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2014 January TTSIQ #6 page 1 JANUARY 2014 L: India’s Mangalayaan probe is on its way to Mars R: China’s Yutu “Jade Rabbit” Rover is on the Moon INDEX 2 Co-Sponsoring Organizations NEWS SECTION pp. 3-78 3-16 Earth Orbit and Mission to Planet Earth 17-31 Cislunar Space and the Moon 32-45 Mars 46-55 Asteroids & Comets 56-66 Other Planets & their moons 67-78 Starbound ARTICLES, ESSAYS pp 80-106 80 Market Economics: Options for the Moon, then Mars, Asteroids By Peter Kokh 82 The “Man in the Moon?” By Peter Kokh 83 Assuring Mental Health Among Future Lunar Frontier Pioneers By Peter Kokh 91 Getting to Mars Faster by Visiting Venus First? By Peter Kokh 93 In Ison’s wake: Isn’t it time to give the Sun, our Star, a proper Name? By Peter Kokh 94 Short Report from the October 3-4 Golden Spike Workshop By Larry J. Friesen 96 Will Hillary Give The Moon Away? By David Dunlop 100 Chang’e 3 Lands Successfully on the Moon’s Bay of Rainbows By David Dunlop 102 What A Diference A Year Makes: The LEAG Fall 2013 Meeting By David Dunlop 106 Online Op-Ed Articles from other writers worth reading STUDENTS & TEACHERS 107-120 122 List of Recent Feature Articles and Essays in Our Sister Publications: AD Astra Fall 2013; Winter 2013 Moon Miners’ Manifesto: Oct 2013 #269, Nov 2013 #270, Dec 2013 #271 NOTE - with this issue, To The Stars International Quarterly replaces older sister publication Moon Miners’ Manifesto India Quarterly This is logical as TTSIQ #s 2-5 and M3IQ #s 18-21, except for the first 2 and last 2 pages, Included the same news reports, the same 1essays and articles, and the same layout. TTSIQ #6 page 2 JANUARY 2014 TTSIQ Sponsor Organizations 1. About The National Space Society - http://www.nss.org/ The National Space Society was formed in March, 1987 by the merger of the former L5 Society and National Space institute. NSS has an extensive chapter network in the United States and a number of international chapters in Europe, Asia, and Australia. NSS hosts the annual International Space Development Conference in May each year at varing locations. NSS publishes Ad Astra magazine quarterly. NSS actively tries to influence US Space Policy. About The Moon Society - http://www.moonsociety.org The Moon Society was formed in 2000 and seeks to inspire and involve people everywhere in exploration of the Moon with the establishment of civilian settlements, using local resources through private enterprise both to support themselves and to help alleviate Earth's stubborn energy and environmental problems. The Society has a network of chapters in the US and has been an afliate of NSS since 2005. About Space Renaissance Initiative - http://www.spacerenaissance.org/ SRI’s focus is on use of space resources to address the challenges of runaway population growth and increasing use of Earth resources at a non-sustainable pace. “The settlement of space would benefit all of humanity by opening a new frontier, energizing our society, providing room and resources for the growth of the human race without despoiling Earth, and creating a lifeboat for humanity that could survive even a planet-wide catastrophe.” About The Mars Foundation - http://marsfoundation.org/ - http://marshome.org/ The Foundation seeks to involved interested persons in the design of Mars outposts and settlements, maximizing use of building materials that can be produced on Mars, to illustrate the near-term feasibility of establishing a permanent human presence on Mars. About Open Luna Foundation - http://openluna.org/missions The OpenLuna Foundation aims to return to the moon through private enterprise. Astepped program of robotic missions, thena short series of manned missions to construct a small, approximately 8 person outpost . About SEDS: Students for the Exploration and Development of Space - http://www.seds.org/ SEDS is an independent, student-based organization which promotes the exploration and development of space by educating people about the benefits of space, through a network of interested students, providing an opportunity About Moon Miners’ Manifesto - http:www.MMM-MoonMinersManifesto.com MMM, has been published 10 times a year since issue #1 December 1986 by the Milwaukee Lunar Reclamation Society chapter of the National Space Society. It has also served the Moon Society and its predecessor, Artemis Society International, since October 1995. Most issues deal with the opening of the Lunar frontier, suggesting how pioneers can make best use of local resources and learn to make themselves at home. This will involve psychological, social, and physiological adjustment. Much of what will hold for the Moon, will also hold true for Mars and for space in general. There is one Mars theme issue each year, and occasionally other space destinations are discussed: the asteroids, Europa (Jupiter), Titan (Saturn), even the cloud tops of Venus, and interstellar destinations beyond. This issue is online at: www.moonsociety.org/international/ttsiq/ and at: