The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 1 In This Issue Summer 2009 - Volume 1, Issue 3 The Summer of Mars Of Time and Money Publisher By Chris Carberry ...... 3 By Patricia Czarnik ...... 16 The Mars Society An Interview with Alan Bean York University Runs Away Headquarters 11111 W. 8th Ave., Unit A Astronaut and artist With the Title at URC Lakewood, CO 80215 USA By Chris Carberry ...... 4 By Kevin F. Sloan ...... 17 www.MarsSociety.org Readers' Forum Passion: Don't Leave Home The Mars Society Call for a Global Without It! President...... Robert Zubrin Space Revolution An Interview with Andrew Chaikin Treasurer...... Gary Fisher by Shaun Moss...... 8 By Chris Carberry ...... 18 Secretary...... Sara Spector Executive Director...... Chris Carberry Mars: A Personal Journey Settling the Solar System Accounts Receivable Director by Hugh Downs ...... 12 By Gen. Simon "Pete" Worden ...22 ...... Patt Czarnik Webmaster...... Alex Kirk Simplifying the Difficult The 2013 MAVEN Mission Director, Public Relations ...Kevin Sloan by U.S. Rep. Pete Olson ...... 13 to Mars Director of Membership .....Patt Czarnik by Dr. Bruce Jakosky ...... 26 Director, International Relations POSTER: "Chasma Borealis" ...... Artemis Westenberg by Greg Martin...... 14 The Mars Quarterly On the Cover: Michael Carroll’s exciting artwork, The 2009 Mars Society Editor-in-Chief...... Susan Holden Martin Convention Poster, is available for purchase at www.MarsSociety.org [email protected] Art Director ...... Keith Keplinger, Keplinger Designs, Inc. Contributing Editors ...... Chris Carberry, Artemis Westenberg, Josh Grimm, From the Flight Deck Blake Ortner, Byron Wiedeman, Gus Scheerbaum, Jean Lagarde, Joseph Webster, Kevin Sloan, We break new ground with this issue We hope you enjoy the outstanding Patt Czarnik, Alex Kirk by offering both a print and digital visual content of this issue which A Note to Readers edition, and will expand our reach by includes the cover by Michael Carroll, The views expressed in articles are providing a complimentary print copy centerfold by Greg Martin, and the art the authors’ and not necessarily those to each member of the U.S. Congress of Alan Bean, Ron Miller, and of course, of The Mars Quarterly, or The Mars during our Great 2009 Mars Blitz on the humor of Theresa McCracken. We Society. Authors may have business July 30. History may well record this are indebted to these artists for relationships with the companies or agencies they discuss. decade as pivotal in our reach for the allowing us to publish their stars. If you have not already signed extraordinary work. Reproduction up to participate in our march on The Mars Society offers this The Mars Quarterly is published Capitol Hill, please do so today. publication as part of its goal to provide quarterly by The Mars Society, In this issue we continue to offer our thoughtful leadership to the Mars Lakewood, Colorado, USA. Volume 1, Issue 3; copyright 2009 The Mars readers a blend of national and community. We encourage our readers Society. Nothing herein contained international opinion pieces, as well as and contributors to continue the may be reproduced or transmitted in articles that provide the most up-to- dialogues and debates framed by our any form or by any means, electronic date information available on the status pages. or mechanical, including photocopy, of humans to Mars. Our writers span a On to Mars! recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written variety of professional affiliations, each permission of The Mars Society. with their own unique understanding of Susan Holden Martin, Editor the urgent and compelling issues [email protected] Advertisers send email to tmq- affecting the space industry. [email protected]. Address letters, general inquiries, or send member dues or charitable donations IN MEMORIAM to The Mars Society, PO Box 1312, Big Piney, WY 83113, USA. Please include Mike Flynn 1949 - 2009 your full name, address, and daytime Air Tanker Pilot/Wildland Firefighter phone number. The Mars Society is a Husband of Marilynn Flynn, 501(c)(3) organization. Tharsis Artworks

The Mars Quarterly 2 Volume 1, Issue 3 The Summer of Mars

By Chris Carberry The summer of 2009 has arrived and in low earth orbit as we have been for Challenge just completed its third we have reached the pivotal moment over 35 years. As has been our annual competition; and The Mars we have been waiting for. President tradition since our founding, The Mars Society of Germany is making great Obama is now in office and his Society plans to make every effort strides forward with their Mars balloon administration will be making key during the remainder of 2009 and project, Archimedes. In addition, we decisions concerning the future of the beyond to rally support for human are running our annual convention and space program as early as this year. missions to Mars through meetings introducing the print version of The The selection of with Congress, the Mars Quarterly. All in all, not a bad Charlie Boland as ...The Mars Society Administration and year. If you ever wondered whether NASA Administrator other decision- your donations and membership fees and Lori Garver as plans to make every making and advisory were pout to good use, look at this list. Deputy effort during the bodies. I highly doubt you will find any other Administrator is In addition to our space advocacy group who has been certainly a good remainder of 2009 political efforts, The so productive in the same time period. sign. In addition, the and beyond to rally Mars Society hopes I hope all of you will join us at our appointment of to influence space conference at the University of Norm Augustine to support for human policy by our Maryland and take part in our massive review NASA’s missions to Mars... example. We are in Mars Blitz. Although the current human space flight the midst of the economic climate may seem as though program is reassuring as well. busiest year in our history. We are it might make our goals less likely, hard However, these decisions do not conducting a mission to our Flashline times can often create opportunity. guarantee that the administration will Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS); Help us create this opportunity and join decide to choose an ambitious human we are running reinvigorated MDRS us on Capitol Hill or call and write your space program. On the contrary, if the seasons; we will be conducting a high members of Congress and President space advocacy community does not altitude balloon drop later this year to Obama. One person can make a step up and demand something bold, test components of our tether gravity difference - imagine what thousands of we could very well remain imprisoned satellite, TEMPO³; the University Rover people can do!

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 3 An Interview with Alan Bean ASTRONAUT AND ARTIST

By Chris Carberry

Carberry: First, a general question. the Pilgrims came over. It just takes in stories about the moon, but they’re This year is the 40th anniversary of time to do these things. I’ve been not at all interested about spending both Apollo 11 and 12. What are your able to be more accepting of the fact any money. We’re interested, the general thoughts on this anniversary that we’re not moving as fast as we people reading your magazine are year? could, because I think this is what interested; the guys that I got together Bean: I just got back this last week countries and cultures and peoples with this past weekend and at past from Oklahoma City for the 40th do. events are; but we’re just a small anniversary of Apollo 10, and then minority of the country. I don’t see us Apollo 8 and 9 in San Diego, and then Carberry: I agree that it is very easy going back to the moon for another Apollo 7 up in Dallas. So, with the to get into these kinds of ruts where 50-60 years, but what do I know. Do 40th anniversary of each of these, society is unwilling to push the you see Obama coughing up any we’ve gotten together and celebrated boundaries, but sometimes changes in money to send us back to the moon? and remembered all the fun times we governments or moods can break us Do you really? had. free from these ruts. Do you think the change of administration could Carberry: Perhaps as a result of the Carberry: Did you think we’d be change things - start accelerating the stimulus plans or do you think foreign further along after 40 years? program? competition could motivate Obama? Bean: What we were doing then - I Bean: Well, what I think it should do Do you think we should stay in the didn’t realize it then, but I do now - we and what I think it will do are two lead? were going as entirely different Bean: Yeah, we are in the lead. fast as and far as matters. I would Nobody is even close to us. That’s we could like to see people one of the problems that we’ve got - technically. We ...We were going as start moving nobody is even in the game compared were doing the fast as and far as we ahead as fast as with the United States. It’s just a lot of best that we we could - to talk - China, maybe they’re going to could. We were could technically. explore - explore drop something, but they haven’t building the We were doing the Mars. If you ask done squat. India hasn’t done lunar module. me, I’d say skip anything - Russia doesn’t do anything We were getting best that we could. the moon. I don’t anymore. We’re it. We’re in first and to the moon know what we that’s one of the reasons why which was a could do there Americans don’t want us to do huge giant step. So I imagined that differently. We could do a million anything. We’re already ahead. We we would keep doing that, and after things there, but I would be more won the race in people’s minds. Why we got to the moon, then we’d build interested in going directly to Mars. should we spend any more money on little bases. I remember thinking I’d But I don’t see us getting the money it? We’re already ahead. Don’t get me see people land on Mars in my to do it. In fact, I don’t see us getting wrong -- I’m on your side. I’m on the lifetime. Now, maybe - maybe not - I’ll the money to go back to the moon for side of the readers of your magazine, just see them in training preparing to another 50-60 years. I want us to do a but I don’t see it out there and I am go. I thought that America and the lot of stuff, but I don’t see it, because it not going to sit here and say Obama’s world would keep moving along as is money and you’re not going to - in going to give us money, that people fast as we could. Then when they my opinion - convince the President or are going to see the errors of their cancelled Apollo 18-20, I began to Congress or the American people to ways and realize the benefits of think, maybe we won’t do that. spend the kind of money to do those exploration and all that. I wish they Perhaps cultures get tired of thinking kinds of jobs. I just think that’s the would, but I just don’t see it about things after they’ve done them way it is. We Americans in the space happening. for a while. They get tired about business imagine this ideal world. thinking about space. They may say, You and I are imagining this ideal Carberry: To shift gears away from "Well, we’ve already been there. Let’s world right now: that we do what we politics, what was your first do some other stuff." That’s what want to do and follow the ideas that impression when you stepped onto seems to happen. There were 128 we have. I’m out speaking to people the moon? Your paintings are bright years in the time between when several times a month and they’re not and vibrant. Did you see something Columbus discovered America and interested, really. They’re interested that doesn’t translate in the

