardware and proudly announce that it was part of the original station! In the long term: other free-flying human tended modules; spin environments; various flavours of depots (see below); refuge habitats and other structures will be present in other orbits. However in the near term 2020+, by concentrating our human presence in a singular entity we only have to worry about one Station w.r.t. orbital debris, resupply, politics. Thus serious thought should be given to additional modules.. Especially from other International Partners: China; India; Brazil;… Perhaps a refitted MPLM could be converted into a new IP sponsored ‘junior partner’ Space Lab or sold to a Commercial concern. Finally a retrofitted MPLM could act as an American Space Hotel (Every revenue stream should be considered!) Ultimately new Commercial and International Partners could come up with cold hard cash. With regard to the Chinese, if their prototype Station proves itself then a new Chinese “FGB” Block could be incorporated. Or their station could be internationally expanded to become a Refuge of first resort and vice versa.

The financing of the future expansion of the ISS should be revisited. The current barter system involving modules/ resupply missions and whatnot should be put in a firmer orbit. I would suggest Upmass and Downmass as the prime currency. Especially if the Upmass is in the form of fuel! Oh and cold hard cash!

Post 2020: if elderly modules/ nodes start to lose their structural integrity use an external bracing! If the seals start to go find a way to caulk the gaps. After all, this why it was built in the first place! A testbed for space construction. By prolonging the ISS, the experiment continues in the form of maintenance and repair. When the maintenance costs become astronomical: all infrastructure that can be salvaged, is integrated to the non-spin part of a bigger complex “ISS-II” and the stuff beyond any sensible repair, moved to a suitable mothball orbit as a long term space exposure facility and tourist destination. (Perhaps we can park Hubble there too!) We must learn, as a species, to stop throwing stuff back down into the Well after spending so much time and energy in getting it up here in the first place.

How much heavy-lift capacity is needed?
As much as you can afford! Rationally from the options: 25 metric tonnes seems too cold, 125 t too hot and 75t is just about right!

How many dry launched modules can you envisage massing greater than 75t? (Skylab was 91t!) And if you need volume for a really big free fall gymnasium, stardance hall,  hydroponics or aquaculture experiment… why not use the ET! (CCB) And two ETs plus a bit of Tether and you have a variable Gravity Lab and a Space Elevator Cable building experiment in one neat package.

Should the government developed launch system be based on NASA/Shuttle heritage or an EELV based systems?
There should be no government (heavy) launch system with the aforementioned exception of a Federal and State “Golden Share” in the the SDHLV system (NS-C or ND-R) that can carry Crew in emergencies.

How should crew be carried to LEO (ISS in particular)?
Exclude no options i.e. the Chinese! One political act of reciprocity might be telling. A Taikonaut on one of the remaining Shuttle flights to be followed by an American visit to the Chinese orbital module! And Soyuz flights should not be a anathema… if they are cost effective! But with the Shuttle extension and an accelerated Orion on EELV program and a streak of outstanding successes by Falcon 9 + Dragon; the Gap can become a Glut! Like London Buses you wait for hours and then three come along all at once! So we had better prepare some destinations…
Meanwhile a targeted RLV COTS-D should be considered. Notably DreamChaser and Blue Origins with some fresh blood. Perhaps a revisit of t-Space CXV system may be useful as a really low cost option. If things get really tight!
Ensure that PPTS system and ARV have common standards of pressure, comms,… think seriously and soon about international space standards of fuel, power, umbilical connectors and other docking hardware.

What should be the plan for in-space depoting/refueling?

This should be pursued robustly as it is the only option: to develop a sustainable space presence; cheaply involve IPs in a common effort and open up the commercial launch sector. Just why we have not done this eludes this Space Cadet. I have pictures of refueling operations in my space books dating to the 1930’s!

Infrastructure should be internationalised to play to IP strengths. The following is a roughly chronological (!) and politically acceptable (?) spiral of development of Propellant Depots [PDs].

