Project Number: MH1158 Establishing a Lunar Outpost An Interactive Qualifying Project Report Submitted to the faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science By ___________________________________ Ian Ball ___________________________________ Joseph Bauer ___________________________________ Andrew Dawson ___________________________________ Stephen Jenkinson <Date> ___________________________________ Professor Mayer Humi <Section> ABSTRACT Our project examined the feasibility of establishing a lunar outpost. This included analysis of Earth to moon transportation, sustainability, uses for the moon, and the potential effects on humanity. We determined that the moon is a viable option for private companies to explore due to the opportunities in establishing life-supporting systems, harvesting fuel for alternative energy, and experimental studies. The lunar outpost would have its greatest effect on humanity by providing alternative energy sources and detection of near earth objects. ii | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Tables ............................................................................................................................... v Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... vi Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Getting to the Moon ........................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 Hohmann Transfer Orbits ........................................................................................................... 5 Formulas ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Patched Conic ............................................................................................................................. 6 S-IC first stage ........................................................................................................................ 8 S-II second stage ..................................................................................................................... 8 S-IVB third stage .................................................................................................................... 8 Lagrange Points ........................................................................................................................ 10 Hall Thrusters............................................................................................................................ 13 Comparison ............................................................................................................................... 15 Future Considerations ............................................................................................................... 16 Our Findings on Transportation ................................................................................................ 18 The Initial Location....................................................................................................................... 19 Life Supporting Technologies....................................................................................................... 25 Water & Waste Management .................................................................................................... 25 Food .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Air Supply & Cabin Pressurization........................................................................................... 27 Long Term Goals .......................................................................................................................... 30 Helium-3 ................................................................................................................................... 30 Choosing a Nuclear Reactant .................................................................................................... 31 Observatory ............................................................................................................................... 38 Near-Earth Objects.................................................................................................................... 38 Cargo ......................................................................................................................................... 39 Launching Pad .......................................................................................................................... 39 Experiments on the Moon ......................................................................................................... 42 Space Based Solar Power.......................................................................................................... 43 Lunar Materials ............................................................................................................................. 46 Harvesting Metals from the Moon‘s Surface ............................................................................ 46 Building Materials .................................................................................................................... 47 iii | P a g e Building a Better Shield ............................................................................................................ 47 CES EduPack ............................................................................................................................ 48 C60 – Buckminsterfullerene ..................................................................................................... 51 Carbon Nanotubes ..................................................................................................................... 54 Smart Materials ......................................................................................................................... 55 Resources and Recycling .......................................................................................................... 56 Improving Technologies ........................................................................................................... 57 The Effects on Humanity .............................................................................................................. 59 Sources .......................................................................................................................................... 67 Figures Courtesy Of: ..................................................................................................................... 76 Tables Courtesy Of ....................................................................................................................... 77 iv | P a g e TABLE OF FIGURES FIGURE 1 - EXAMPLE HOHMANN TRANSFER ORBIT ........................................................................................ 5 FIGURE 2 - PATCHED CONIC TRANSFER USED IN APOLLO MISSIONS ......................................................... 7 FIGURE 3 - ARES I AND V ROCKET SYSTEMS ..................................................................................................... 9 FIGURE 4 - LAGRANGIAN POINTS RELATIVE TO EARTH AND THE MOON ............................................... 12 FIGURE 5 - THE UNSTABLE MANIFOLDS WITHIN THE LAGRANGE POINT ............................................... 13 FIGURE 6 - HALL THRUSTER DIAGRAM ............................................................................................................ 14 FIGURE 7- PERCENT ILLUMINATION FOR THE MOON'S NORTH POLE ....................................................... 20 FIGURE 8 - CPR DATA FOR A ROUGH FRESH CRATER ................................................................................... 20 FIGURE 9 - CPR DATA FOR A WATER ICE CRATER ......................................................................................... 21 FIGURE 10 - NORTH POLE CPR RESULTS ........................................................................................................... 21 FIGURE 11 - PERCENT ILLUMINATION FOR THE MOON'S SOUTH POLE .................................................... 22 FIGURE 12 - A NEARLY CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED SPOT ON THE SOUTH POLE ........................... 23 FIGURE 13 - WATER TANK SCHEMATIC ............................................................................................................ 26 FIGURE 14 - WASTE RECOVERY SYSTEM .......................................................................................................... 26 FIGURE 15 - O2 SUPPLY SYSTEM .......................................................................................................................... 28 FIGURE 16 - COMPLETE AIR PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM FOR ONE COMPARTMENT ............................