The Mars Quarterly 4 Volume 1, Issue 3 photographs and film? approached it as an astronaut with a though I had studied art at night for Bean: I didn’t have anything scientist’s mind. The moon is grey - years. So, I was involved in art, but philosophical. I didn’t think "this is there isn’t any color up there. The sky I’d always been a pilot or something wonderful" or "this is a small step for is black - kind of a patent leather shiny like that, but when I started to change man . . ." that was Neil’s job. I was black. If a black rock gets enough over, I began to see things differently - thinking of getting on my "cuff light on it, it can look white, but there not physically - but emotionally and checklist and getting down to business are no colors in it. It doesn’t change mentally. to do the things that I was trained to to yellow or blue or violet. The I went over to see Giverny, where do and trying to take a few minutes to shadows were grey - very dark. As Monet painted his water lilies and get my balance. other things. As I That was on my looked at them mind - "I hope I can scientifically, they get my balance soon were just green so I can do my leaves in a dirty work." "In ten pond - just like minutes I’ve got to everywhere else. I dig a ditch", etc. So I also went to Rouen, was mostly thinking where he did those of the prosaic part of beautiful cathedrals. spaceflight, which is Before sunrise, I doing the job that stood there in the you’ve been sent morning - he did the there to do - make morning ones there - the observations - and they’re beautiful deploy the violets and greens experiments - collect and all these the appropriate different colors. I rocks. That was on just stood there and my mind. looked at it. It’s gray granite as it is any Carberry: Doesn’t other time of day. I sound like you were kept coming back to looking around with this place at all times an artist’s during the day to perspective at the look. I kept saying, time. In retrospect, "why does he keep was it more colorful seeing all these than people colors?" Well, that perceived it - as your was kind of an eye paintings depict, or opener. He didn’t do you take artistic see any colors license? different than you Bean: Well, it is and me. We know what you have to do that people can be when you become an artist. I started the years have passed, and I’ve color blind and not see as many this 28 years ago. I’ve been gone become more of an artist and I think colors, but nobody around sees a from NASA that long and I’ve been more as an artist - as I do now - I don’t bunch of colors when they’re not working hard every day. At first when think of myself as an astronaut really there. It is just not a scientific I left, I was an astronaut that was anymore. I think of myself as an artist fact. By the way, when I tell this story trying to learn to paint and to who was an astronaut 28 years ago. to art people - art historians -- they get transition to becoming an artist. So, if Now I am an artist. As I became more pissed off, because they still believe you look at my early paintings, you’ll of an artist, I began to want to make that he looked at that gray cathedral see that moon is pretty grey. In fact, if things look more than what I thought and saw all those beautiful colors. I I tried the paintings that I do now, then would look interesting; more guarantee that my eyes at that time - if I had had the skill then - I would emotionally related to what we saw -- were as good as they get, and the not have accepted the colors that I use that was more fun to look at; more cathedral was gray. That’s not the job now. I would have thought "this isn’t beautiful to look at. I didn’t know all of the artist. An artist could reproduce the moon" -- this isn’t right. I these things when I left NASA, even it and he did. Some of his early

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 5 Rouen cathedrals are gray. A few of Conrad. Pete was happy guy - a gray/brown, and the sky black - and his early Givernys look just like the wonderful guy - all the time. Never that is what my early paintings look garden or just like the lily pond. Later had a down day. Never complained. like. on he likely said to himself, I’m going One of the things he did when he was Carberry: Do you see a role for to make this more beautiful. I’m an feeling especially good - which was people with artistic training in future artist, not a scientist. I’m going to about once a week - was jump up and missions to the Moon and Mars, and make this thing more interesting to click his heals together. He did that on elsewhere? look at - more beautiful - more texture. the moon in his space suit, and I Bean: I think one of the things that So I’m going to make it like I think it painted him that way - but I’ve got the we need to do is prioritize when we ought to be, like I want it to be - more sky blue and the ground a kind of red start doing things that are very risky beautiful. That’s what I do. I’m an violet, because those are my favorite and expensive. The exploration of artist now. I’m not a scientist colors. By the way, Monet painted the Mars - one day - will be very risky and anymore. I’m working on a painting of Rouen Cathedral in those same colors. very expensive. So you’ve got to Neil and Buzz That’s where I prioritize the type of person that you right now - so got the idea. are sending there. I don’t think an when I’m Art is about visuals. Those exact artist is necessary at all. I think a painting, I’m colors and the geologist, engineers, and scientist thinking "I want It is not a science. Rouen Cathedral types are necessary, because we are to make this look - as I mentioned trying to explore and see what we like Neil and before - is gray. may be able to do with it. Then, when Buzz, but the shadows on their suits . . So, I’m looking at Pete’s suit right now the next wave comes we will be able . I think I’m going to make the and there is a cool green, blues, some to decide whether or not to send shadows lighter blue - maybe put violet, red, every color of the rainbow artists. Don’t forget, we have great some greens in there - and make it in that guy’s suit. Of course they really photography now, great TV, much more beautiful." It will still be Neil and weren’t, but I can do that . . . I’m an better than when we went to the Buzz. They’ll still be two guys on the artist. It’s a different way of thinking moon. So all those elements can be moon, but it will be more beautiful to about things. solved without an artist, but I think look at. That is what art is all about. eventually that artists will go there. Art is about visuals. It is not a Carberry: Sounds like you’re You could look at Antarctica and say science. And I’m a different guy now. applying your emotions to the let’s take a look at the people who To answer your question, if you painting… were sent down to Antarctica in early want to see what the moon looked Bean: That’s exactly right. This years -- see what their background like, look at the beautiful photographs painting of Pete is like what I think was. I’d bet their background was the that we took. If you get one that’s about of him. It is a great picture of same kind of background as in early neutral gray - that’s it. That’s how it Pete, but it doesn’t really look like he Apollo and late Apollo. Then, maybe looked up there. Beautiful, but my job did there. Often, I’ll put a warm color after a while, someone like an artist as an artist is not to reproduce that, in the foreground - like a yellow or an can go, like with the shuttle, sending a but reproduce what I liked about it. orange. It’s hot up there. If you paint couple of teachers up. They taught What I thought would be beautiful. neutral gray, it doesn’t look hot - it them to go EVA and they did a good Artists do not understand engineers looks kind of cool. You’ve got all job. Well, I think that’s the way Mars and astronauts - I guarantee it and I these elements at work. Sometimes I is going to be, and I think what my have a lot of artist friends. Engineers say that I’m going to make the moon paintings do is celebrate this great and astronauts don’t understand more yellow because I just want it to human achievement which is Apollo. artists - because they’re different. look warmer and then I’ll be able to One of the greatest things that They think differently. They have work in some greens and blues. It will humans did -- advancing the state of different goals in their lives. That’s the still look like the moon, but it will look the art of technology of the Earth and answer. I make these things as more beautiful. I wish the moon had then its "We Come in Peace for All beautiful as I can think to make them. looked like that, but it didn’t, but I’m Mankind" and all those things - Sometimes I over do it. I’ve got some an artist - I can make it look like that. I celebrate that. Then as time passed I paintings that I’m looking at now on enjoy being an artist and I enjoy doing realized that these are the first my wall and I over did it. I’m sorry these things, but it is not science - and paintings of a world other than the that I did them in those colors, it has taken me a number of years to Earth - period. Every other piece of because if I could do them now and change myself so that when I did art that you’ve seen - except mine - is change the colors, they would be these they seemed beautiful. I never of this Earth. Mine are of another better. But, at that moment, in that could have done those paintings early world - and mine is of one human’s year, that’s the way I wanted them to on because I wouldn’t have accepted view as we go to a new world. look. Boy, they’re beautiful, no doubt them. My mind would have made me When we go to Mars one day the about it. I’m looking at one of Pete make the shadows gray and the moon site will look a little different, the

The Mars Quarterly 6 Volume 1, Issue 3 landing module will look a little time. If you were to compose a at. Make them more memorable. It’s different, the rover will look a little painting to look exactly like nature, like writing a novel. A lot of things in different, but the people will be doing you wouldn’t be considered a good novels are more interesting than in the exact same thing that we’re doing artist. They’d look at it and say, real life. That’s okay, that’s what a -- they’ll be taking pictures, they’ll be "That’s not very pretty. Green trees novel is. A painting is more like a digging trenches to get information don’t necessarily go with red rocks or novel. A photogram is more like a from beneath the top soil, they’ll be anything like that." I know that’s science book or a scientific report. picking up rocks. All those things that almost blasphemy because people go we do are things that we’ll do when around and say how wonderful nature Carberry: With all these wonderful we go to the moons of Jupiter - or is. Well, nature is wonderful. We Mars images coming from NASA and when we go out to another star. This wouldn’t be here without it. But, ESA, do you get artistically inspired by is what humans need to do to nature’s job is not to create beautiful them? How do you think you would understand where they are. Then they paintings, where an artist’s job is. depict Mars? will come home and maybe some of These things you don’t think about Bean: Well, first of all, let’s say that them will do art. Maybe some will when you are an engineer. You don’t I was an astronaut that went to Mars. write a little poetry - who knows! think about these when you’re a writer. First of all, if I was just an artist, they These are paintings of what people As an artist, you begin to think about wouldn’t send me. I can’t do any did. You know the early West? People these things. You paint a beautiful useful work, really. Let’s say that went out and painted the Grand vista verbatim - and it sure isn’t a very when I got to the right age, people Canyon and painted Yellowstone and pretty picture - I like Monet’s better. If were going to Mars and they thought painted the Indians, and painted you look at Monet and go where he I’d be a good astronaut and sent on a cowboys later - and you look at them was and say, "He’s passed me by. He Mars mission. I’d come home and I’d and it is not exactly like it really was. didn’t paint it like it was either. He fly on other missions - because I In Moran’s Grand Canyon of took the raw material and he made it would be fundamentally an astronaut - Yellowstone, Yellowstone doesn’t look beautiful." That’s what I try to do with I wouldn’t even realize that art was of exactly like that. The paintings are these paintings. I try to make the interest to me that much. Even better. They’re more interesting to moon beautiful. I try to make the though I liked it, it was just a hobby. look at. Nature is not harmonized in astronauts that way - make them more So, maybe after a number of years I color. People talk about nature all the interesting - make it more fun to look would say to myself, "You know, I’m

