SPACE COLONIZATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION
Space colonization and commercialization are being investigated again as a likely future for the human race. President Bush has recently announced a restructuring of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and a refocusing of our nation’s efforts involving going to the Moon and eventually to Mars.(1)
There are many organizations working the problems of human exploration in space. Organizations of interest include: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics, National Space Society, Space Frontier Foundation, Space Studies Institute, Planetary Society, Mars Society, European Space Agency, Russian Aviation and Space Agency, and many others are directly involved in space exploration and space advocacy.(2)
Space colonization efforts are underway involving Earth orbit, the Lagrange orbital locations, the Moon and Mars. The first colonization efforts are likely to focus on the Earth orbital and Lagrange orbital locations as these are low or zero gravity field locations. From Earth orbit and from the Lagrange points ( between the Moon and the Earth) it is possible to rescue crew members and return them to Earth for medical care and protection against severe radiation storms by having them use rescue pods which reenter Earth’s atmosphere. On the surface of the Moon and on Mars space employees are in deep gravity wells which must be escaped before a rescue pod recovery can be attempted. Transit to and from Mars involves such great distances that simple rescue pod operations are not possible. (3)
Financing of space colonization and commercialization efforts will be done using a new and innovative legal concept known as Telepossession. Telepossession involves robotic missions to asteroids where the robots will rendezvous with and land on target asteroids and perform telerobotic tasks. By telerobotic manipulation and processing of asteroidal materials, a form of legal ownership can be established. This robotic presence establishes through the common law principle of Pedis Possesseo ( to walk on is to own ) a form of legal ownership which will be used in the leveraged financing of the development of the space resource and the construction of a space infrastructure. (4)
Many groups have developed comprehensive plans for the colonization and commercialization of space. One group that has a truly wonderful website is the group PERMANENT (Projects to Employ Resources of the Moon and Asteroids Near Earth in the Near Term). On the PERMANENT website you will find information on the asteroids, the Moon, Mars, and a great number of the technologies and opportunities that lie ahead. (5)
One motivation for space colonization and commercialization is to protect the planet from asteroids which could destroy our world. There are multiple groups involved in planetary defense, one of which is the B612 Foundation. They are made up of various aerospace experts and astronauts. The goal of the organization is to – “Significantly alter the orbit of an asteroid in a controlled manner by 2015”. (6)
One very interesting NASA resource on the internet is sponsored by NASA’s Office of Biological and Physical Research. Their Space Settlements page has been put together by educators, students and various professional organizations. This site has a great listing of online resources in a very comprehensive manner. (7)
In space there is a significant
threat posed to manned missions from radiation. Sources of radiation in space
are Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) and Solar Radiation Storms. The Galactic
Cosmic Radiation is in the form of high energy charged particles and high
energy gamma and cosmic electromagnetic radiation. Solar Radiation Storms
consist of high energy charged particles ( protons, alpha particles ) and
electromagnetic radiation. In order to shield a crew from such damaging
exposure, three basic types of shielding are available. The first type of
shielding is simple mass such as rock, metal, or whatever else can be placed
between the crew and the source of the radiation. The second type of shielding
involves active shielding, where magnetic lenses are used to deflect charged
particles. The third type of shielding involves Faraday Cage shields (
conductive enclosures ). A Faraday Cage shielding made up of high-temperature
superconductors promises to attenuate the exposure to electromagnetic
radiations. The
Besides radiation hazards, exposure to microgravity and zero gravity is deleterious to the long-term health of employees working in space. Historically, authors have postulated rotating space stations as being able to simulate artificial gravity. Von Nordung and Von Braun are two authors who first put forth designs of rotating space stations capable of simulating gravity. The rotating space station concept involves centripetal and centrifugal accelerations capable of putting simulated gravitational forces on occupants of such a station. In the article Space Station With Gravity by Galactic Mining Industries, a great deal of analysis is provided which can elucidate the potential of this as a solution to physiological degradation of the zero gravity environment of space.(3)
In conclusion, there is a substantial amount of work going on in industry, academia and government to address the challenges and opportunities of space colonization and commercialization.
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