Asteroid Resource Utilization: Ethical Concerns and Progress
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A Wunda-Full World? Carbon Dioxide Ice Deposits on Umbriel and Other Uranian Moons
Icarus 290 (2017) 1–13 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Icarus journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/icarus A Wunda-full world? Carbon dioxide ice deposits on Umbriel and other Uranian moons ∗ Michael M. Sori , Jonathan Bapst, Ali M. Bramson, Shane Byrne, Margaret E. Landis Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: Carbon dioxide has been detected on the trailing hemispheres of several Uranian satellites, but the exact Received 22 June 2016 nature and distribution of the molecules remain unknown. One such satellite, Umbriel, has a prominent Revised 28 January 2017 high albedo annulus-shaped feature within the 131-km-diameter impact crater Wunda. We hypothesize Accepted 28 February 2017 that this feature is a solid deposit of CO ice. We combine thermal and ballistic transport modeling to Available online 2 March 2017 2 study the evolution of CO 2 molecules on the surface of Umbriel, a high-obliquity ( ∼98 °) body. Consid- ering processes such as sublimation and Jeans escape, we find that CO 2 ice migrates to low latitudes on geologically short (100s–1000 s of years) timescales. Crater morphology and location create a local cold trap inside Wunda, and the slopes of crater walls and a central peak explain the deposit’s annular shape. The high albedo and thermal inertia of CO 2 ice relative to regolith allows deposits 15-m-thick or greater to be stable over the age of the solar system. -
REASONS to MIND ASTEROIDS with the Rapid Progress Made In
ASTEROID MINING & ITS LEGAL IMPLICATIONS Neil Modi & Devanshu Ganatra Presentation ID- IAC- 16.E7.IP.23.x32357 REASONS TO MINE ASTEROIDS With the rapid progress made in technology, humans are taking huge steps in space today. There is huge potential in space, and particularly in asteroid mining. ENERGY CRISIS RARE EARTH METALS • Non-renewable fossil fuels like coal, oil currently account for 81% of • Many of the metals widely used in almost all industrial products the world’s primary energy. were always limited and are now in SHORT SUPPLY leading to skyrocketing manufacturing costs. • EARLIER, renewable energy could not compete with non-renewable sources because it relied on metals in short supply. Resources found • These include Platinum Group Metals (PMGS) and others like on asteroids would solve this problem completely. gold, cobalt, iron, molybdenum etc. Image Credit-The U.S. Energy Image Credit- FuelSpace.org- ‘How Asteroids Can Information Administration Save Mankind’ PROJECTED SCARCITY OF RESOURCES ON EARTH Image Credit-Shackleton Energy Company Image Credit- Chris Clugston’s ‘An Oil Drum- An Analysis’ (2010) THE NEED FOR WATER 1. SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ASTRONAUTS- Since the main constituents of water HYDRATION AND OXYGEN are hydrogen and oxygen, it is a source of oxygen for life support. TO ASTRONAUTS 2. PROTECTION FROM RADIATION- Water absorbs and blocks infrared radiation, which means that by storing heat it helps to maintain temperature. 3. ROCKET FUEL- Rocket propellant is hydrogen and oxygen based, with a large percentage of the weight of a spacecraft taken up by fuel. 4. SPACE EXPLORATION- A GAS STATION IN SPACE KEY TO SPACE BLOCKS EXPLORATION WATER RADIATION Today billions of dollars are spent in rocket fuel to sustain space explorations. -
Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid
Georgetown University Law Center Scholarship @ GEORGETOWN LAW 2019 Exoatmospheric Plowshares: Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid David A. Koplow Georgetown University Law Center, [email protected] This paper can be downloaded free of charge from: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2197 https://ssrn.com/abstract=3229382 UCLA Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs, Spring 2019, Issue 1, 76. This open-access article is brought to you by the Georgetown Law Library. Posted with permission of the author. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub Part of the Air and Space Law Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Philosophy Commons, and the National Security Law Commons EXOATMOSPHERIC PLOWSHARES: USING A NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOR PLANETARY DEFENSE AGAINST AN INCOMING ASTEROID DavidA. Koplow* "They shall bear their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks" Isaiah 2:4 ABSTRACT What should be done if we suddenly discover a large asteroid on a collision course with Earth? The consequences of an impact could be enormous-scientists believe thatsuch a strike 60 million years ago led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, and something ofsimilar magnitude could happen again. Although no such extraterrestrialthreat now looms on the horizon, astronomers concede that they cannot detect all the potentially hazardous * Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. The author gratefully acknowledges the valuable comments from the following experts, colleagues and friends who reviewed prior drafts of this manuscript: Hope M. Babcock, Michael R. Cannon, Pierce Corden, Thomas Graham, Jr., Henry R. Hertzfeld, Edward M. -
View Conducted by Its Standing Review Board (SRB)