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 7 the first artist ever to go to another at that book and think about buying it. there if I didn’t say to myself you world." Maybe I’ll do that, because It is one of the best books I’ve seen know, there are a lot of young men there are a lot of good young men and that talks about the space program. and women who can fly that space woman who can fly to Mars as good Half the people on Earth right now shuttle, but I left that program 28 as I can or better. I’ll leave that to weren’t alive when Apollo was taking years ago to do a job that I felt needed them to do, since they are just as place. It has so much information in to be done - record the great good as I am, but I’m the only one it. The editor, is a lady by the name of adventure of Apollo - record the first who wants to be an artist and show Sarah November, and she put out a humans off this Earth - what they did - these adventures in how they felt - things art. Then I would do we laughed at - my first paintings things we fussed and they would look about - and keep it, just like when we because we’re gone. look at the TV. Think about it. I They’d be red - the wish someone had rocks would be red - sent artists like me kind of a reddish sky. along with Magellan Maybe I’d do a few or Lewis and Clark or that way and say, with Captain Cook "Man, this is boring" because we would from an artist’s know a lot more and viewpoint - not from would have a much a scientist. Maybe if better feeling about I introduce a little bit what those great of green in here adventurers were all somewhere. Maybe about. I don’t people would still replace the movies, know that it’s Mars, television or but would think that photographs, but I it was more know a lot of good beautiful. Then as stories, and I can the years passed and visually display them I became more an for people to artist, I’d paint Mars remember. just as I paint the Many of us are not moon today. I’d think going to be here all about what the that much longer. astronauts are doing I’m 77 as is and I’d think about everybody else, or a the color and I’d bit older, so we’re ignore the red. I’d not going to be here say, " Well, let’s leave forever. I just hope it a little red, but I’d to tell some of these really like to do a great things that Neil painting with a lot of Armstrong or Buzz, violet in it - blue and violet - I like that." great book. Andy’s words are great - or Mike Collins, or any of these other I think that is the way art evolves. my paintings are nice - the guys did. I can’t tell them all - too photographs are great - but mostly many stories to do in my lifetime, but I Carberry: I understand that you Sarah November created a great book. wish I could stick around and tell all and Andy Chaikin are coming out with It’s a wonderful book. that I know, because when we’re a children’s book? gone, we’re gone. I’m doing my duty. Bean: Yes, we did. We called it a Carberry: How do you want to be This is what I can do with my life. I children book, but I think it isn’t a remembered? As an astronaut, an get up at 5:00 a.m. I’ve been children’s book. It is a young adult artist, or something else? painting/working all day today. I do it book for ten years or older. It’s called Bean: Astronaut/artist would be it; I seven days a week. I work just as Mission Control, This is Apollo. I will want to be a guy who did his duty. hard as I did when I was an astronaut, tell you that it is a good book, and I’m doing my duty right now. I loved except in a different role. I’m just every one of your readers should look being an astronaut and I’d still be doing my duty.

The Mars Quarterly 8 Volume 1, Issue 3 Readers’ Forum Call for a Global Space Revolution by Shaun Moss The world stands on the brink of the surface of Earth is equally necessary materials for constructing imminent global change. The accessible; the differences between space cities and vehicles in Earth orbit challenges currently being presented so-called "developed" and "developing" and other locations throughout the to human society by instabilities in the nations are not apparent, and indeed, solar system. global climate and economy are from this perspective it becomes • Mars has a surface area significant, and finding solutions will difficult to understand why such approximately equal to the land area assuredly occupy much of our extreme variations in economic of Earth. The colonization and attention over the coming decades. standards exist on the surface. subsequent terraforming of Mars will However, in perfect balance, we also This profound shift in human therefore provide the human race with find ourselves at the doorstep of the consciousness from viewing Earth as almost double the territory in which to greatest evolutionary leap that a collection of distinct tribes to a live. This will only be the beginning; Earthian life has encountered since it single living world, experienced by the experience of inhabiting and crawled out of the oceans. We are increasing numbers of people, will developing just one such planet will poised to enter space - not simply as a automatically lead to the formation of teach us how to colonize many handful of select persons or machines, new strategies for global thousands. but as a species. environmental and economic The development and implemen- management. Survival tation of new systems for global While infrequent, it is known that environmental and economic Access to Abundant Resources mass global extinctions caused by management is widely understood to Space is infinite, and contains asteroid impacts have occured several be of the utmost urgency, and, infinite energy and material resources. times in Earth's history, and will almost fortunately, steps are already being By developing the necessary certainly occur again. Hence, in order taken in this direction by great leaders technologies and systems, humans to ensure the long-term survival of and thinkers around the globe. can access these resources. humans as well as many other However, what seems less apparent Once you see beyond religious, Earthian species, there are only two are the astronomical rewards for ideological or other purported reasonable options: humanity that will result from our reasons, conflict on Earth is almost 1. Establish human colonies at other expansion into the solar system. always about natural resources such locations in space, so that in the event The potential benefits of space as energy, metals or land. Although of a major impact the human species exploration and colonization include: limited on Earth, all of these are avail- will survive and may potentially re- able in extreme abundance in space: inhabit Earth afterwards. The Overview Effect • Solar power, collected in an 2. Learn how to modify the orbits of By all reports from astronauts, environment where the sun never asteroids, or how to break them into nothing compares with viewing the stops shining and is never occluded smaller pieces, so that a potential entire Earth from space. From this by clouds or dust, can be efficiently extinction-causing impact can be perspective the planet appears as a and safely beamed to Earth (or prevented. single, whole entity: a shining jewel, a anywhere else in the solar system) to Both of these solutions require living, breathing organism with no provide continual, limitless and increased technical capability in space. borders or other visible signs of reliable energy. If an impactor is above a certain size separation between its inhabitants. It • Over 400,000 asteroids have been or velocity, it will impossible to divert becomes more difficult to imagine that identified in our solar system, with or destroy it; furthermore, extra- one is from any specific city or nation; more being discovered all the time; terrestrial colonies will probably be rather, one sees the entire Earth as the estimated total is over 1 million. dependent on resources from Earth for "home". From space, all people and Many of these orbit near Earth, and centuries. Hence, the optimal strategy nations are equal, bound together by many are composed of almost pure for the long-range survival of humanity the one thing we all have in common - metal, while others are plentiful requires both of these solutions. the planet that we are all part of. sources of carbon or water. Access to This perspective of Earth will lead to these resources will mean an Increased Global Collaboration a greater unity among its peoples, an improved Earthian economy, reduced At our current level of technology, effect that will only increase as we need to damage Earth's environment exploration and development of space colonize other worlds such as Luna through mining, reduced international is still fairly expensive and and Mars. From space, any place on conflict, and an abundance of the complicated. Furthermore, The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 9 considering that the effects of space processing, in-situ resource utilization, increasing control by global research are often global in recycling, etc., can similarly be applied authorities, and we would ultimately application rather than restricted to to open up huge uninhabited regions of lose many of our technological specific nations, there is Earth, while also improving the effi- capablities along with our peace and overwhelming incentive for ciency and function of existing cities. freedom. international collaboration in space • Advanced robotics technology As an analogy, consider a tribe activities. This has been one of the developed for exploration, mining and living on a small island. Their primary benefits of the International construction in space can be applied population steadily increases, but the Space Station, which has brought on Earth to an extremely wide variety amount of land they have available to together many of the greatest of tasks, decreasing the cost of grow food remains the same. They countries of Earth into a noble and materials, products and services, and know that across the sea is a large, productive exercise. improving health and safety. uninhabited continent with abundant During the past century several • Energy production methods resources, but they decide not to risk arenas of activity have replaced developed for space applications, investing in trying to reach this place, military conflict, including sport, such as space solar power or nuclear and to focus all their energy on the tourism, international trade, and fusion, can be applied on Earth to immediate problems of survival. collaboration on technological provide abundant electricity and thus Eventually they begin to fight over the development. The nations of Earth improved quality of life to all people. dwindling resources and further have started to realise that co- • Biotechnology developed for damage is inflicted on the island, and operation, instead of competition, space agriculture or terraforming can the tribe, until only a few remain to leads to an improved outcome for be applied on Earth to drastically pick up the pieces. everyone. By building on the success improve global food production and Compare this with another tribe in a of the ISS and continuing with health. similar situation. They, too, are international collaboration on space • Carbon nanotube technology growing in number and approaching development, the nations of Earth will developed for space elevator the population limit that the island can be drawn into an even closer applications can be applied to create sustainably support; they also know partnership. This can only lead to all manner of ambitious structures and about the abundant resources across peace and an improved quality of life equipment on Earth, as well as space the sea. Even though they are for everyone on Earth. structures and vehicles. experiencing challenges, they realise • Planetary engineering strategies that these problems will only get Technological Innovation developed for terraforming Mars can worse unless they find a way across Countless examples already exist of be applied to Earth in order to the sea, so they begin researching technologies that were developed for improve the global environment, boat technology while also tending to space and have since been applied on including cleaning the atmosphere and their immediate problems. This tribe Earth (computer technology, structural oceans, bringing life to the deserts, is more optimistic - they know that analysis, the hand-held video camera, and stabilizing global climate. their problems are temporary, and that communications, IT, sports training, • Vehicle technology developed for soon a new era in their civilization will energy storage, robotics, materials, space applications will increase the begin: one of peace, expansion and etc., etc.). The question is, would speed and lower the cost of travel on security. these technologies have still been Earth, vastly improving the efficiency developed if people were not striving of human transport, resource At this juncture in human history, to solve difficult problems in space? distribution, package delivery and with the challenges that now lie before When given an inspiring and emergency response. us, opening up space should be made challenging problem, the human mind an absolute global priority. It should begins experimenting with solutions The colonization of space offers not be something of marginal interest, and gathering information, both hope for humanity. It is simply the or a heavy load to be pulled along by consciously and subconsciously, with only path to an abundant and peaceful a dedicated few, or something we will the result being eventual inspiration future for an expanding human do "when we get around to it" or and breakthroughs. The challenging civilization. It will bring us everything "when things are better". The sooner environment of space presents we need to develop and grow; we become a space-based civilization, unusually hard problems, which thus without it, our future will be one of the sooner tensions on Earth will be tends to attract the most brilliant increasing restriction, compromise, relieved and we can enter an golden minds, resulting in especially difficulty and conflict. If the number of era of peace, harmony, expansion, innovative solutions that can have people continues to increase while the abundance, adventure, freedom, enormous application and value on amount of available resources remains health and happiness. It should be Earth. the same, then, logically, this means a commenced immediately, and should For example: reduced share for all. The only other be undertaken with wholehearted • Technologies developed for space option is population control, which is passion and commitment. settlements, such as atmosphere not freedom; in fact, it would require