1. NASA: Hypergol PD in LEO in conjunction with an ATV Mk2 orbital tug (ESA.) Arms by CSA. (Just the announcement will get the Russians to produce PAROM!)
   1. LOX PD + CH4 PD with LH test facilities. Long duration low boil off EDS evolving to OASIS/RASC style Hybrid Propellant Module. Chemical Transfer Vehicle.
2. Roscosmos (LOS) Core Module and Hypergol PD in Low Lunar Orbit [LLO] + Reusable Lander. Tele-robotic construction of Base Camp (=Radiation shelter)
   1. International Modules added with their Hypergol Landers.
   2. Base Camp Complete. (Largely built by Robotic Precursors)
      International Crew Boots and Flags moment 2020! Hurrah!! In Situ Resource Utilisation [ISRU]. Regolith vitrification to mitigate dust! LUNOX test plant.
   3. 2025 LUNOX PD in LLO. Primarily for life support on other
      stations!
   4. 2030’s Lunar Global Sorties to points of Scientific and Historical interest.
   5. Armstrong Base. Mass Driver construction site. Tranquillitatis? LUNOX Industrial scale production.
   6. 2040 Aluminium/LOX IRSU Lunar Tug.
   7. 2050’s Nuclear Rocket Lab (on the Moon!) Orion Mk1! Fast
      Breeders, Nuclear Propellant Depot and Nuclear Waste Dump.
   8. Mass Driver complete. L-5 beckons.
3. NASA L1 “Nearside” Station Core Module L(UN)OX and CH4 evolving to [=>] LH Prop Depot. Refuge. Rescue Station with Tugs and high Delta-v craft. Transit station. Lunar cargo warehouse. 2nd gen Lunar Cargo Lander  (LUNOX+CH4=>LH) IP 2nd gen landers.
4. L2 “Farside” Radio astronomy constellation
   1. Low Delta-v Refuge
   2. Neutral Gas Depot (Autonomous but Crew repairable.)
   3. Mass Catcher
5. ESA LEO Neutral Gas Depot Argon/Xenon (ESA) Various IP Solar-Electrically Propelled [SEP] Tugs.
6. SEL2 “Nightside” Core Module CNSA lead with a little help from everyone. All fuel flavours. Other IP Modules. Crew tended servicing outpost for Astronomical Telescopes, Refuge, Deep Space ISS, prototype for Deep Space Vessel (and eventual Cycler?) Servicing of prototype Nuclear power plant. Radiation mitigation experiments. Beamed power experiments. Assembly Node for outer Near Earth Objects (Asteroids) and Phobos/ Deimos [PhD]  Deep Space Vessel including Phobos base camp Module.) With increasing confidence in radiological protection = hydrogen tankage and other mechanisms: Nightside station is permanently inhabited.
7. LEO LUNOX Prop Depot!
8. SEL1 “Dayside” Core Module ISRO lead with other IP Modules. All fuel flavours. Assembly Node for inner NEO DSV and Venus Departure node; Solar Power Plant experiments. Solar Furnace experiments. Solar mitigation experiments (Really big Solar Sails!) With increasing radiological protection = hydrogen tankage and other mechanisms. Dayside station is permanently inhabited.
9. Hydrogen and Nitrogen scooping from top of the atmosphere.
10. Dash to NEO: propellant and volatiles ISRU
11. Dash to Phobos & Deimos propellant and volatiles ISRU
12. All fuels now sourced extra-terrestrially!

What is the first destination for exploration beyond LEO?
Earth. We only have one world. So let’s not spoil it irretrievably before we learn to build our own micro-worlds. Thus a constellation of satellites to analyse and mitigate the effects of Global Warming is a priority. But not within the remit of this Committee!
For America: L1 “Gateway” (Let the Russians do LLO!) But (re)do the Moon together: “For all Mankind!” America should take the lead in assisting other IP’s to get their Boots and Flags on the regolith. Not so much like a Gatekeeper (ESAS) but as a good Host!
Selling the concept of an empty point in space as a destination to the American Public is another matter. However if it were a rescue station with America taking the lead in making space safe for free lunar return space tourists! With the softly voiced whispering campaign; “Shhh High ground!” Remember to get some DOD cash! And there should be no “Dashing” anywhere or “Running with scissors!” for that matter. Sustainable growth is characterised by small increments in capability and reductions in cost.

What is the role for commercial entities in exploration?
Both commercial entities and IPs will only be interested if America sets out some clear goals and sticks to them! The four to eight year chop and change along with Congressional micro-management result in a quagmire for everyone. To paraphrase: “ask not what commerce can do for the space program but what the space program can do for commerce!”
The ESA model seems to work. A state (country) stumps up the cash and that state (country) gets the work. Added value by the company makes the profit! NASA cannot be allowed to continue as the provider of state access to space! Go to all commercial launch ASAP. (See above.) W.r.t. human exploration: NASA should be developing the technologies to enable commerce to build the production model of NASA’s last experimental vehicle! The fact that NASA has not had a successful  last experimental vehicle since the Shuttle is telling! Which leads us to the unasked question:

What should we do about NASA?
NASA is seen to have failed as a keeper of historical record. Vide Lunar Orbiter records rescue and more recently the loss of original lunar landing tapes! And is seen to be failing as the provider of a National Launch System. Otherwise why the need for this committee! Alas! NASA was a product of the cold war and like much of the American Military Industrial Complex needs to
be ‘rationalised’ before it consumes all the oxygen in the room! Urban Myth has it that during a previous downturn, Ford Motor Company fired three floors of middle management at company HQ without any visible effect to the efficiency of the Company. But at considerable savings!

