January 3, 2006
Jeff Foust's - This Week in The Space Review - 2006 January 3

Good day.

I am not all that original so I have copied the list of items on Jeff
Foust's - This Week in The Space Review for January 3rd. What caught my eye
was another review of Harrison H. Schmitt's new book, "Return to the Moon".

If you don't have the book yet, then suggest you take a look at the review.

It is too long to copy so take a look at the web site and while there you
can read some of the other articles. http://www.thespacereview.com

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Review: Return to the Moon
---
Many astronauts have written books, principally memoirs about their
careers. Anthony Young reviews a book by Apollo moonwalker Harrison
Schmitt that instead looks to the future and the potential benefits
for returning to and utilizing the Moon.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/522/1

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Let me copy just one paragraph though and we will talk more later. - LRK -

------------------------------------------------------------
snip
Helium-3 and the future of energy
Schmitt does not see our return to the Moon as economically viable without
private enterprise becoming integrally involved, and justified only if
America and its partners return to the Moon to stay. That means a permanent
base, and eventually several bases. Schmitt’s book acknowledges the need to
exploit the Moon’s resources in situ. The chief motivation in returning to
the Moon, writes Schmitt, is the potential for energy generation that is
locked within the lunar soil. Helium-3, arriving at the Moon by the solar
wind, is imbedded deep in the lunar soil as a trace, non-radioactive
isotope. Schmitt says the energy in the raw lunar soil could be unleashed
through the process of deuterium/helium-3 fusion. Small-scale fusion
experiments have been taking place at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Fusion Technology Institute, where Schmitt is a professor. He discusses
other means of fusion processes in context. What Schmitt envisions for the
future are cargo ships returning significant quantities of lunar soil to
Earth for processing by fusion for energy generation. He goes into
considerable detail explaining the economics of making this viable.
snip
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-UPDATE Note - I've been informed that quantities of lunar soil is NOT what
Schmitt plans to bring to Earth, rather the processed Helium-3 itself. - LRK -

Thanks for looking up with me.

Larry Kellogg

Web Site http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
Blog Spot http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
News ltr https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
More about the Pioneer Anomaly. - LRK -
------------------------------------------------------------
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0512121
The Study of the Pioneer Anomaly: New Data and Objectives for New
Investigation
Authors: Slava G. Turyshev, Viktor T. Toth, Larry R. Kellogg, Eunice. L.
Lau, Kyong J. Lee
Comments: 42 pages, 40 figures, 3 tables
=============================================================

Welcome to this week's issue of The Space Review: (Jeff Foust)

The case for smaller launch vehicles in human space exploration (part 1)
---
One of the cornerstones of NASA's exploration plans is the
development of a shuttle-derived heavy-lift launch vehicle. In the
first of a two-part report, Grant Bonin makes the case for abandoning
that effort in favor of multiple launches of smaller rockets.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/526/1

Rockets, Missiles, & Space Travel: The up-to-tomorrow story of rocket
development and space-travel prospects
---
Those who don't learn from history will probably fail economics. Sam
Dinkin argues Willy Ley's 1957 classic still has much to teach us.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/525/1

America's new ray guns
---
While long a staple of science fiction, directed energy weapons have
yet to play a major role in warfare. Taylor Dinerman examines the
state-of-the-art in this area and the role such weapons might
eventually play in space.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/524/1
Of myths and missiles: the truth about John F. Kennedy and the

Missile Gap
---
At the same time Americans were concerns about falling behind the
Soviet Union in the Space Race were worries about a "Missile Gap"
between the two nations. Dwayne Day digs into the historical record
to question when John F. Kennedy knew the gap really didn't exist.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/523/1

Review: Return to the Moon
---
Many astronauts have written books, principally memoirs about their
careers. Anthony Young reviews a book by Apollo moonwalker Harrison
Schmitt that instead looks to the future and the potential benefits
for returning to and utilizing the Moon.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/522/1


If you missed it, here's what we published in our last issue:
Forging a vision: NASA's Decadal Planning Team and the origins of the

Vision for Space Exploration
---
Long before President Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration
nearly two years ago, NASA has been quietly working on its own ideas
for future human exploration of the solar system. Dwayne Day and
Jeff Foust outline the history of those efforts and the influence
they may have had on the creation of the VSE.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/521/1

The politics and ethics of spending money on space exploration
---
Many people argue that money spent on NASA would be better put to use
for any number of other efforts. Eric Hedman discusses the external
and internal challenges NASA faces for funding and what the agency
should do to win a bigger slice of the budgetary pie.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/520/1

The first orbital honeymoon: the next step in space tourism?
---
Space tourism celebrated several successes in 2005, but what is the
next step for the nascent industry? Taylor Dinerman makes the case
for an exploration of a different kind of final frontier.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/519/1