The Mars Quarterly 10 Volume 1, Issue 3 The following strategy is suggested: development and colonization. 1. The establishment of an Earth 6. Development of a robust and Space Consortium (ESC) comprised of profitable space mining industry. This governments and government will simultaneously provide three agencies, private corporations, enormous benefits: an economic academic institutions, space advocacy incentive for space development; a groups and philanthropists. This great abundance of metals, carbon, organization would be funded by both water and other materials necessary public and private money, with each for construction of a space civilization; member contributing an appropriate and development of technologies and percentage of GDP or profits. The methods for defending Earth from function of the ESC will be to organize asteroid impacts. a substantial fraction of Earth's 7. An international collaborative resources (in particular, at least 10- effort to establish permanent human 30% of Earth's finest minds) into a settlements in Earth orbit and on Luna unified and cohesive strategy for and Mars. These seeds will become providing the people of Earth with new branches of human civilization, access to the abundant resources and thus ensuring the long-term survival of limitless expanse of space. humans and many other Earthian 2. Government-sponsored financial species. The exercise will also teach benefits, including tax exemption or us about advanced recycling, discounts, and/or investment, should nanotechnology, robotics, resource be available for all companies involved management, advanced biology and in space exploration and development, chemical engineering, planetary environmental engineering, and the engineering, how to successfully development of critical enabling create harmonious, close-knit technologies such as aerospace communities, and many other things vehicles, solar power and robotics. that can be applied with tremendous This will hasten the development of benefit on Earth. solutions to immed-iate global problems, and more quickly secure a The time is now. It will only better future for all people. become more difficult over the 3. A dedicated, coordinated and coming years. The past doesn't well-funded global program for matter, and neither do our petty reducing the cost of access to space. conflicts over resources; all that Everything depends on it; at this matters now is creating a positive point, the primary obstacle preventing human future for ourselves and our humanity from becoming a space- descendants. The sooner we make faring civilization with the resources of space development our utmost the Solar System at its fingertips is the priority and open up space for the exorbitant cost of reaching free space people of Earth, the sooner we will from Earth. The initial phase of a enter an amazing new chapter of unified Earth space program should human civilization. We need to pull be primarily focused (90%+ of together as a team, get organized and expenditure) on advancement of focused, and create an exciting new space transport technology. future of peace and freedom - 4. A global program to develop in space. space solar power as a method of providing continuous, reliable and Shaun Moss is a freelance web abundant clean energy to Earth, while programmer, dedicated space simultaneously increasing our enthusiast and writer living in capabilities in space and developing Melbourne, Australia. He contributes technologies for on-orbit construction. regularly to numerous space 5. A global program to develop organizations and is interested in space tourism as a viable economic space settlement design, ISRU, motivator for the private space sector, planetary engineering, robotics and a source of inspiration and adventure field propulsion. to the people of Earth, and an [email protected], essential precursor to space property http://shaunmoss.id.au

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 11 Mars: A Personal Journey

by Hugh Downs

In reading this, please keep in mind fantasy than science fiction. Actually that first expedition, if I'm not suffering two things: (1) Truth is stranger than the "Buck Rogers" authors displayed from failure of imagination. fiction; and (2) futurology is some sound science in depicting the And maybe I am. I am thinking of characterized mainly by failure of airlessness of space, and the relation the amount of time under present imagination. of Mars to its two moons. In one transportation methods that it takes to The future invariably arrives sooner episode, an evil Martian city was get to Mars one-way -- a couple of and much stranger than we expect it destroyed by slowing the orbiting years. Crossing the Atlantic by ship to be. My personal experience with velocity of Mars's smaller moon and went from several weeks (sail) to four- this involves following an adventure causing it to crash onto the surface of and-a-half days (steam) and then six strip in the newspaper when I was Mars at the precise location of the city. hours or less by air. Now low earth nine years old. Phil Nowlan and Dick A rocket ship, nose down on the small orbiting objects circumnavigate the Calkins were the creators of "Buck moon, applied steady pressure to alter globe in 90 minutes. There may be a Rogers in the 25th Century." So when the orbit in a calculated way that means of propulsion that will cut the I started reading it in 1930, it was produced the results desired. The time way down for a Mars trip. Best "Buck Rogers, 2430 AD." action was pretty sound, scientifically, not to count on this, but don't rule it Nowlan and Calkins, along with even though the city on Mars was not. out. many scientists of the day, believed But the romance of space travel was So my vicarious trips to Mars take that humans would go to the Moon heated up in me by my encounter with three forms: childhood imagination, and to Mars, but not until 500 years in Buck and Wilma and Dr. Huer. Space adult enthusiasm flavored with wishful the future. As it turned out, the first had enthralled me since I was five, thinking, and relishing the possibility human stepped onto the moon 39 and I learned from my father that the that descendants of mine are likely to years after I started reading the strip. moon was 238,000 miles away. I think actually go there. Suppose a fortune teller had come I was so flattered to be given a grown- along and told me this, along with up answer to my question, that this Hugh Downs, longtime anchor of another true circumstance: that at the was a factor in setting fire to my ABC Television's primetime news time I was reading "Buck Rogers", imagination. I had no idea how far magazine 20/20, has enjoyed a there was a newborn baby 16 miles to 238,000 miles stretched -- not sure I distinguished 66-year career in radio the south of me, who would be the grasp it with exactness even now -- it's and television as a reporter, first man to walk on the moon. His farther than ten times around the newscaster, interviewer, narrator and name was Neil Armstrong. I think world. And of course it is much closer host. He has received six Emmy such a story would classify as totally than the next planet out from us, Awards and numerous other literary fantastic and improbable in the named after the god of war because and honorary awards, and has extreme. of its redness. authored 12 books, including an But in the town of Wapakoneta, How blessed we are to have Mars autobiography. Downs hosted PBS's Ohio, which is 16 miles south of Lima, as a neighbor -- of a size not to have "Live From Lincoln Center" for a where I was growing up, Neil's parents surface gravity unfriendly to humans. decade. He helped launch NBC's were friends of my parents -- my Not too far from the sun to have the Tonight Show in 1957; he anchored mother having been born in benefits of radiation; possessing a day The Today Show from 1962 to 1971, Wapakoneta. I never met Neil until he that is nearly the same length as ours. and has broadcast numerous specials was an astronaut. I was the first to And having many of the resources and documentaries. Downs is a pilot, interview him and the other two necessary to give serious with a current medical rating, along members of the Apollo 11 crew on consideration to eventual with ratings from multi-engine to hot their return from the moon and after terraforming. air balloon. He has been an advisor to their brief quarantine. (There was a My youngest great-grandchild (my the National Aeronautics and Space fear that Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin grandson's daughter) is three now and Administration (NASA), and is and Mike Collins might be bringing can name every planet out from the currently the chair of the Board of back some contagion for which sun. The pre-kindergarten crowd is Governors for the National Space humans had no immunity -- but the getting that kind of education today. Society.in Washington, D.C. quarantine was discontinued for later Her brother, now six, wants to be a He and his wife Ruth, live in Arizona. Apollo missions.) scientist and go into space. It might They have two children, two The adventure strip was not as well be a stretch to suppose he could be grandchildren, and now two great drawn as a companion strip called among the first to reach Mars, but grandsons and a great granddaughter. "Flash Gordon", which was more surely one of his children could be in

The Mars Quarterly 12 Volume 1, Issue 1 Simplifying the Difficult

by U.S. Rep. Pete Olson

When President Bush announced audience and demonstrate that you the budgetary challenges the program the Vision for Space Exploration in understand the unique challenges that has faced. This, if nothing else, January of 2004, he did so at a time each congressional district faces. demonstrates just how difficult these when interest in exploring Mars was at Each member has unique goals are, and thus all the more a high. The rovers, Spirit and backgrounds with respect to the worthwhile when we commit to them. Opportunity, had just landed on the leading industries, educational Finally, your enthusiasm and the Red Planet. Amazing when you think institutions, and demographic makeup ability to share your inspiration will the that over 5 years after the landing, and of their district. A district suffering make the time well spent. Just think under a different Presidential from high unemployment in this about the impact Steve Squyres administration, the rovers are still economic environment might present would have with 30 minutes in each sending science a harder sell for congressional office. Find oppor- back to analyze. the Mars tunities to include the overall benefits A major Have we made the program as of a Mars mission. Your perspective component of opposed to one and the reason you individually and the vision case to our fellow with a hi-tech collectively feel strongly about this announced in citizens, to the public, employment critical issue will go a long way. 2004 was a base. In your last edition of The Mars human mission and to my colleagues In making your Quarterly, Chris McKay wrote about to Mars. I am a on the Hill? case, the ability continuing robotic missions to lay the strong advocate to broaden your groundwork for future human ones. I of that goal, it is perspective is could not agree more. The problem a worthy goal. immensely that faces our space program is that Readers of this journal know the helpful. During the presidential we are looking inward and not benefits of such a journey, but are we campaign, then-Senator Obama's four upward. We have the ability to learn in the majority of Americans? Have main priorities were clear: energy, from our successes and our failures to we made the case to our fellow education, the environment, and the achieve a worthwhile goal. It is up to citizens, to the public, and to my economy. Space and exploration us to demonstrate the value of that colleagues on the Hill? were not included, but we can tie goal. If we fail to do so, we'll fail to It doesn't hurt to assume that a exploration and the space program start, let alone finish, a great majority - as well as the odds - may be directly to each of these priorities. journey. against us. This is not the Apollo-era, Can you make the case that sending a when the nation stood willing to human to Mars is worth funding in Rep. Pete Olson serves the 22nd sacrifice whatever it took to beat the comparison to improved healthcare? District of Texas. He currently serves Russians to the moon. Having to state Are robotic missions a wiser as the ranking member of the Space our case will keep our focus sharp and investment than energy technology? and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the our arguments focused on the areas You must be prepared for those House Science and Technology and points that most resonate with the questions, because while the federal Committee. public to gain their support. The budget ability to turn that support into funding appears will be what ultimately leads to the limitless, the success or failure of such a grand hard truth is goal. that it is not. During your annual Mars Society It's convention, at least 150 important to conventioneers will venture to Capitol face the Hill to meet with members of challenges Congress or their staff to share your head-on. agenda. I wish you well and offer a Admit the few suggestions for your visits to failures of the make them most effective. past, It is important for you to know your particularly

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 13

Illustration “Chasma Borealis” by Greg Martin www.ArtOfGregMartin.com Of Time and Money

OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP AND DONATION FORM By Patricia Czarnik, Contact Information Director of Membership