Science Committee Report Dr. Wes Huntress, Chair 1 Science Committee Members Wes Huntress, Chair Byron Tapley, (Vice Chair) University of Texas-Austin, Chair of Earth Science Alan Boss, Carnegie Institution, Chair of Astrophysics Ron Greeley, Arizona State University, Chair of Planetary Science Gene Levy, Rice University , Chair of Planetary Protection Roy Torbert, University of New Hampshire, Chair of Heliophysics Jack Burns, University of Colorado Noel Hinners, Independent Consultant *Judith Lean, Naval Research Laboratory Michael Turner, University of Chicago Charlie Kennel, Chair of Space Studies Board (ex officio member) * = resigned July 16, 2010 2 Agenda • Science Results • Programmatic Status • Findings & Recommendations 3 Unusual Thermosphere Collapse • Deep drop in Thermospheric (50 – 400 km) density • Deeper than expected from solar cycle & CO2 4 Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) unlocking the secrets of Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs) Form 50 miles above surface in polar summer vs ~ 6 miles for “norm79al” clouds. NLCs getting brighter; occurring more often. Why? Linked to global change? AIM NLC Image June 27, 2009 - AIM measured the relationship between cloud properties and temperature - Quantified for the first time, the dramatic response to small changes, 10 deg C, in temperature - T sensitivity critical for study of global change effects on mesosphere Response to Gulf Oil Spill UAVSAR 23 June 2010 MODIS 31 May 2010 ASTER 24 May 2010 Visible Visible/IR false color Satellite instruments: continually monitoring the extent of -
Planetary Protection Requirements for Human and Robotic Missions to Mars
Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration (2012) 4331.pdf PLANETARY PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR HUMAN AND ROBOTIC MISSIONS TO MARS. R. Mogul1, P. D. Stabekis2, M. S. Race3, and C. A. Conley4, 1California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 3801 W. Temple Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 ([email protected]), 2Genex Systems, 525 School St. SW, Suite 201, Washington D.C. 20224 ([email protected]), 3SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA 94043, 4NASA Head- quarters, Washington D.C. 20546 ([email protected]) Introduction: Ensuring the scientific integrity of mission. Hardware involved in the acquisition and Mars exploration, and protecting the Earth and the storage of samples from Mars must be designed to human population from potential biohazards, requires protect Mars material from Earth contamination, and the incorporation of planetary protection into human ensure appropriate cleanliness from before launch spaceflight missions as well as robotic precursors. All through return to Earth. Technologies needed to ensure missions returning samples from Mars are required to sample cleanliness at levels similar to those maintained comply with stringent planetary protection require- by the Viking project, in the context of modern space- ments for this purpose, recent refinements to which are craft materials, are yet to be developed. reported here. The objectives of planetary protection policy are As indicated in NASA Policy Directive NPD the same for both human and robotic missions; howev- 8020.7G (section 5c), to ensure compliance with the er, the specific implementation requirements will nec- Outer Space Treaty planetary protection is a mandatory essarily be different. Human missions will require component for all solar system exploration, including additional planetary protection approaches that mini- human missions. -
PLANETARY PROTECTION and REGULATING HUMAN HEALTH: a RISK THAT IS NOT ZERO Victoria Sutton1
(3) FINAL MACRO VERSION - VICTORIA SUTTON ARTICLE (PP. 71-102) (DO NOT DELETE) 3/9/2020 9:40 AM 19 Hous. J. Health L. & Policy 71 Copyright © 2019 Victoria Sutton Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy PLANETARY PROTECTION AND REGULATING HUMAN HEALTH: A RISK THAT IS NOT ZERO Victoria Sutton1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 73 I. LESSONS FROM HUMAN HISTORY ........................................................... 75 II. U.S. LEADERSHIP, INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND GUIDELINES FOR BACK CONTAMINATION—A SHORT HISTORY OF PLANETARY PROTECTION AND BIOCONTAINMENT ................................................... 79 A. International Law and Biocontainment Binding All Nations .......................................................................................... 82 B. Private Space Travel Must Comply with Planetary Protection ...................................................................................... 84 C. Enforceability is a Weakness ......................................................... 85 III. POLICY INDICATIONS THAT A RENEWED FOCUS IS NEEDED FOR BACK CONTAMINATION ........................................................................ 86 A. The Elimination of Human Health and Quarantine from U.S. Planetary Protection Protocols ........................................... 86 1 Victoria Sutton, MPA, PhD, JD, is the Paul Whitfield Horn Professor at Texas Tech University School of Law. Dr. Sutton is the former Assistant Director at the White House Science Office -
Margaret Kivelson