From the 60’s NASA has evolved into a self perpetuating bureaucratic paper trail; a Möbius strip of  PowerPoint Space Programs on one side and contractor KickBacks on the other. With no REAL hardware. For two, no three (and some would say four) DECADES.

If NASA doesn’t change RADICALLY it will soon cease to exist as a meaningful organisation. As other commercial and international entities bypass it in expertise, culture and enterprise.

NASA Deconstructed:

Prune the various competing (warring!) centres (back) into a singular area of expertise or, failing one:  shut them down. Thus: “The xxx centre for Advanced Propulsion”; “…Advanced ECLSS”; “…Advanced AeroEngineering”; “…Advanced Bleeding Edge Technology” “…Advanced Bleeding Obvious”. Give ‘em all a modest federal research budget and a management capable of finding corporate sponsorship.

Yes! Let Corporate America pay for your Vision! After all the shoe has been on the other foot for long enough!

NASA is reduced to a DARPA like agency for blue sky space research and the Next Best Thing.  Keep some of the bureaucrats on as a mouthpiece for IP interactions; overall coordination and political make work. But on an ever tighter  budget. Encourage the career bureaucrats to leave and replace with people with vision and passion and prepared to work for less. A bit like a space finishing school before they move into the private sector ideally somewhere out there! Many space advocates: like this Space Cadet, work for free! In the full knowledge that they will NEVER get there!

Summary
Extend the Orbiter, Give The Stick the Shaft, Can Ares V, Go EELV for Crew IF IT IS CHEAPER THAN SOYUZ (Note: A politically expedient ESA is building that capability at Kourou.) A properly studied program really using Shuttle Derived HL eg DIRECT;  Shuttle-Z; … whatever gives the cheapest upmass. And PRIVATISE IT! Abandon the MarsDoggle. (But not Phobos/Deimos!)

REASSIGN the surplus to a new NON HSF Space Adventure with emphasis on CHEAP Downmass to the Lunar Surface.  (I would suggest a SEP Tug fleet maintained and operated from the ISS.) PURPOSE a series of tele-operated Lunar Bot Hamlets at sites of special scientific or commercial interest. LET THE KIDS HAVE A GO! Cooperate with OTHER Nations’ KIDS in building an
International Bot Village>>Town>>City at a suitable site. Charged with constructing the infrastructure of a permanent International Lunar Base camp: IRSU; LUNOX and other acronyms yet to be invented. Establish an automated lunar launch capability to Low Lunar Orbit. Establish human tended outposts, propellant depots, lunar observation and communication platforms, lunar power stations… in LLO; L2 (Quiet please Radio Astronomers at work!); and L1. Solar weather permitting. THEN with a big Radiation Proof Bunker and spartan accommodations already built out of Mooncrete, Lunar Glass and Aluminium; send your KIDS (cos you are gonna be too old) to do what has to be done: emote, choose the curtains and fix those £_*&ing Bots!

Coda
NS-C or ND-R?
Now IANARS but given the choice between the  sidemount and in-line design: which looks more elegant? (Sod the engineering!)  The Shuttle was forgivable as it was a cludge from the Get Go and a reusable one at that. (Even the ET! Sigh!) NS-C ND-R does not have that excuse. They probably will both even throw away the SSMEs!
However there is a  subtle bit of politics here. By going for ND-R BIG TIME you send a clear message to NASA that simultaneously criticises its past performance and leadership. Whilst simultaneously validates NASA’s very own hardcore Space Cadets who risked jobs, spent their own time and money on SAVING NASA and HSF despite itself!

One day there will be a Film.  Which tells the better story? A secret in-house redesign of a failing system put together by a bunch of “Rebel Rocketeers” into The Next Best Thing? Or an officially sanctioned cludge of a cludge! The real question is: “Do the Committee want to be in the black hat camp or the ones on the white horse riding out to the stars…?”

I think its time to think boldly!

<MacroCosm> NASA</MicroCosm>

The Future of America and American Spaceflight hangs in the balance.