Name ______In this issue I want to talk about membership, more to the point, why your membership is Address ______important. There are two components of membership - a contribution of time and a City ______contribution of money. The Mars Society could not exist without both. State/Province ______Zip ______• Contribution of time: there are members who donate their time on mission support, Country ______telemedical support, various task forces on outreach for education and political action, to Email ______name a few. They head up the University Rover Contribution Information Challenge, maintain the website, coordinate and maintain FMARS and MDRS operations and make Please check the amount of your contribution. our annual international convention the premier All donations of $1000 or more pay your dues for life! event it has become. They produce this __ Visionary ...... $5000 __ Explorer...... $2000 publication you are reading now. Got talent? __ Benefactor...... $1000 __ Enthusiast ...... $500 Volunteers are always needed in every aspect of everything we do. __ Friend ...... $200 __ Donor ...... $100 • Contribution of money: we have several __ Other donation ...... $______large financial donors but most of our income is I’m donating $100 or more, please send an autographed copy of: generated from our members. Each and every dollar you contribute via membership and __ The Case for Mars __ Entering Space donation is added to the pool of every other __ Mars on Earth __ First Landing (a novel) member to allow us to continue our goal of __ The Holy Land (satire) __ Energy Victory seeing humans on Mars in the near term. It all adds up. Got money? Money is always needed __ On to Mars 1 __ On to Mars 2 in every aspect of everything we do. __ Mars Songs CD __ NEW! How to Live on Mars Most people join an organization based on its mission statement and goals. They want to be a Membership Information part of and contribute to an organization where Please add to or upgrade my membership as follows: they feel their contribution will make a difference. (Please check the appropriate membership level) I am often asked "What do I get for my __ Regular Membership: __ 1 year ...... $50 __ 3 years ...$100 membership?" My simple answer is "You are supporting the goal of seeing humans to Mars in __ Senior Membership: __ 1 year ...... $25 __ 3 years .....$50 the near term". The answer doesn't stop there. I __ Student Membership: __ 1 year ...... $25 __ 3 years .....$50 continue to explain that The Mars Society not __ Family Membership: __ 1 year .....$100 __ 3 years ...$200 only discusses how and why we should go to Mars, but takes action on critical components of Payment Information getting us to Mars. So where does your membership contribution go? Total Amount (Membership + Donation) ...... $ ______• Mars Analog Research Stations: FMARS and MDRS. 100's of participants have taken part __ Personal Check or Credit Card __ Visa __ M/C __ Amex in analog studies of what it will be like to live and Credit Card # ______work on Mars. Together these stations are able to support human mission simulations for ten Expiration Date ______months out of the year, investigating subjects crucial to future Mars exploration, including field Name on Card ______geology and microbiology, human-robot interaction, advance space suit design, Signature ______collaborative telescience protocols, remote Fax this form to 307-459-0922, or Donate online at communications systems, assistive computing www.MarsSociety.org continued on page 17

The Mars Quarterly 16 Volume 1, Issue 3 York University Runs Away With the Title at URC

By Kevin F. Sloan

Just one year after first and second day with another great showing in the Site Survey Task, as well as a place were separated by just one point Site Survey Task, York seemed to be relentless performance in the at the University Rover Challenge the only team able to survive the Construction Task after a touchy (URC), York University swept in and stress and rigors of URC without any control system sent their rover's arm dominated the competition at this major breakdowns. flailing, snapping a cable and losing year's event, more than doubling the "I had expected our rover to not be the socket needed to secure the bolts. point total of their nearest competitor. as complete and fine-tuned as the They were followed closely in third York topped a field of seven teams other rovers. Our team made a place by the University of Nevada, from three countries that Reno, who thoroughly made the trip out to the impressed the judges with Mars Desert Research their expertise in the Station (MDRS) to fight off Extremophile Search Task. the late-May scorching sun The field was rounded out and fierce desert winds. with impressive showings They were able to build a all around by the 2008 substantial lead during the champions from Oregon first day's events, winning State University, Georgia the Construction Task, and Institute of Technology, putting in a solid Warsaw University of performance in the Technology, and the Extremophile Search Task. University of California, Los The second day of Angeles. competition got off to an Students from York's exciting start as York, the first team to decision at the beginning of the year team will be in attendance at the 12th attempt the Emergency Navigation to build a completely new rover," said Annual International Mars Society Task, became the only team all day to Vincent Huynh, Co-Caption of the York Convention this summer, where they successfully locate the distressed University Rover Team. "You can say will be talking to other attendees astronaut hidden in the field. And for that our rover by far exceeded my about their experiences at URC, and the second year in a row, the team expectations this year!" will then be honored for their success that won this task went on to win the Brigham Young University (BYU) at the convention's Saturday evening entire competition. Closing out their leveraged a great performance in the banquet. continued from page 16 primary goal of the U.S. Space years under a cooperative agreement systems and human factors studies. Program. Members conduct with NASA, the Spaceward Bound • Tempo3: This was the winner of congressional meetings locally and in program had brought many The Mars Project Challenge in 2008. It Washington, D.C., meet with exceptional college students and will be the first step in testing artificial presidential candidates and campaigns primary/secondary school teachers to gravity for a crew on their way to and periodically visit both houses of train at MDRS. Mars, a critical component in allowing Congress en masse. I'm not going to tell you that if you the crew to arrive physically fit for • Educational Projects: Exploration give up one latte on the way to work their exploration of Mars. of another planet cannot be we will get to Mars in 10 years. I am • University Rover Challenge: undertaken in a year or two, or even in going to tell you that your continued Now entering its fourth year, the URC a single generation. The Mars Society support via donations, membership calls on the best and brightest college is committed to engaging the dues, and volunteering will get us to student teams to design and build the imagination and intellect of the next Mars. This is why your membership next generation of Mars rovers that generation. Educational projects is important. will one day work alongside range from the local level, with As always, I look forward to your astronauts on the Red Planet. classroom visits by society members comments and suggestions about • Political Action: The Mars to elementary and secondary schools membership and chapters. I hope Society has established an all- to a larger scale, including exhibits of you are having a great summer! volunteer, grassroots Political Task stations before they were deployed at Force whose purpose is to promote Kennedy Space Center and Adler Contact Patt Czarnik via email at human missions to Mars as the Science Museum. For the past three [email protected]

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 17 Passion: Don't Leave Home Without It! An Interview with Andrew Chaikin, author

Carberry: Looking at your strong What I realized when I got into become an interstellar species, and ties to the Mars community, I think the writing that book - as opposed to the truly make the human race live forever first question I'd like to ask is - why one that I had originally embarked by going out in space. The first stop now? Why didn't you write A Passion upon - as I started to look back at my along the way is to go to Mars and for Mars earlier? own history, I realized that Mars really live on Mars. Until we've done that, Chaikin: It was really kind of an was a thread through my whole life. we haven't really cut the cord. accidental process. It started when I It goes back to my early childhood contacted Erik Himmel, the Editor-in- when I fell in love with the planet. As I Carberry: When you were working Chief at Abrams. I'd gotten to love said in the book, Mars was the planet on Viking, did you think humans Michael Benson's book Beyond, that made me feel most like an would be on Mars by 2009? which is just a wonderful compendium explorer. Chaikin: Probably not when I was of planetary images - beautifully working on Viking, but I guess if you'd designed book. Michael did a superb Carberry: I think the fact that it was said to me at the time, "Gee, do you job and of course had Abrams personal made it more compelling, think we'll be on Mars by 2009…" You production and makes it a know that was so far away - that was quality behind it. must-read in the 30-something years away. So, well I very much space sure, I would have hoped we'd be wanted to do Mars was the planet community. there by then. You know I think when something in that that made me feel Chaikin: I the Shuttle started flying in the early vein. I've always appreciate that. 80s… actually, it was earlier than that. loved doing most like an explorer. What happened When we stopped going to the Moon, illustrated books by accident is the that was obviously a sign that things as well as books best thing that were not going to continue at the like A Man on the Moon, where it's not could have happened as far as I was same spectacular pace that they had illustration driven, but text driven. So concerned, because I really feel that been while I was growing up. I I got together with Abrams and Erik this is a book that is meaningful to me remember being very disappointed and I decided that I would do a Mars on many levels. For example, to be that what was then called the "Grand book. able to write about my college Tour" was being cancelled. Of course It started out as being just an professor, Tim Mutch. His name is it was resurrected as Voyager. To me illustrated history of Mars exploration probably not known to many people, the most important thing that the and a few months into the process but he was a tremendously important space program is for is exploration - Erik said, "Gee, I really don't like the person in my life and also influenced whether it is with humans or with idea that you are going to do a great so many other people. It was certainly robots. When the Shuttle started book on Mars exploration and then satisfying to be able to tell his story flying in the 80's, it just didn't feel like someone else will come along and do and also that of Jerry Soffen. It has exploration, and neither does the one that is not as good, but [people] really been "neat" on that level. international space station project. I won't know the difference. Is there think over time it felt that there was any other way that you can think of to Carberry: Who do you really think this divide between the human space make this book any more bullet proof, best captured the reasons for going to program and the robotic program. so that it will really stand out?" And I Mars? Was it Mutch or somebody The robotic program was about said, "Let me make it personal." From else? exploration, whereas the human space that point, it evolved over a number of Chaikin: Well I would say that the flight program was about engineering. months into the history of Mars person who expresses it the best is exploration through the lense of Ray Bradbury, who's not a scientist at Carberry: There is no question that people I have known and encountered all of course but one of the giants of what we have been doing for the past over the years who have really been science fiction. I call him the poet 30 years in the human space program the real movers and shakers in Mars laureate of Mars exploration because has not felt like exploration. The exploration. Not that it is he has an amazing way of expressing cancellation of Apollo was the key comprehensive by any means, but it is why this matters - why it's so crucial problem, but what else do you think a story that is meaningful to me and I that we continue to live out our went wrong? do try to tell an overarching story destiny as an exploring species. Chaikin: It has been the Field of about Mars exploration - telling as Bradbury makes the statement that Dreams approach to the space much about the people as I do about Mars is a waystation in our path to program -- "If you build it, they will the planet. immortality. By that he means, to come." The idea was 'You won't be