www.nss.org/tothestars/ 2 TTSIQ #6 page 3 JANUARY 2014 [The articles below have been summarized by the editor. For the full text, see the links cited.] SPACEPORT NEWS India/ISRO to decide on 2nd Launch Site www.space-travel.com/reports/Second_rocket_launch_site_depends_on_satellite_size_cost_benefit_999.html Second rocket launch site depends on satellite size, cost-benefit Chennai, India (Nov 28, 2013 -The Indian space agency, will decide on the need for a 2nd rocket launch site after a detailed study on the cost-benefit and other aspects like the trend in remote sensing satellites. One option is to place a second rocket launch site at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin district, as it is an ideal location and could save rocket fuel or increase the rocket's carrying capacity, and it is a better location from which to launch to the south (polar trajectories). It is also nearer the equator and better for launching to the East as well. But Sriharikota would be maintained for that. Left: view of Sriharikhotra Right: orange trajectories from present site; black from proposed site ISRO does not want to fly over Sri Lankha (Island, formerly Ceylon) ISRO sends remote sensing (earth observation) satellites southwards. The global trend in the remote sensing over the poles satellites is reduction in their size, while that of communication satellites launched eastward is going up. So for these launches, the Sriharikota site is the better location A new rocket launch site for remote sensing satellites, normally launched southwards, has to take into account the capital expenditure involved and the savings in fuel burnt by the rocket. For launching communication satellites the current site is the best, and the new site better for Communications satellites. ISRO is weighing the costs of building a new site or improving the present site, constructing a new rocket assembly building and a third launch pad at Sriharikota capable of launching upgraded geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) Mark III. Currently launches must be a minimum of one month apart. The new construction would allow more frequent launches. At the moment, it seems more likely that ISRO will improve the current site as opposed to building new site to the south. The US, Russia, Europe, and China all have multiple launch sites. For India, it seems that cost must be the deciding factor rather than ideal location. ## 3 TTSIQ #6 page 4 JANUARY 2014 ANALOG FACILITY TRAINING ESA Astronauts Emerge from Cave After Underground Spaceflight Training http://www.space.com/23090-astronauts-caves-mock-space-mission.html ‘Cavenauts’ during ESA’s 2013 underground astronaut training course October 8, 2013 - Six astronauts emerged from a cave in Italy after six days underground, spent getting a taste of the isolation and danger that will confront them on a space mission. Their expedition was part of the European Space Agency's two-week CAVES exploration course, which trains astronauts to work together in multicultural teams under difcult conditions. CAVES — short for Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behavior and performance Skills — is designed to be as similar to spaceflight as possible. The 2013 CAVES astronauts spent some time in training to make sure they were familiar with the procedures they need before entering the darkness of Sa Grutta cave, on the Italian island of Sardinia, with a list of science tasks to accomplish. In the cave, the team followed a daily plan, as do astronauts on the International Space Station, working long days to push the survey forward and document the topography of the cave. "As we extended our survey, samples were taken for later analysis of water chemistry, microbiology of soil and surfaces, and atmosphere for CO2 [carbon dioxide], temperature and humidity," team members reported.. To keep astronauts healthy, CAVES organizers posted a schedule, chose food that isn't apt to spoil and plotted the safest routes possible through the subsurface. This year's crew also got several upgrades from previous expeditions to improve safety including new helmet lights, specially adapted shoes and a portable carbon dioxide monitor. Science findings are still being analyzed, but some interesting carbon dioxide variations were found through the cave. Crew members also took several videos underground examining strong analogies between speleology and spaceflight. ## Also see the Mars Society Announcement and call for volunteers for a 365 day program at the Flashline Mars Arctic Station under the MARS SECTION below. NEW TECHNOLOGY NASA Looking to Commercial Sector for New Technology and Materials http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/prnewswire-space-news.html October 15, 2013 - Space activities are extremely expensive. It costs $50,000 to launch a gallon of water into space. To reduce costs, NASA is partnering with the private sector for specialized research to develop new materials.
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