Review: The Planets
---
Most books about the solar system are lavishly illustrated with the
latest images from Hubble and other spacecraft missions. Jeff Foust
reviews "The Planets", a book that eschews images for a more literary
approach.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/518/1

We appreciate any feedback you may have about these articles as well as
any other questions, comments, or suggestions about The Space Review.
We're also actively soliciting articles to publish in future issues, so
if you have an article or article idea that you think would be of
interest, please email me.
Until next week,
Jeff Foust
Editor, The Space Review
jeff@thespacereview.com


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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
=============================================================

January 2, 2006

Good day,

I have a Google Alert for "Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter" just to see what
pops up.
(you can too - http://www.google.com/alerts?hl=en )

Sometimes it picks items for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter but today there is
an article from The Huntsville Times with some ideas from Marshall Space
Flight Center about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter so I have copied
bellow.

*********************************************************
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1136196918128980.xml&coll=1
Google Alert for: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Marshall hopes lunar lander makes return trips
Huntsville Times - Huntsville,AL,USA
... This time, NASA wants to put as much as possible into basically two
probes: the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Marshall's lunar lander. ...
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This once a day Google Alert is brought to you by Google.
*********************************************************

I am going to copy the end piece from Harrison H. Schmitt's "RETURN TO THE
MOON" as well.

Just consider this as one of those small Picture Frame nudges. :-)

My hope is that we will think through the whole mission concept. The reason
for going back to the Moon needs to be clear for more than just those at
NASA. It will need to be clear in the minds of the government and the
population as a whole.

We saw how quickly the novelty of the Apollo missions wore off and the news
quit following the missions. (well maybe not all of you - not everyone is
and ancient )

If going back to the Moon is just for the science obtainable by some
robotics then the first time the money is tight, the missions will be
terminated. If going back to the Moon is to see if we can leave the warmth
and protection of a magnetic shield and an atmosphere of warmth, then all of
those on Earth should be interested because it won't be cheap.

Will we be able to adjust to an alien environment and establish a new foot
hold in space? Is this what the missions will be about? Do we want to see
what needs to be considered to make it happen?

If we really want to learn how to live on the Moon and Mars, not just visit,
then more than just astronauts will want to be able to go to these places.

All of this is discussed in Jack Schmitt's book.

If you care to stay with me in this coming year we will go through some of
what he talks about.

I am hoping that you are looking at much of the same horizon I see. If your
view differs, well let me know. Just don't pull too hard on my Picture
Frame. :-)


Thanks for looking up with me.
Larry Kellogg
Web Site http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
Blog Spot http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
News ltr https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
More about the Pioneer Anomaly. - LRK -
------------------------------------------------------------
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0512121
The Study of the Pioneer Anomaly: New Data and Objectives for New
Investigation
Authors: Slava G. Turyshev, Viktor T. Toth, Larry R. Kellogg, Eunice. L.
Lau, Kyong J. Lee
Comments: 42 pages, 40 figures, 3 tables
=============================================================
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1136196918128980.xml&coll=1
http://www.al.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1136196918128980.xml&coll=1

Marshall hopes lunar lander makes return trips
Scientist says probe isn't seen as 'one-shot effort'
Monday, January 02, 2006
By SHELBY G. SPIRES

Times Aerospace Writer, shelbys@htimes.com

Before America sends astronauts back to the moon, NASA scientists want to
find minerals and water that could help sustain life on the lunar surface.

About 10 people at Marshall Space Flight Center and another 40 at NASA sites
around the country are developing what NASA engineers believe will be a
complex, unmanned lunar lander that will serve as a test run for a manned
lunar lander.

The probe isn't considered a "one-shot effort like the unmanned lunar
efforts in the past," said John Horack, the program manager.

When Apollo astronauts were headed to the moon in the 1960s, NASA launched
several probes to orbit and land on the moon. This time, NASA wants to put
as much as possible into basically two probes: the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter and Marshall's lunar lander.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is slated to orbit the moon, possibly by
2008, and take detailed photographs of proposed landing sites.

Horack said NASA engineers at Marshall and Goddard Space Flight Center
outside Washington, D.C., are completing studies that will serve as
blueprints for the lunar lander probe and its mission.

"One of the interesting concepts we have been considering is whether this
should be a smaller version of the proposed lunar lander that will put
humans on the moon," he said. "Consideration has to be given that we are
taking up resources to place this on the moon, and it's not just one shot. A
crew could use it at some later date."

Horack said the lander would set down on the moon's south pole near a crater
where scientists believe ice may be.

"Obviously, water is important for human survival," Horack said. "But we are
looking for different types of lunar material and mineral also."