The Mars Quarterly 18 Volume 1, Issue 3 disappointed. Let us build this space was with Viking viewing the first the fact that going to Mars keeps station and we'll find so many cool pictures from the surface of Mars in 21 receding into the future. At the things to do with it. You'll be amazed.' years. I was in the press center and opening of that chapter is the view of You know, that really hasn't panned there were two monitors up on the Earth as seen from Spirit, sitting in out. It would be nice if instead of wall. One was showing the Shuttle Gustav Crater. Looking into the pre- starting with the engineering and mission from that time, which was a dawn sky is this bright point of light, trying to figure out what we're going SpaceLab mission, and the picture which is the Earth. To me that is one to do with it, we would start with the that you saw was a bunch of guys in of the most powerful images to come purpose that says we want to go rugby shirts inside a tin can doing out of the Mars program, because it places and do things that nobody has who knows what. I certainly didn't feel really helps us make the mental leap ever done before - and let that drive captivated by whatever they were to being on Mars, and at the same the engineering. I think that the jury is doing in SpaceLab. The other monitor time we kind of get an appreciation of still out on that question as the Obama had pictures of [ ] and the the enormous challenges that remain administration begins to sit down and contrast was just startling. There in a before a human being can have that review the human space flight nutshell was everything that was view. program. My fondest wish is that we wrong with the human space flight retain the goal of getting beyond low program. Just today, as you Carberry: On the topic of life Earth orbit - sooner rather than later. mentioned, I have on my computer as beyond Earth, with the recent Because for me, the worst thing - I'm I'm talking to you the live feeds from evidence of methane, water, etc., do probably going to annoy a lot of the space walks to repair the Hubble. you think they will find life on Mars? people in The Mars Society by saying That is the first thing that has Chaikin: Well, let me put it this way this, but I could live with the notion happened in years in the human space -- I think that the preponderance of that we won't get to Mars anytime flight program that has felt like we are evidence has shifted the baseline in a soon. I can even live with the notion using humans for what they're direction of expecting that there is life. that we won't get back to the Moon supposed to be used for. I would feel It may not show up in the first place anytime soon. What I can't live with is that way again if we could only do we look for it, but I think it would be if we are going to be stuck on low something that got us further than we really surprising at this point, given Earth orbit for the next twenty years were in 1972 in some way, shape or everything that we know about life as we have the last 35 years. To me , form. I'm frustrated and have been for and its tenacity and its adaptability even if we did human missions to decades. and given of what we know about the near-Earth asteroids, as a kind of One of the things that was great likely conditions underground on Mars stepping stone to inter-planetary about writing A Passion for Mars was and some of the satellites of Jupiter missions, that at least seems to me as that I got to immerse myself in and Saturn - it would be very though we were back in the exploring exploration saga. A multi-decade, surprising if we didn't find life in some game. Of course, I want to see us on multi-generational saga of Mars of those places. I think it is very Mars! Of course I want to see us explorers, that is all about the best possible that if there were aquifers on returning to the Moon. But, the worst qualities that we have as human Mars - you'd have all the conditions thing to me is not to try to extend our beings. The curiosity to want to know you'd need. They say the three things reach beyond what we've already what another planet is like and where you need are: water, organics, and a done. it came from and how it evolved - the source of energy. Those three things ingenuity to build machines to actually may very well exist in the subsurface Carberry: Actually, I don't think that answer those questions - the areas of Mars. most members of The Mars Society perseverance to keep plugging after would get angry at what you said. crushing disappointments; and the Carberry: In your book, you devote While we want to get to Mars as spectacular results that led us on this a lot of time to The Mars Under- quickly as possible, if it were a choice cosmic narrative that stretches back to ground. How much impact do you between exploring near Earth objects the very formation of the solar system. think they had? Many of their or continuing to do what we've been This bears on some of the most members (Penny Boston, Carol Stoker, doing for the past 35 years, I for one compelling questions that we know Chris McKay) are extremely active would pick asteroids. The status quo how to ask, like is there life beyond with The Mars Society. isn't compelling. The most compelling Earth? Can we live on other worlds? Chaikin: Well, one of the stories that human space mission is going on as How do planets form and evolve? And I really wanted to tell in A Passion for we speak - the Hubble repair mission. then on top of it all there is this bonus Mars was this story. The Mars Chaikin: Exactly! Let me give you a - we get this leap in awareness. In Underground refused to take no for an perfect example of where I think we've fact, one of my favorite pictures in the answer at a time when NASA was been. In 1997 I went to JPL to cover book is the picture that opens the final ignoring the whole subject of humans the Pathfinder mission. Twenty-one chapter, which I call "Tomorrowland" to Mars or anywhere else beyond low years after Viking I'm back, this time as named after a Disney space show in Earth orbit. These young folks in a journalist. I'm there at JPL, just as I the 1950s. It's an observation about Boulder were saying "Hold on, just a

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 19 second! This is our space program years later. standing on the polar ice cap of Mars. too!" As Carter Emmart in the book, Chaikin: I feel like Mars has some Books like The World we Live In which "Damn it! What happened to our really important things to teach us like was a Time Life compendium of future?" they set their own course and 'check your hubris at the door.' Every natural history, had a space section showed what passionate people can time we look at Mars and thought we and had a bunch of Chesley Bonestell do. To me, it's one of the most had it figured out, the next time we images in there. Or the little How and inspiring parts of the book. It shows looked, we were wrong. We had to Why Wonder Books. These paperback that a meaningful, important, long- pretty much start from scratch and books, which you look at them today lasting impact can happen on a reformulate our understanding of and the illustrations are pretty simple grassroots level. It's that kind of Mars. Another lesson is 'Be in it for and unsophisticated, but to my five- passion that we will need to have if the long haul!' This is a multi- year-old mind, they worked wonders. we are going to get to Mars. It's the generational quest. It is not going to So space art really was the rocket fuel passion that says, "We're going to find be one lifetime or even two. It's really for me and continues to be very close out how to grow crops on Mars! We're something for us to stick with it and to my heart. going figure out keep our eyes on One of my favorite parts of the how to protect the prize. I think whole story that I tell in the book is the crew from It’s that kind of that the other the time I got to spend time with the radiation! We're thing that a Case space artists of my generation in going to figure passion that we will for Mars relates places like Hawaii and Death Valley out how to need to have if we are to is harnessing and try to create our own magic produce the power of portals to take what we know today propellant and going to get to Mars. human ingenuity about the planets and feed that into those other and passion. It's artistic portrayals. Really a great, fun, consumables kind of like group of people -- still some of my from in situ resources!" These were 'Passion: Don't Leave Home Without dearest friends today. We all owe a ideas that were really outside the it!' There was as much passion in that tremendous debt to Chesley Bonestell mainstream before the Case for Mars room in 1984 as I have ever seen in who really shows that space art can conferences began and now they're one place. There's a great story that I do something even more compelling accepted and are part of the base-line think Steve Welch told about Ross than even documenting scientific thinking of how you would go to Mars. Bailey who at that time was working at knowledge. It's a way of enabling the The credit for that largely goes to the JPL on various engineering tasks. future by visualizing it ahead of time. I people who created a Case for Mars And at one point during the Case for think that the fact that we could see and the people who attended those Mars conference he stood up and with such spectacular detail and conferences and worked together. I exclaimed "This is what I want to be cinematic sweep, what it might be like remember being at the second Case doing!" It kind of says it all. to go to Mars and go to the Moon and for Mars conference in 1984. Sitting tour the Solar System. It's one of the in there with everybody - Penny Carberry: Shifting gears, you also things that allowed us to accept the Boston, Carol Stoker, Chris McKay, discuss the importance of space art in reality of space exploration when it Tom Meyer, Carter Emmart, and your book. What impact do you think came along. We were ready for it. everyone else - it was like they were space art can have (or has had) in We were certainly more ready than we creating their own space program - promoting and documenting space would have been without those pre- like a parallel space program - except exploration? visualizations. I think space art has this space program was one that was Chaikin: Well, speaking personally, helped to mid-wife the space age, and really about what I wanted us to be space art is what got me hooked on continues to be a way to help go doing, and what we should be doing. space. Space art is the spark for me. places that we can't get to with our The other space program was a low It all began with my childhood machines or ourselves. Earth orbit holding pattern with the astronomy books and artists shuttles and diminishing excitement conceptions. My favorite words in the Carberry: Once we actually do start and expectations. I hate to be harsh. books was "artist's conception" exploring again, what role do you In hindsight, maybe I'm feeling a little because it meant that was looking think space art will play in more harsh than I did at the time, but I through a magic portal that let me documentation (as was done with the feel like it's been 30 years of lost travel to other worlds at a time that we American West). The only opportunity and we're still trying to get barely even knew what those other professional artist I can think of that back on track to where we were with places were like. It was incredible for really documents space exploration the human program when Apollo me and I still remember sitting on the from experience is Alan Bean. ended. floor in my house, with one or two of Chaikin: I was wondering if you these space books in front of me just were going to say Alan. You know, Carberry: Yes, who would have staring at these illustrations - Jupiter Alan and I and my wife have a thought we'd be where we are 35 as seen from one of its moons, or children's book out on Apollo. It's