Being some thoughts and reactions to the initial meeting of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee (Augustine II*) at the Carnegie Institution of Science in Washington D.C. Wednesday, June 17, 2009.
Official NASA Photo of the Great and the Good @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/3635787745/

“Who are these guys”

“Stormin*” Norm Augustine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Augustine
Christopher Chyba: http://cisac.stanford.edu/people/christopherfchyba/
Leroy Chiao: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leroy_Chiao
Edward Crawley: http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/people/crawley/bio.html
Bohdan “Bo” Bejmuk: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/hsf/members/bejmuk-bio.html
Jeff Greason: http://www.xcor.com/bio/founders/jeff_greason.html
Wanda Austin: http://www.aero.org/corporation/corporateofficers/austin.html

Not present:
Sally Ride http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Ride
Lester Lyles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Lyles
Charles Kennel http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/space50/program/speakers/KennelC.html

As a Scientist who has a historical interest in the Metaphysical Theories (and Practical Chemistry!) of the Early and Medieval Alchemists. And, in particular, the metaphysical concepts of Robert Fludd who sets out his theories on the relationship bwtween the Universal MacroCosmos and the MicroCosmic “Inner Man”. in Utriusque Cosmi Historia partially reprinted here.
The “As is Above so is Below!” Principle as it were!
So if there was to be one event that acted as a metaphysical MicroCosmic nexus to the MacroCosmic problems within Constellation/ ESAS/ VSE and indeed within NASA itself.

THIS WAS THE PROVERBIAL IT!

Indeed, if one reflects that NASA itself was born out of a time of crisis. A response to the perceived threat of an overwhelmingly superior technical competence in space: the repeated demonstrations of Sputniks, Gagarin,… So the state of NASA itself, is a MicroCosmic bellewether [sic] to the MacroCosmic state of America. Too wit in a financial crisis, loaded with unnecessary bureaucracy and generally fluxed! But, just as Tom Wolfe postulates (In the Right Stuff) that there might be a pooch that cannot be screwed, there may be a wether that won’t stay castrated!

The meeting got underway with some polite preliminaries and an erudite
introduction by John Holdren (Director of the White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy). One of his earliest  public statements
hinted of Sino-American cooperation in Space! Unfortunately there were no such paradigm shifting revelations this morning, realising full well that that was for the rest of the day! His most important point:, that Obama is also a space fan: “[who] understands the importance of space, he understands the importance of human spaceflight.” Time will tell. If Obama wants his Kennedy/Rice University moment (and most presidents do!)…he will want to propose a challenge that he knows his financially constrained Administration and Country can deliver. (Unlike Bush I: SEI; II: VSE.)

I LOLed as Chris Scolese then appeared from Florida: writ larger than
life on the Big Screen. Truly a Big Brother meme right out of  any classic Orwellian style Distopia. “How many fingers am I holding up?” Unfortunately, although “BB loves us All” he was not smiling today as a dicky GUCP (Ground Umbilical Connector Plate) had prevented the launch of STS-127 the other day and yet another Gap. No Earlier Than  July 11th.  Another screwed pooch.

[That these magnificent Hanger Queens still provide NASA with 'teething problems' after twenty (and some would say thirty) years of faultless service. (Both Challenger and Columbia disasters were more of an operational -all too human- failure than a mechanical failure. IMHO) Is a reflection of their initial flawed premise: a cobbled together system that placed a fragile Thermal Protection System (TPS) in harms way of falling ice and shedding foam (I mean rilly!) But we are where we are: ARES!] And that’s where the problems start and started.
But I get ahead of myself. First there was an all too brief study of past studies -and boy have there been a lot of those- by Mike Hawes. Curiously on loan from NASA to the Panel as chief number cruncher to make sure that all the other proposals come up to NASA standards of  veracity or should that be verisimilitude? A fox in charge of the hen-house would smell as sweet! Biut at last it was time for the Ares I progress report; the main event for the morning.  It was Doug Cooke’s moment to shine. Except that he didn’t and the little bit of him that did, was frozen in an eternal “Uh Uh Uh” loop as first the video and then the audio web feed failed!

(At this point I take a break from the commentary. Initially NASATV had scheduled a repeat of the entire days ‘play’ and the NASA_HSF twitterfeed had promised during the ‘blackzone’ that the video would be posted for review. Well as I write the NASATV schedule has mysteriously changed and there is nothing from the HSF media page. So I shall put this article on “T-4 and Holding” until NASA can sort out this technical hitch. Or, as I suspect, reveal that they did not have a back up and have lost the data! In which case I shall resume but even more scathingly!

Macrocosm>NASA<MicroCosm

Augustine II*  This is the second Augustine Commission! Executive summary from the first is  here:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/augustin.html

“Stormin*” Norm:

“Rising Above The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future” here:

http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ocga/testimony/gathering_storm_energizing_and_employing_america2.asp

The Third Way

Or where we should be going.

Being a response to the Augustine Commission (500 CHAR only? Really!)

This addresses some comments from both the Audience and Norman Augustine concerning the fascination that Kids of all ages have with space and does something to improve the situation.

