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Humanity and Space

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Humanity and Space Project Number: MH-1199 Humanity and Space An Interactive Qualifying Project Submitted to the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment for the Degree of Bachelor of Science by Sam Daley Geoffrey Hong Amanpreet Singh Zachary Starkweather March 9, 2011 Professor Mayer H. Humi, Project Advisor Abstract This IQP was about the exploration of ancient culture’s beliefs and traditions about space, the continued existence of humanity, how humans fare in extra-terrestrial environments, what can be done to improve our survival there, and lastly the commercialization of space. This group suggests that we take our energy search into space, with the mining of Helium-3 from a colony on Mercury and the collection of solar energy via solar panels orbiting around Earth. Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary..................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 8 Chapter I: Ancient Civilizations ................................................................................................................. 12 Ancient Greece ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Ancient Egypt ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Ancient Mayans .................................................................................................................................... 14 Ancient Sumerians ................................................................................................................................ 15 Chapter II: The Case for Expanding Civilization ......................................................................................... 19 Impact Event ......................................................................................................................................... 19 Biological Disasters ............................................................................................................................... 22 Natural Disasters ................................................................................................................................... 24 How to Deflect Asteroids ...................................................................................................................... 27 Natural Curiosity ................................................................................................................................... 34 Chapter III: Escaping Earth ........................................................................................................................ 37 Rockets ................................................................................................................................................. 37 Chemical Propulsion in Rockets ............................................................................................................ 40 Amount of fuel required for launch into orbit ...................................................................................... 43 Lunar Trajectories ................................................................................................................................. 46 Alternative methods to escape Earth ................................................................................................... 49 Launch Platforms .................................................................................................................................. 51 Chapter IV: Mars ....................................................................................................................................... 56 Atmosphere on Mars ............................................................................................................................ 56 Moving Mars ......................................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter V: Mercury .................................................................................................................................. 62 Surviving on the Surface ....................................................................................................................... 64 Possibility of Using Lunar Regolith ........................................................................................................ 66 Making the Journey to Mercury ............................................................................................................ 68 Chapter VI: Social Implications ................................................................................................................. 73 Technological Benefits from Extraterrestrial Colonies .......................................................................... 73 Effects of Radiation ............................................................................................................................... 75 Genetic Engineering .............................................................................................................................. 78 Social Space .......................................................................................................................................... 80 Cultural Restructuring ........................................................................................................................... 83 Chapter VII: Commercial Benefits ............................................................................................................. 85 Space Based Solar Power ...................................................................................................................... 85 Fusion Reactor ...................................................................................................................................... 87 Disposal of Space Debris ....................................................................................................................... 89 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 92 Works Cited .............................................................................................................................................. 97 Appendix A – Hohmann Transfer Orbit Simulation ................................................................................. 109 Executive Summary This project delves thoroughly into the examination of the relationship humanity has with space. Ever since we have had the ability to imagine, humanity has been fascinated by the cosmos. When humanity was just starting to visualize outside our realm, space was believed to be a spherical shell around our planet. Once we developed the proper technology, we came to realize how vast space is, and how much we still had to learn about our place in the universe. Humanity could not begin to imagine what extinction is like, what it means to be an endangered. However, there are very real threats to our existence; and in the scope of the universe we are merely ants to be stepped on. Whether it is a natural disaster, such as a biological outbreak from some unstoppable pathogen to an asteroid the size of Rhode Island, or perhaps our doom lays in our own hands with an all out nuclear war that would most certainly destroy us. Because of these threats, humanity must have a contingency plan. We need to be able to survive outside our current environment. When the time comes for us to venture beyond Earth, whether to explore, to find new resources, or to put more efficient communication systems into space; we will need a way to do so. Mankind has used rockets up until now, and continues to do so; but these methods are beginning to become outdated. We need to find more efficient methods of transportation from Earth to space and beyond. In the meantime, while we continue our search for a perfect combustion system, we can apply our knowledge and put a base on the moon, so we can launch ourselves deeper into space from a lower gravity environment, thus lessening our fuel consumption and possibly enabling the colonization of our solar system. While many argue that Mars is the next logical place for humanity to populate, it is imperfect. In its current stage, its days are too hot, its nights are too cold, and it has very little atmosphere; which means no air to breathe and no protection form solar radiation. While we could live within a biodome or similar structure, humans have proven far too often that they cannot be contained. In every experiment, the safety of the biodome is eventually compromised by our need to get out, to not be confined. In response to this, this IQP group initially proposed that we move Mars to a more suitable location in the solar system, merely a fraction of its original orbit closer to the sun. It is a simple enough proposition; just hit Mars with asteroids and comets until its velocity is lowered enough to where it can be closer to the sun. We considered the simplest case, where we would collide a single,
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