The Mars Quarterly 20 Volume 1, Issue 3 called Mission Control, This is Apollo. game. It will be interesting if Elon question first. The book that I'd love It's the story of the missions, sort of Musk is able to find a way to get to write is about my flight around the adapted from A Man on the Moon. people up to the station sooner than Moon. Vickie and I wrote the text and Alan's NASA does. Carberry: I look forward to that one. paintings provide the illustrations. I I hope it comes out really soon. also have a book out this month called Carberry: In the years that you've Chaikin: I guess the book that I'm Voices from the Moon. It is quotes been involved in the space most proud of is still A Man on the from all my conversations with the community, what was the point that Moon. I really do feel that I made a Moon voyagers, and those extensive you were most inspired, and by the contribution with that book and had I quotes - intimate quotes about the same token, what was the point in done nothing else, it would make my Moon experience, paired with these which you were most discouraged or time on this planet mean something. beautiful new scans of the [ depressed? It was a tremendously difficult project. ] photography (mention this in Chaikin: The inspiring moments for Those were difficult years, but interview). me have really come from the images incredibly rewarding. So, I guess that of the robotic missions. One example one would still be at the top. I'm also Carberry: What lessons from the that I talk about in the book was the proud of the Mars book, and proud of history of exploration can we apply to high-rise view of Opportunity at the Voices from the Moon, which my wife space exploration - whether that be rim of Victoria Crater, which reminded and I put together that has just come older historical voyages, or from me of Laurence of Arabia. It was this out. I try to make every book Apollo? incredible cinematic moment and it meaningful to me. I try to get every Chaikin: One the lessons from really brought home that this was a book to tell a story that I feel needs to Apollo is the knowledge that we can real explorer on the surface of Mars. be told. So hopefully in the future I'll do seemingly impossible things when It just made me stop in my tracks for a continue to find stories that fit the bill. we work together for something that moment and was a real thrill. Also, My hope in writing Passion for Mars is is greater than the individual. That's that picture from Sprit was that way that I would be able to give something one of the most important legacies of for me too. So some of the most back to the people who have given so Apollo, but I think even and above that inspiring moments for me have come much of themselves to the quest for is the view of the Earth and the leap in out of the robotic missions - and not Mars. I hope the book reaches the awareness that we got by going to the just Mars of course. The incredible Mars community and that they read it Moon and the realization that the stuff that's been coming back from and feel that I've done that. Earth is a very finite and precious - Cassini of Saturn and the rings and the and to the astronauts - a seemingly moons, and the Huygens lander on fragile oasis in the blackness of space Titan - stuff that makes me really glad - in the void; the perspective of the to be alive. The depressing moments Earth as a world that we need to have come when I have just felt that cherish and protect. That's a we are stuck in old ways of thinking perspective that we're still trying to and old approaches to space. When take in and absorb. That is not why people say that Ares is a result of Kennedy sent us to the Moon. It's not political forces at work at NASA and what was on the minds of the 400,000 that's why that design was chosen - people who worked for the better part that's very depressing. I don't know if of a decade to get us there. It was a it's true, but that's some of what you demonstration that exploration almost hear these days and you think, why always gets us things that we never can't we ever get to the point where anticipated, and that often those we're making decisions about the things can have the most valuable space program for the right reasons? results of all. I guess the depression is really a feeling of when are we going to learn Carberry: Do you think the private from experience and realize that we sector is going to play a role in this at feel the most fulfilled when we're all? doing what human beings are doing Chaikin: I hope so. A couple of what they're intended to do, which is months ago I was out in L.A. and got explore and discover and learn from a tour of the SpaceX factory and saw those discoveries. a Falcon rocket being assembled and saw a mockup of the Dragon capsule. Carberry: Which book are you most I've really got my fingers crossed that proud of, and what book would you those guys or someone else will be like to write in the future? able to really change the rules of the Chaikin: I'll answer the second

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 21 Settling the Solar System

By Gen. Simon "Pete" Worden, NASA Ames Illustration “Mars Phobos Eclipse” by Ron Miller

The Mars Quarterly 22 Volume 1, Issue 3 On April 1, 2008 a curious web site ongoing below the surface - implying nitrogen are present only as trace appeared associated with Google's an active source of heat and/or there constituents. To extract oxygen (or search engine. It announced a joint are current life-processes releasing other elements) requires energy venture between Google and Richard the methane. Either possibility intensive chemical and thermal Branson's Virgin Corporation labeled suggests that Mars holds below its processes. Such technology is "VIRGLE." The initiative solicited surface environments conducive to available, but it is heavy and volunteers to go to Mars and settle life as we know it. potentially difficult to maintain even that planet as privately funded Mars ability to support life, at lunar distances from earth. pioneers. The web site was, of particularly microbial life is central to Hundreds of tons of sophisticated course a typical April Fools Day prank permanent human settlement of that mining and industrial processing of the Google Corporation and its planet - or any planet for that matter. equipment are hard enough to equally innovative colleague at Virgin This is my first critical message: envision on the moon - let alone - or was it? Human expansion into the solar deeper in the solar system on Mars. Let's examine VIRGLE's precepts system in dependent on either An alternative to expensive and what we know about Mars to finding, or creating environments that hardware for processing see if its vision makes sense. Are the can support life. extraterrestrial material to support most innovative businessmen on the human life is to use life itself to planet pointing a way for us to Why is Microbial Life process extraterrestrial material - bio- expand human presence into the so Important? ISRU. Arguably the earliest form of solar system? I believe they are. Human venturing into space so far life on earth, cyanobacteria (or blue- Let's examine their assumptions and has been near-by and short-lived. green algae) has for billions of years what we know about Mars and how The Apollo Moon Missions lasted a processed terrestrial material - to get there. few days with all consumables consuming atmospheric carbon carried with the astronauts. The dioxide, water and other trace What do we know International Space Station now elements using solar energy about Mars? sustains a handful of astronauts more transformed by photosynthesis with We are in a golden age of Mars or less permanently. Yet it requires oxygen as a waste product. It is this discovery. The first Mars probes in several hundred tons of hardware, process that converted the primitive the 1960s and 70s returned frequently re-supplied with earth's carbon dioxide reducing disappointing results for those consumables such as oxygen, water, atmosphere to its current oxygen rich hoping to find another earth. Mars fuel, and replacement parts to state that supports us and other appeared a lot more like the Moon support these people. Using this higher life forms. than Earth. That perception has approach for a similar infrastructure Cyanobacteria and other life forms changed based on recent results. further into space is prohibitively offer a potentially compact and Recent Mars results show the expensive. NASA's plans for a flexible bio-ISRU approach. Some planet has substantial quantities of permanent outpost on the moon terrestrial microorganisms are water - at the poles in polar glaciers, identify as the only feasible approach already used in "bio-mining" to at high latitudes in the form of to permanent off-world settlement extract trace metals from low-grade permafrost and perhaps elsewhere in "living off the land" - In Situ Resource ores. Critical to these processes is underground aquifers. Liquid water Utilization (ISRU). the presence of the necessary feed- may even break through to the NASA's ISRU program focuses on a stock and supporting materials. In all surface from time to time. Martian critical consumable - oxygen. This cases we know these materials are surface rocks also show evidence of element is present in large quantities water and other volatiles containing substantial surface water in the in lunar rocks. It's needed for human carbon and nitrogen. Unless these distant past. It appears that much of respiration and potentially as oxidizer are found in significant quantities at this water is still present near the for fuel. Next on NASA's list of the lunar poles, an open question, the surface. There even appears to be consumables is water - or hydrogen moon won't be a promising location snowfall at some locations. from which water can be made. for permanent off-world settlement. The most interesting regions on Alternatively, hydrogen could be Biology-based ISRU is the key to Mars are below the surface. Liquid extracted from water for use as fuel. settling the solar system. Micro- water and other volatiles may even Water and hydrogen are rare on the organisms are the ultimate self- flow at depths of a few kilometers moon, with the possible exception of replicating machines. Rather than below the surface. Recent terrestrial the lunar poles where water may be needing hundreds of tons of observations show that methane is locked up in frozen deposits at the sophisticated hardware to extract released into the atmosphere from bottom of permanently shadowed needed resources one could need sub-surface processes. This variable craters. The solar wind may also only a few vials of properly methane observation is significant. It imbed small amounts of hydrogen in constituted micro-organisms to suggests there are either active the lunar regolith. Other elements survive on another world - IF the geological and thermal processes necessary for life, such as carbon and necessary raw materials are present,

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 23 water and other volatiles. A self- and accessible source of life- with the Moon or Mars. sustaining off-world colony would be supporting material off earth. Mars is a more complicated target. a colony of not just humans and other Before attempting to establish animals and plants - but a complete How Do We Get to Mars? terrestrial life on Mars it's critical to biosphere based, as life systems are NASA is developing new hardware determine if it already harbors life. on earth, on micro-organisms and to take humans into the solar system. Robotic missions capable of probing their processes. Its Constellation program is deep below Mars surface, and One final note about bio-ISRU: We developing two types of space eventually return samples to earth are are on the verge of true "synthetic" transportation - a system to take essential to determine whether there biology - the ability for humans to humans into low-earth orbit and a is extant Mars life. Great caution is construct self-replicating, living heavy-lift booster to transport rocket called for. Aside from the scientific organisms from basic amino acid stages and human-support modules imperative of not contaminating a life- building blocks. As this technology for journeys deeper into space. The bearing planet with earth life, it's matures it might be possible to moon is our initial target - although important not to contaminate earth. construct tailored micro-organisms the Obama administration is reviewing Our experience in mixing different life optimized for alien environments such the basic approach and objectives. forms on earth is that one often kills as Mars and capable of supporting NASA remains committed to an the other. While earth life and mars large-scale human societies. My ultimate human Mars journey. life may share a similar origin through second critical message is that: However, a government-sponsored asteroid impact-caused exchange of Finding or developing suitable Mars journey appears to be a very material over the past few billions of microorganisms to extract ISRU and expensive flags and footprints mission years, the possibility that current earth support a human biosphere should be many decades in the future. life could be on the losing side of a primary objective of space We can speculate on an optimum microbial contamination from Mars settlement programs. approach for actually settling Mars - demands extreme caution. Should we the most likely abode for large scale find that Mars is barren - or only Where Do We Find human settlement off earth. I propose harbors mutually benign life, robotic Life-Supporting Resources? the first step be well-funded bio-ISRU experiments to creating closed life As noted above the moon appears development. As synthetic biology systems using Martian resources to be a poor locale for finding the develops it may hold the most represent a next step. necessary life-supporting material. promise for effective off-world ISRU. Sending humans to Mars to stay is This conclusion could be modified if Bio-ISRU has the added advantage hard. It's even harder to send them future lunar missions find substantial that similar technologies hold the there and back. Several year-long deposits of water and carbon-bearing promise of effective and affordable round-trip missions appear far off, volatiles at the poles. Indeed, robotic bio-fuels and other means to unaffordable and very risky. It is, lunar missions should focus on this remediate terrestrial climate change however feasible to mount human objective. damage. Large scale biology created missions to near-earth asteroids Mars, however, does appear to be a the environment conducive to our (NEOs). Missions to these bodies can good location for supporting life. It form of life on earth. It is reasonable sequentially extend our ability to has carbon dioxide it its atmosphere to believe applied biology can journey ever deeper and longer into as well as trace amounts of methane. remediate the damage as well as space. This "envelope expansion" Water is present at its poles and enable life to flourish on other worlds. should have a goal to eventually reach underground at many locales. Where We must determine the suitability of Mars. Human missions to NEOs are else might we find such materials? off-world material for supporting within the capability of the hardware Some asteroids and comets biological colonies that can eventually being developed by NASA - indeed it sometimes contain substantial support humans. Robotic missions may be easier than the difficult lunar amounts of water and carbon are ideal. Experiments to set up self- landing. Visiting a NEO is a "docking" compounds. We know this from a supporting biological enclaves would problem rather than a landing problem number of sources - most important be a vital step to ensure the due to the almost non-existent gravity are pieces of asteroids - meteorites, microorganisms we choose can stably of these small objects. This has the which we find on the ground. We reproduce and flourish off-world - and added advantage of sustaining know that certain asteroid classes if not to develop varieties that can. If excitement as ever more distant such as carbonaceous chondrites are the moon has the necessary volatiles milestones are reached - unlike rich in these compounds. The likely it would be a good experimental limiting our human visits to just the source of volatiles, if they exist on the location. Suitably selected near-earth moon. After all, we visited there lunar poles, is volatile-rich comets and objects (asteroids) - NEOs - might almost half a century ago. asteroids that have struck the moon actually prove to be better targets. The ultimate destination within the over the past few billion years. My From a propulsion perspective some next few decades should be one of third major point is: Mars and some are easier to get to as one doesn't the Martian moons, Phobos or asteroids appear to be the most likely need to enter a deep gravity well as Diemos. This is true both due to the