To nail my colours to the mast this British Space Cadet (IANARS) is a HUGE proponent of HSF.  But facts are facts…

The big dichotomy in Space Exploration is the eternal argument: Robot vs Human? Whilst the former has logistical advantages; the latter has been problem solving in harsh environments ever since we walked out of Africa. The  Moon is probably the best next harsh environment. And we already know how to Walk there! If we can learn how to survive on the Moon, we can learn to live ANYWHERE. And, just as we are using ROVs to explore (and exploit) the ocean depths, so should we be using ROVs to explore and exploit the Moon.

To this end the American (and Global) Space effort should be primarily tasked to develop an explosion of Tele-Presence on the Lunar surface. In order to accomplish this goal, NASA should be immediately tasked to provide a robust sustainable and evolutionary transportation system with a range from ESL1 to ESL2 and all (Lagrange) points in-between.

The OASIS  (RASC 2002) study nailed it. IMHO.

Rather than build a L1 crewed “Gateway”, NASA and the International Space Effort should use L1 or L2 as an automated (but crew mended) Waystation and Prop. Depot. Initally using Hypergols; evolving to Methane and LUNOX. From here a reusable fleet of Landers would deliver tens, then hundreds and eventually thousands of virtual humans presences; “TeleBots” to the lunar surface. Hence the democratisation of Lunar exploration. Rather than a few select civil servants with actual Boots (and Flags) …anyone can Play!

Especially your Children and Grand Children!

Unlike my generation who were quite happy to watch our representatives (of the human Race) bunny hop across our screens in black and white, the Next Gen already *get* tele-presence via computer games and online immersive environments. And which would you rather do? Watch some highly trained civil servant pick up some rocks, or pick up those rocks ‘yourself’ using your virtual hands. Especially if one of these hands has a cool “Laser thingy” to blast a spectroscopic sample!

Lunar exploration will evolve from singular ‘Bot visits… to the development of numerous (National) ‘Bot Villages… the selection of suitable sites for Multi-National ‘Bot Towns and, at the International ‘Bot City the construction site of our first large International Lunar Base The first Real Home away from Home and Deep Radiation Shelter!

All we will have to do is put up the curtains and unpack the few Knicknacks brought from Earth!

Obviously the first iteration will be handled by the various individual centres/administrations/national space agencies  responsible for ‘their’ individual ‘Bot. However right from the start of the program, the kids should be involved: Clara Ma’s “Curiosity” multiplied 1000 fold. By engaging the Next Generation directly,  instead of a passive acceptance of  less the result will be an active demand for MORE!

Thus, in addition to naming competitions… for the plethora of: Lunar Rovers; Prospectors; Dozers;  Drillers;  Shovellers;  ISRUers, etc. NASA should be encouraging ‘Bot madness. From Kindergarten drawings to University designs. And all points in between. We already see that the NextGen are quite capable of using kits (Lego Mindstorms springs to mind.) … to build their own ‘Bots. Let’s just up the stakes. With Lunar hardened plug in and play equivalents along with school competitions to design new ‘Bot functions; find new ‘Bot synergies; develop new tasks for old ‘Bot designs and innovative ways of recycling ‘Bot scrap!

COTS for Kids!

With increasing confidence, Kids should be allowed to actively participate, especially if one of their own designs: drawn in Kindergarten;  formulated at Junior school;  built in High School;…  is now working on the Moon! And operated from the self same original Kindergarten, with TeleOps (with a little direction from the Geological Team) virtual ‘little hands’ are equally capable of picking up Lunar samples just as well as Neil and Buzz’s were, back in their day!

In the mean time an we should see an  evolving Open Source Lunar ‘Bot architecture for future synergy: inter-changeable parts;  common interfaces; power systems;  comms protocols and open-source software. Producing more than the sum of its parts and a new form of space barter (As used on the ISS!)

The Human Element

Whilst massively engaging the NextGen -through play- with the desire to actually live, work and play more on the Moon in the long term (say 20-50 years), a lunar human presence will be necessary in the medium term. (Say 10-20 years.)

HOWEVER THE PRIMARY TASK IN THE SHORT TERM MUST BE THE ISS.

In addition to the paramount task of learning how to live together in space.  (With some vital lessons on how to live together on the ground!) The ISS is a prototype for the next generation of MOBILE deep space vessels that will visit NEOs, Phobos & Deimos and take up station at the various useful L points of the Interplanetary Super-Highway; as well as form the prototype of the third generation interplanetary  (Aldrin) cycler and permanent NEO/ PhD habitats.  Solving short term problems on the ISS today opens up Space for the infinite tomorrow!