Margaret Galland Kivelson 6/27/2013 Margaret Kivelson- Dynamics - MoP 2011 – Boston University 1 Rotationally driven magnetospheres! (Mauk et al., (Saturn, Chapter 11) state: “while it is true that Saturn’s magnetosphere is intermediate between those of Earth and Jupiter in terms of size (whether measured by RP; RPP, or RMP), it is not intermediate in any meaningful dynamical sense. It is clearly rotationally driven like Jupiter’s, not solar-wind–driven like Earth’s.” Margaret Kivelson- Dynamics - MoP 6/27/2013 2011 – Boston University 2 This Vasyliunas (1983) diagram is a necessary element of any discussion of the magnetospheres of gas giants! It captures some critical features implicitly or explicitly: A significant source of heavy plasma deep within the magnetopause (Io, Enceladus) is spun up to some fraction of corotation speed by field-aligned currents coupling magnetosphere and ionosphere. Rotation dominates the dynamics – drives plasmoid releases down the tail. Solar wind shapes the boundaries but does not dominate the dynamics. Margaret Kivelson- Dynamics - MoP 6/27/2013 2011 – Boston University 3 Thomas et al., 2004 Schneider and Trager, 1995 In the pickup process, ions acquire perp. thermal speed of local rotation speed. 2 Energy added N pum() Pickup energy is shared with background plasma. Typically heats plasma. Melin6/27/2013 et al., 2009 4 Much is well established, but puzzles remain. Discuss a few features energy density of plasma and why it changes vs. radial distance, vs. local time, periodicities, Anomalies in regions of high dust density. Margaret Kivelson- Dynamics - MoP 6/27/2013 2011 – Boston University 5 At Earth, temperature (more correctly Below a plot from Kane et al (1995) thermal energy per particle) decreases of Voyager data at Jupiter, modeled with but not at Jupiter or Saturn. -
Global Exploration Roadmap
The Global Exploration Roadmap January 2018 What is New in The Global Exploration Roadmap? This new edition of the Global Exploration robotic space exploration. Refinements in important role in sustainable human space Roadmap reaffirms the interest of 14 space this edition include: exploration. Initially, it supports human and agencies to expand human presence into the robotic lunar exploration in a manner which Solar System, with the surface of Mars as • A summary of the benefits stemming from creates opportunities for multiple sectors to a common driving goal. It reflects a coordi- space exploration. Numerous benefits will advance key goals. nated international effort to prepare for space come from this exciting endeavour. It is • The recognition of the growing private exploration missions beginning with the Inter- important that mission objectives reflect this sector interest in space exploration. national Space Station (ISS) and continuing priority when planning exploration missions. Interest from the private sector is already to the lunar vicinity, the lunar surface, then • The important role of science and knowl- transforming the future of low Earth orbit, on to Mars. The expanded group of agencies edge gain. Open interaction with the creating new opportunities as space agen- demonstrates the growing interest in space international science community helped cies look to expand human presence into exploration and the importance of coopera- identify specific scientific opportunities the Solar System. Growing capability and tion to realise individual and common goals created by the presence of humans and interest from the private sector indicate and objectives. their infrastructure as they explore the Solar a future for collaboration not only among System. -
Planetary Defence Activities Beyond NASA and ESA
Planetary Defence Activities Beyond NASA and ESA Brent W. Barbee 1. Introduction The collision of a significant asteroid or comet with Earth represents a singular natural disaster for a myriad of reasons, including: its extraterrestrial origin; the fact that it is perhaps the only natural disaster that is preventable in many cases, given sufficient preparation and warning; its scope, which ranges from damaging a city to an extinction-level event; and the duality of asteroids and comets themselves---they are grave potential threats, but are also tantalising scientific clues to our ancient past and resources with which we may one day build a prosperous spacefaring future. Accordingly, the problems of developing the means to interact with asteroids and comets for purposes of defence, scientific study, exploration, and resource utilisation have grown in importance over the past several decades. Since the 1980s, more and more asteroids and comets (especially the former) have been discovered, radically changing our picture of the solar system. At the beginning of the year 1980, approximately 9,000 asteroids were known to exist. By the beginning of 2001, that number had risen to approximately 125,000 thanks to the Earth-based telescopic survey efforts of the era, particularly the emergence of modern automated telescopic search systems, pioneered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT’s) LINEAR system in the mid-to-late 1990s.1 Today, in late 2019, about 840,000 asteroids have been discovered,2 with more and more being found every week, month, and year. Of those, approximately 21,400 are categorised as near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), 2,000 of which are categorised as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs)3 and 2,749 of which are categorised as potentially accessible.4 The hazards posed to us by asteroids affect people everywhere around the world. -
Biological Planetary Protection for Human Missions to Mars
