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Human Spaceflight To Mars Proposed Using Combination Of Space Shuttles
Hartford CT (SPX) Jan 09, 2009 Veteran inventor, business pioneer, futurist, and entrepreneur, Eric Knight, unveiled today his concept to enable the human exploration of Mars in a handful of years - instead of the 20-year timetable proposed by NASA and other space authorities. Knight describes his concept in a thought paper entitled: "Mars on a Shoestring: A novel method to transport humans to Mars based on a pair of tethered Space Shuttle orbiters." Full details of Knight's concept and thought paper are published here: www.remarkable.com/marsonashoestring.html Knight's thought paper describes propulsion, environmental, food and nutrition, and Mars-landing systems and processes. Instead of retiring the Space Shuttles in 2010 as is currently proposed by NASA, Knight proposes to utilize the vehicles for "...a grand mission... something that would be truly historic - even through the lens of time a millennium from now." The following is an excerpt from Knight's thought paper: + Fly two Space Shuttle orbiters into earth orbit. + Rendezvous and connect the two orbiters together - top to top - by a truss. + The ends of the truss are anchored to the bases of the orbiters' payload bays. + At the center of the truss, dock a sufficiently sized propulsion stage. + Install a "crew-transfer conduit" - a pressurized, accordion-style inflatable system that connects the airlock hatches of the two orbiters so that the crew could freely move between the two spacecrafts. + Once the propulsion stage has accelerated this entire system on its trek to Mars, the truss is detached from the two orbiters and the truss- propulsion assembly is jettisoned. + The two orbiters then separate to a distance of a few hundred feet, but remain connected - top to top - by a tether cable that is spooled out. + During the separation, the accordion-style inflatable crew-transfer conduit equally elongates. + Once the orbiters are at their maximum fixed distance apart, they would simultaneously fire their reaction control systems to set the pair into an elegant pirouette - creating a comfortable level of artificial gravity for the crew's voyage to the red planet. Knight further describes a parachute system that would enable the Space Shuttle orbiters to safely land on the Mars surface. A long-term bioregenerative life-support system for the Mars mission is also described. Related Links Mars On A Shoestring Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com Lunar Dreams and more
Study: Pebbles can move against wind
Calgary, Alberta (UPI) Jan 8, 2009Pebbles that become part of clastic rocks in places like Arizona's Lower Antelope Canyon don't move with the wind but against it, a geosciences professor said. |
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