The next goal of HSF: an International Lunar Station in Low Lunar Orbit with a emergency shelter on the Ground in the case of bad weather.

By keeping the ‘Base camp in orbit the entire prgram is given flexibility whilst the ‘Bots do the wheel work. The same reusable Lunar Landers -now perfected and human rated after multiple Bot drops- can visit sites of historical interest, or particularly stunning scenery and allow Humans to do the stuff  that Robots, no matter how smart,  will never be able to do:  Emote. Inspire and Interpret.

In a similar manner to our best beloved ‘Bot: Hubble, I expect we will have to fix stuff whilst we are down there too. That’s the trouble with ‘Bots they keep breaking down!

(And yes I have read Rudy Rucker’s “Software“!)

OASIS (Orbital Aggregation and Space Infrastructure Systems)

References:

OASIS the Images
http://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/old_site/academics/484S03/oasis_docs/oasis_pics/
OTHER FUNKY STUFF
http://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/old_site/academics/484S03/oasis_docs/oasis_docs.html
OASIS the PDF
http://malsp.larc.nasa.gov/malsp_website/documents/library/OASIS_FY01_Final.pdf

Bear Baiting

Comment in response to yet more poor reporting his time from:
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/space-flight/mars-is-hard/2
which spoils an otherwise excellent review of the problems in attempting a “Mars too Far” Mission.

“Shortly thereafter, cosmonaut Vasily Tsibliyev bungled a routine docking maneuver, sending an incoming supply ship crashing into the station; the collision knocked out power to half the orbiter. Tsibliyev soon developed an irregular heartbeat, which Russian psychologists attributed—no surprise here—to extreme stress. When his crewmates attempted to repair the power outage, someone—possibly the hapless Tsibliyev—mistakenly unplugged an onboard computer that sent the space station spinning. (Upon leaving Mir at the end of his six-month stint, the cosmonaut reportedly said, ”Thank God.”)”

Er NO!
1/No bungle. Not routine. Was a MC experiment in doing something in space that they were unable to do on the ground. I.e.manually dock a Progress without the Ukrainian made KURS automatic docking system. This second attempt was made under protest but under direct orders. Whilst MC tried to blame Tsibliyev (as does Guterl & Heger) NASA representatives Tom Stafford and Joe Engle finally got a retraction.
2/ Not “the hapless Tsibliyev” on July 16 1997 cosmonaut Alexander Lazutkin accidentally disconnected a power cable. One of 100 out of the 140 that had to be rerouted prior to the Spektr IVA.
http://www.nss.org/resources/books/non_fiction/NF_035_dragonfly.html has a good summary.
Chaper and Verse here: http://tinyurl.com/r78rv8
“Disasters and Accidents in Manned Spaceflight,”(David Shayler, 2000)
/EOF

To continue: Whilst Mir had her share of mishaps (and after 11 years of life who can blame her!) …she was an object lesson in making do and mending on the High Frontier. This space cadet would dearly love to see an International MIR II. (Or should that be III?)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8064060.stm
“Russia ‘to save its ISS modules’” And, looking to 2025: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/05/20/326773/2025-leo-shipyard-is-new-esa-roscosmos-goal.html
With another one in Low Lunar Orbit http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/23/223174/esa-considers-cislunar-space-station-for-lunar-exploration.html
Bearing in mind (sorry!) that Russia is still the leader in Station keeping (Who makes the toilets?) …and will soon be the only ticket into orbit; why does the  American Media continue to treat the Old Commies (and the New Commies for that matter) with such disdain? Inertia?

“Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.”
Tacitus
(Decline and Fall and all that…)

King Log is Dead… Queen Stork?

(Adapted from a comment to the NASAWatch site in response to the Lori Garver as next NASA Administrator Rumourings)

As a fan of a British Space Program (sigh) I  rarely comment on these threads being somewhat divorced from the “ins and outs” of the American Space Political scene but simply HAD to comment on the reappearance of the oft touted “historical transportation model” used whenever access to space is discussed. That of the covered wagon and the railways that opened up the “Wild West.”
Whilst it is understandable  for Americans that the above model: filled as it is with heroic Pioneering Spirit and Righteous Stuff has its appeal but conveniently forgets that the Solutrians (nee Clovis), Vikings and entire Indian Nation got there first! With the latter being forcibly displaced by the Pioneers and layers of the Iron Road!

And if it isn’t the “Wild West” metaphor,  it’s the Founding Fathers; Mayflower; Columbus; etc.

But the time machine has to be set somewhat earlier: believe me the better transportation metaphor for Space Colonisation is the early Neolithic Hollow Log; abandoned as being too difficult to build and replaced with the fallback technology: a Big Stick. Which, by all accounts, is just too small to float us across to the next Island in Space.