NASA NID 8715.129 Interim Effective Date: July 9, 2020 Directive Expiration Date: July 9, 2021 Subject: Biological Planetary Protection for Human Missions to Mars Responsible Office: Office of Safety and Mission Assurance Table of Contents Preface P.1 Purpose P.2 Applicability P.3 Authority P.4 Applicable Documents P.5 Measurement/Verification P.6 Cancellation Chapter 1. Mitigating Backward and Forward Harmful Biological Contamination from Human Missions to Mars 1.1 Overview 1.2 Guidance for Biological Planetary Protection for Human Missions to Mars 1.3 NASA Policy on Biological Planetary Protection for Human Missions to Mars Appendix A. References 1 Preface P.1 Purpose a. This directive defines NASA’s obligation to avoid harmful forward and backward biological contamination under Article IX of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the "Outer Space Treaty"), October 19, 1967. b. This directive specifically addresses the control of forward biological contamination of Mars and backward biological contamination of the Earth-Moon system associated with human presence in space vehicles intended to land, orbit, flyby, and return from Mars. c. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty provides in relevant part: “States Parties to the Treaty shall pursue studies of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, and conduct exploration of them so as to avoid their harmful contamination and also adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter and, where necessary, shall adopt appropriate measures for this purpose.” NASA recognizes that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST) sets forth legal requirements on U.S. -
Space Sector Brochure
SPACE SPACE REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY TO SPACE SPACECRAFT TECHNOLOGIES PROPULSION Moog provides components and subsystems for cold gas, chemical, and electric Moog is a proven leader in components, subsystems, and systems propulsion and designs, develops, and manufactures complete chemical propulsion for spacecraft of all sizes, from smallsats to GEO spacecraft. systems, including tanks, to accelerate the spacecraft for orbit-insertion, station Moog has been successfully providing spacecraft controls, in- keeping, or attitude control. Moog makes thrusters from <1N to 500N to support the space propulsion, and major subsystems for science, military, propulsion requirements for small to large spacecraft. and commercial operations for more than 60 years. AVIONICS Moog is a proven provider of high performance and reliable space-rated avionics hardware and software for command and data handling, power distribution, payload processing, memory, GPS receivers, motor controllers, and onboard computing. POWER SYSTEMS Moog leverages its proven spacecraft avionics and high-power control systems to supply hardware for telemetry, as well as solar array and battery power management and switching. Applications include bus line power to valves, motors, torque rods, and other end effectors. Moog has developed products for Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) Systems, such as high power DC converters, switching, and power stabilization. MECHANISMS Moog has produced spacecraft motion control products for more than 50 years, dating back to the historic Apollo and Pioneer programs. Today, we offer rotary, linear, and specialized mechanisms for spacecraft motion control needs. Moog is a world-class manufacturer of solar array drives, propulsion positioning gimbals, electric propulsion gimbals, antenna positioner mechanisms, docking and release mechanisms, and specialty payload positioners. -
ASTEROID MINING and IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION A. A. Mardon1 and G
82nd Annual Meeting of The Meteoritical Society 2019 (LPI Contrib. No. 2157) 6189.pdf ASTEROID MINING AND IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION A. A. Mardon1 and G. Zhou2, 1University of Alberta, 2George Washington University. Introduction: Like many space exploration missions, cost is a determining factor. Transportation alone imposes a cost of $10,000 per kilogram for the entire mission making it simply not profitable or attractive to potential investors. A poten- tial near-instantaneous solution would be to develop an asteroid mining economy developing of a human-commercial market. It is suggested that this scenario will create the economic and technological opportunities not available today. Fu- ture manned missions would require the use of native material and energy on celestial objects to support future human and robotic explorations. The process of collecting and processing usable native material is known as in-situ resource utiliza- tion (ISRU). Currently, space travelling requires missions to carry life necessities such as air, food, water and habitable volume and shielding needed to sustain crew trips from Earth to interplanetary destinations. [1] The possibility of a mis- sion depends on the deduced market value from commercial sale of the product. Engineering choices are identified; a ma- trix of mineralogy, product and process choices can be developed. [2] One major consideration in the process of obtaining energy and life supporting materials from the lunar surface is the identification and excavation of raw material. [3] Lunar soil is produced primarily by meteorite impacts on the surface. This process caused for mineral fragmentation with com- position consisting of miscellaneous glasses, agglutinates and basaltic and brecciated lithic fragments.