The Mars Quarterly 24 Volume 1, Issue 1 complexity of landing and taking off dollars each from numerous estimates access to liquid water and thermal from the Martian surface and our need - not the tens of billions needed for a sources. My final postulate is to rule out extant, potentially government there and return mission. therefore: Our exploration program dangerous on Mars itself. Phobos has These colonization missions could should be focused on developing the the advantage that it probably has best be private sector initiatives. necessary, probably biological Martian material collected on its The private sector has numerous technologies to enable private sector surface blasted from Mars by asteroid individuals interested in space colonization of Mars. strikes over the eons. Some experts colonization (including people such as believe it may be a volatile rich body Space-X's Elon Musk, Amazon's Jeff Conclusion itself capable of supporting longer- Bezos and Google founders Sergey Humanity has begun its greatest term human activity. Mars-surface Brin and Larry Page among others). adventure - expansion and settlement robots tele-operated from Phobos These individuals wield the necessary of the cosmos. This is an exciting (little or no light-travel time delay) resources to mount true colonization time to be alive and involved. United could enable a most comprehensive missions. They have the interest and States and other government space survey of Mars for life as well as the technology is, or soon will be programs focus on this objective. A suitable colony locations. available. History is replete with good beginning has been made - wealthy, visionary individuals willing there is now an opportunity to What's the Role of the to sponsor risky colonization missions. explicitly work on these goals. Private Sector? Private individuals can take larger risks To reiterate my specific What I've detailed above lies in the - and many would be willing to do so recommendations and perspectives province of governments. Basic to be the first colonists on another this great quest should have four research into off-world biological ISRU world. I predict we will see such precepts - subject of course to and synthetic biology is a government colonists in the decades ahead. revision and replacement as we learn function and likely to remain so. more: Burgeoning private sector interest in What's the role of this technology for important governments in private 1. HUMAN EXPANSION INTO THE terrestrial applications could change colonization of Mars? SOLAR SYSTEM IS DEPENDENT this. Similarly exploration and life Governments can and should ON EITHER FINDING, OR experiments on NEOs now appear to develop the necessary technologies to CREATING ENVIRONMENTS THAT be government functions. But there sustain a colony on another world. CAN SUPPORT LIFE; may be an important role for private The government should survey the sector initiative insomuch as prizes stepping stones (NEOs) and 2. FINDING OR DEVELOPING and data purchase rather than outright environment on Mars for optimum SUITABLE MICRORGANISMS TO government sponsorship could be locations for a colony as well as EXTRACT ISRU AND SUPPORT A highly cost-effective. hazards such as extant life. The HUMAN BIOSPHERE SHOULD BE Human missions to asteroids and government should also put in place A PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF eventually Phobos seem to lie wholly infrastructure such as communications SPACE SETTLEMENT within government functions due to back to earth and navigation aides PROGRAMS; the cost of the very high reliability such as a Martian GPS. However, the required of public space missions - colonists would travel at private 3. MARS AND SOME ASTEROIDS including the key phrase used in expense and at their own risk. Of APPEAR TO BE THE MOST President Kennedy's first speech on course once firmly established they LIKELY AND ACCESSIBLE the topic: "and returning him safely to could contemplate the means to SOURCE OF LIFE-SUPPORTING Earth." But what if we didn't need to return to earth - but one would MATERIAL OFF EARTH; AND return them to Earth? suspect most would choose to stay. Robert Zubrin has proposed in his We could imagine an early Mars 4. OUR EXPLORATION PROGRAM Mars Direct concept with boot- colony founded at locations such as SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON strapped low cost missions designed caves. These might be sealed to DEVELOPING THE NECESSARY, to establish a sustainable and maintain an earth atmosphere. PROBABLY BIOLOGICAL sustaining ISRU function on Mars. I Suitable caves or other locations TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE differ from him only in that I prefer would be scouted out by government PRIVATE SECTOR COLONIZATION bio-ISRU rather than nuclear-powered systems to be optimum for access to OF MARS. ISRU. Zubrin and others demand that resources such as water. Caves, of with a suitably robust infrastructure be which we already know of several on in place before humans arrive. They Mars could be ideal as their thermal Dr. S. Pete Worden could then come as colonists, one extremes are less and they provide (Brig. Gen., USAF, ret.) is way to stay rather than as two-way protection from a hostile radiation the current NASA Ames explorers. The cost of these one-way environment on the Mars surface. Research Center Director.

colonization missions are a few billion They might also provide underground NASA Ames/Tom Trower

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 25 The 2013 MAVEN Mission to Mars

by Dr. Bruce Jakosky, Principle Investigator The MAVEN mission was recently goals include understanding the lost. selected for flight, to explore the history of habitability and whether any From an "observational" perspective, upper atmosphere of Mars and to organisms have ever existed on the we can also look at the MAVEN determine the role that loss of the planet. measurements in three ways. First, it atmosphere to space played in the MAVEN will launch in November will measure the properties of the history of the Martian atmosphere and 2013 and will enter orbit around Mars upper atmosphere as the spacecraft climate. Results obtained by many in September 2014 after a ten-month passes through the upper atmosphere. spacecraft over the last decade cruise phase. The orbit will be These allow a very detailed look at support the view that there was liquid elliptical, allowing measurements to one place in the atmosphere on each water at the surface early in Martian be made at all altitudes throughout the orbit, and allow determination of the history, although it is not stable there upper atmosphere, at all local times basic state of the upper atmosphere. today. Increasingly, evidence points to with respect to the Sun, and at most Second, it will make remote-sensing loss of gases out the top of the latitudes. The primary mission will measurements of a large part of the atmosphere to space as an important, last one Earth year, providing sufficient planet from the high-altitude parts of and possibly the dominant, process in time to make the key measurements its orbit. This will allow the point the changing climate. Although recent to address the science objectives. measurements to be extrapolated to measurements provide compelling There are several ways to look at global conditions, and will provide a evidence that loss to space has the measurements that MAVEN will good understanding of the occurred, they do not allow a unique make. From the perspective of the geographical variations that can take estimate to be made of how much gas "science goals", it will make three place. has been lost or to determine the different types of measurements. Third, MAVEN will measure the specific processes by which the loss First, it will determine the present-day energy inputs into the upper occurred. composition and structure of the atmosphere that drive the processes The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile upper atmosphere. Second, it will that lead to escape. This will include EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission will be the determine the present-day rate of the properties of the solar wind as it first mission devoted to understanding escape of gas from the upper hits Mars, of solar ultraviolet light, and the Martian upper atmosphere and atmosphere to space. And, third, it of solar storms, all of which can affect addressing these questions. These will make measurements that allow us the behavior of the top of the issues get directly at the nature of to extrapolate this escape rate to past atmosphere. Martian habitability by microbes and times, when the solar wind and the There are eight science instruments how it has changed through time. As solar ultraviolet light (that drive the on MAVEN, and they will be provided such, they fit cleanly into the Mars escape) were greater, and to estimate by three different institutions. Two exploration program, whose broad the total amount of gas that has been instruments will be built at the

Artist's conception of the MAVEN spacecraft. For scale, the high-gain antenna (in the middle of the bus) is 2 m in diameter. Instruments are mounted at the ends of the solar panels, on the deck of the bus surrounding the Illustration showing the different atmospheric loss and antenna, on three booms at the top of the image, and on energy processes that MAVEN will measure. Neutral an articulated platform at the end of a boom at the bottom processes are shown in blue, ion and plasma processes in of the image. red, and solar energetic inputs are shown in the upper left.

The Mars Quarterly 26 Volume 1, Issue 1 Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, four will be built at the Space Sciences Laboratory of the University of California at Berkeley, and two will be provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Each of these groups has tremendous experience with their instruments, having provided similar ones on numerous other missions. The spacecraft will be built by Lockheed Martin, which also built the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, all of which orbited Mars. Lockheed Martin also will carry out the mission operations, using their tremendous experience from having operated these same spacecraft. Goddard Space Flight Center will provide the management for the project under the direction of the Principal Investigator. And NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will provide communications through its Deep Space Network, as well as tracking and navigation. After a relatively slow ramp-up this year, MAVEN will be on a natural schedule leading the launch; the bulk of the development will take about four years. The total cost of the mission is capped by NASA to be no greater than $486M (expressed in 2006 dollars, so not including inflation). The MAVEN mission will provide exciting new science at the Red Planet. Its goals have been a high priority as described by the National THE MARS SOCIETY is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization with headquarters in Colorado, USA, committed to furthering the goal of the exploration Research Council for a long time, and and settlement of the Red Planet, via broad public outreach to instill the vision of the MAVEN team is excited to have pioneering Mars, support of ever more aggressive government funded Mars been chosen to implement the exploration programs around the world, and conducting Mars exploration on a mission. private basis. Additional details on the mission THE MARS SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: can be found at the interim mission web site, located at Robert Zubrin Scott Horowitz Declan O'Donnell Penelope Boston http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven. Richard Heidmann

THE MARS SOCIETY STEERING COMMITTEE: Bruce Jakosky is a Professor at the Buzz Aldrin James Harris Guy Murphy Peter Smith University of Colorado in Boulder, and Penny Boston Richard Heidmann Anthony Curtis Sara Spector is the Principal Investigator of the Chris Carberry Rt. Rev. James Muscatello Lucinda Weisbach MAVEN mission. Jonathan Clarke Heiser Gabriel Rshaid Artemis Patricia Czarnik Jean Lagarde Shannon M. Westenberg Tamarack Robert Darlene S.S. Lim Rupert Robert Zubrin Czarnik Bruce Mackenzie Gus Sheerbaum Gary Fisher Bo Maxwell Frank Shubert Gus Frederick Steve McDaniel Kevin F. Sloan

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The Mars Quarterly 28 Volume 1, Issue 1