Much discussion and uproar around the tribal campfires!

It would seem to this particular interloper around  [that] particular fire that we must put our differences aside with the neighbouring tribes. And, after putting out the various forest fires that seem to have started, as a community we might just yet build the next level in technological readiness: the Outrigger Canoe that colonised Polynesia!

Lots of Islands in Space!

Including the ones we build for ourselves.

However from the posturings from your tribal chiefs [insert your favorite joke about "swine fever" and earmarks here] and, even more surprisingly, the outpourings from the various clans of space enthusiasts; indicate to this layperson that there is a long way to go.

Whilst I am not as qualified to pass comment on Lori Garver as some so clearly are:
“OH PLEASE DEAR GOD, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Patrick (References please Patrick:)
I note that the other female candidate also produced a kneejerk reaction from such Steely eyed Missile Men.
Hmmm.
In summary: You have tried professional scientists (Saganite); you have tried professional engineers (vonBraunian).  From her resume it would seem that Lori Garver has graduated ’summa cu laude” from the O’Neillian clan. Perhaps there is a third way after all!

Another reference, to replace the “Lurking Poisons” of Graves*. Although it appears there is still some “hatching” to do.

“King stork was welcome to replace a log,
They tittered at the thrill, then hushed, agog.”

Thom Gunn “The Court Revolt” (1954).

[*A previous post to that site on the Obama Administration's delay in appointing a new NASA Administrator. ]

Update (May 23, 2009)

“Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: General Charles Bolden, Administrator of NASA and Lori Garver, Deputy Administrator of NASA.

President Obama said, “These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st century and ensure the long-term vibrancy of America’s space program.”

Apollo on Cholesterol

As NasaSpaceFlight hinted early last month, weight issues with Orion (or rather poor performance of the soon to be  “ex one”) …seem to have reduced the crew size from six to LEO to just four.  Meanwhile additional changes to the design indicate that, on the early lunar missions at least:  the CEV will now require a pilot. Thus by the time they get there, NASA rocket science and some fifty years of scientific progress  …will be able to put just one additional person on the moon.  Now whilst I am all in favour of incremental development, this is no baby step ….more like a Parkinsonian shuffle: “… gait is characterized by short steps, with feet barely leaving the ground, producing an audible shuffling noise. Small obstacles tend to cause the patient to trip.”

As one early comment  on the Aviation Week article states:

“It appears that America doesn’t know how to build a spacecraft anymore.”

I would concur – with one slight amendment – that of replacing “America” with “NASA”. America has plenty of NuBlood with the Right Stuff: Rutan, Bezos, Musk and the Renegade Rocketeers!

I feel that with each Revelation, NASA’s “End Times” rapidly approach and unless the new administration are very careful; the end of an  ‘official’ American space program! Eschatology aside, one wonders if a New Messiah can save the vision of previous prophets like Gerard O’Neill and, latterly:  John Marburger.

Keep the Faith!

Registering a Complaint

I apologise in advance for the intemperate language but as you shall see it is not my own!

From lester.haines@theregister.co.uk

QUOTE

You bloody idiot:

“Back inside, the crew – which, in addition to Ferguson, Piper, Bowen and Kimbrough, includes Pilot Eric  Boe, Mission Specialist Donald Pettit and the station’s next flight engineer, Sandra Magnus – will spend a  lot of time unpacking new crew quarters, *a new toilet*, a new kitchen, a new refrigerator and new exercise  equipment, not to mention the science experiments.”

The fucking “toilet” was actually the urine recycling unit – not actually a toilet at all. In fact we were  fucking right on this one – the ISS has one “toilet” until the second “toilet” arrives, as we pointed out.

The media, and yourself you fucking imbecile, have got the urine recycler and the toilet mixed up. Fuck  off, we’re tired of your abusive rants, which I have now repaid. Twat.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/31/iss_toilet_row/comments/#c_464343 says:

> The Register 31st March 2009 Lester Haines

>

> Tag line: “Can’t use apparently non-existent deluxe US space dunny.”

>

> “This could actually prove rather more tricky for US crew aboard the

> ISS, since the orbiting outpost’s Ассенизационно-Санитарная

> Установка, or “Waste Management System”, is actually a Russian-built

> affair housed in the Zvezda module.

>

> Presumably, the deluxe American dunny in question is the one NASA

> stumped $19m for back in 2007 – another Russian-built device similar

> to that already on board. This toilet is, however, destined to be

> housed on American territory – the Node 3 module slated to arrive

> aloft aboard Endeavour on STS-130 mission, provisionally booked for

> lift-off on 10 December this year..”

>

> *Non existent?* Sorry wrong:

>

> NASA website commenting on the last mission STS 126

>

> http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts126/126_overview.html

>

> “Back inside, the crew – which, in addition to Ferguson, Piper, Bowen

> and Kimbrough, includes Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Specialist Donald

> Pettit and the station’s next flight engineer, Sandra Magnus – will

> spend a lot of time unpacking new crew quarters, *a new toilet*, a

> new kitchen, a new refrigerator and new exercise equipment, not to

> mention the science experiments.”

>

> also

>

> http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE4AK8BL20081128

>

> Even the Daily Mail gets it right!

>

> And if that is not good enough for you here’s the video with station

> commander Mike Finke as Host. (You don’t get to see the actual toilet

> until right at the end!)  http://tinyurl.com/dl5t4p

>

> More fact (vs Haines Hyperbole) as reported on

> http://www.space-travel.com

>

> “The Expedition 19 crew, Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight

> Engineer Michael Barratt, familiarized themselves with the station’s

> exercise equipment on Wednesday.

>

> They began their daily physical exercise routines using the station’s

> treadmill and Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). The ARED

> uses vacuum cylinders to mimic weightlifting exercises in the

> microgravity environment of space.”

>

> EPIC FAIL… AGAIN!

/QUOTE

Hell hath no fury than a reporter rebuked? And my [annotated] reply to Mr Haines:

QUOTE

[snip]

Er wrong. If  you look at the video and these two links to reputable spaceflight sites you will note that  the TWO toilets are different.

OLD TOILET  http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=getting-a-handle-on-space

NEW TOILET  http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2008/11/10/international-space-station-gets-new-toilet-fridge-and-blogger/

You will note in the rather excellent video by Mike Finke the “Orbital Outhouse” logo not on the zvezda  toilet and the urine tube on the right when seated. Reversed on the zvezda commode.

The toilet is to be MOVED to the  “Colbert Space Can” when it arrives, as will the WMS. At that stage they  will probably be utilising the recycled water although there are rumours of an off camera space toast.

However I doubt that you will even bother to read this e-mail let alone check the facts.

One recent article by was damning regarding El Reg’s ’scientific’ credentials.

Melting Icebergs raising the standard of science at the Register! I think not. [1]

And I note, Mr Haines no word of thanks over the Ko-San vs So-Yeon mis-attribution![2]

Guilty conscience?

I too can be abusive: Hack! And a cowardly one to boot! So continue to wallow in ignorance Mr Haines and  the staff at El Reg. A site that seemingly has no idea of basic scientific principles, journalistic decency  and a vindictive and mean spirit. If your e-mail is anything to go by…

The trouble is Mr Haines who will I be next?

///EOF

Some comments

If you are in any doubt about who is right here I would direct you to two other more reputable sites describing the addition of the second toilet:

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/090318-spacestation-toilet-test.html

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/NASA_Adds_Seven_To_Station_With_Flawless_Launch_And_Docking_999.html

And really recommend the Mike Finke video at the link above provided you skip forward to the bit at the end. Unless, like me, you are fascinated by the workings of a compact Urine recycling unit.

Annotations

1/ Another reporter on the site which has a ‘AGW ‘denialist history recently claimed that the melting Arctic Ice cap could cause dangerous flooding forgetting basic physics and Archimedes’ Eureka Moment

2/ Two attempts to comment on a previous posting also unpublished (curious that) upbraided Mr Haines for this little gem:

“South Korea’s first astronaut, Ko San, last year visited the International Space Station “

(quietly amended with no apology or correction)

Ignoring my previous comment is one thing but leaving a blatant untruth uncorrected is another matter. I repeat; your article is factually wrong and an insult to the South Korean people and a certain young lady by the name of  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yi_Soyeon. The parlous state of public awareness in space is not helped by the extremely shoddy state of reporting by the British media in general and this site in particular. Where hyperbole and drivel pass as reportage. I have been lenient in the past… but no more. Your space reports are now under my microscopic scrutiny and misreporting of THE FACTS will not be allowed to pass.

Consider your self FLAMED Mr Haines. There I’ve spelt it out for you this time!

And I repeat the question. Do you get paid for this job?

I believe he does!

As the Metropolitan Police are discovering, citizen reporters now have the wherewithall to actively report The Truth rather than passively accept the “accepted truth” as released by the Met’s Press office. Quid Custodiet…

I would end with an appeal that if you see shoddy reporting ON ANY TOPIC. Do not let the misinformation pass you by without comment.

As the Information Age unfolds Truth must be our ultimate goal.

Or as an old Computer aphorism has it: GIGO.