NASA planners hope the right combination of moon rocks can be used to
produce rocket fuel to help reduce the weight and cost of lunar missions.

Marshall was awarded management of the program in September. It is slated to
cost between $450 million and $750 million.

"It's still early in the program, and that's the reason for the price
range," Horack said. "That number will become definite later."

Horack said mission planners are grappling with what the lander will
accomplish and which tools will be used once it sets down on the moon.

One approach under consideration would be to use an instrument mounted on
"something like a jet pack," Horack said. "It ... would hop across the
moon's surface and take samples and measurements," but the
jet-pack-propelled instrument would be limited to about "12 hops and a
couple of hours of operation."

Also being considered is a rover similar to one NASA sent to Mars. The rover
has its own drawbacks because of power limitations and, Horack asked, "if it
gets down in a crater, will it be able to get back out again? The hopper
could possibly come back."

The mission studies should be completed next month, Horack said, and a
working probe configuration should be ready for review by summer.

"At first glance, the rover looks like a well-proven technology, but is it?"
Horack said. "Will it be useful for this application? Those are the type of
questions we have to answer throughout this program."


© 2006 The Huntsville Times
© 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.
=============================================================
RETURN TO THE MOON - End Piece.

A PRACTICAL VISION OF OUR FUTURE IS SPACE

In just a few decades or less. Harrison Schmitt tells us, humans should be
back in space in ways few of us have imagined:

* Within 10 years, we should already have permanent production lines for
Apollo-like heavy-lift boosters and fusion power systems, and facilities on
the Moon for lunar mining, processing, and settlement.

* We should, within 20 years, have a permanent settlement on the Moon with
commercial operations producing helium-3 fuel for a growing terrestrial
fusion electrical power industry.

* Within 25 years, we should be in our fifth year of manned exploration of
Mars, based on the availability of lunar boosters and other resources.

As an astrogeologist, businessman, and space advocate, and as a former NASA
astronaut and United States Senator, Harrison Schmitt is uniquely qualified
to think and talk about not just the science and technology of space, but
the issues of politics, management, investment, and human commitment it will
take to reconstitute the great enterprise that took us to the Moon more than
35 years ago.

What Schmitt encourages us to envision for the near future is a whole array
of reinvigorated space enterprises, involving both government agencies and
private companies -- dedicated to capital and human resources, and
determined to foster a culture that is not risk-averse. The goal, as he
sees it, is nothing less than a new and permanent era of human enterprise,
achievement, and settlement is space.

=============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
=============================================================

A Picture Frame - path to the future

Good day, Jan 1, 2006 and the now, is the beginning of the future.

One of the problems with being in one place too long is that you start to tell the same sea stories
over again and then I see that glazed look in your eye.

Forgive me if I have told this bit of fiction before but let me do so again.

This is the first day of the New Year and I would like to paint a picture on a blank canvas.

Picture this with me.

You are holding a wood picture frame from the back and you are looking out through the frame. You see the horizon ahead and the path leading up to it.

Now I come up from the front and look at you, looking out at me. I see you in a snap shot, the
sum total of all of your life up to this point. Your genetic heritage, the environments imprint on
you, all that you have done up to this point in time.

Let me slide around to the side of the frame you are looking out of.

I take a hold of the frame and pull it a bit to the side.

Now as you look out you see a different horizon and a different path leading off to it.

LET GO OF THE FRAME!

I have the frame and I move it where I want and you continue to look out at the different view.

What path will you be walking?

TAKE HOLD OF THE FRAME AGAIN!

I go around front and look at you. You look different. A bit dull I think. Sort of a blank stare.

While you have a hold of the frame, look out at the horizon and pick something of interest, and
look at the path that leads to it.

I am looking in at you and there now seems to be a smile there.

OK.

Let me come around behind and stand next to you with my wooden picture frame.

I will look out at the horizon through my picture frame and the path that leads me out there.

Almost the same horizon you are looking at, but a bit different because the perspective is a little
different. We can see the path to the horizon, but you may see something on the edge of the
path that I can't see. Likewise I may see something you can't. We can share this information and
adjust our frame of reference a bit, if we wish.

NOW AS WE WALK FORWARD ALONG THE PATH WE HAVE SEEN WE WILL CONTINUE
TO CHANGE.

Those that look in at the picture frame will see a slightly different picture of us with each snap of
their camera.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IS THAT AS THIS YEAR UNFOLDS, WE WILL ALL
TAKE HOLD OF OUR OWN PICTURE FRAME AND ACTIVELY SCAN THE HORIZON,
ADJUSTING THE FRAME OF REFERENCE AS BEST FITS OUR NATURE UP TO THIS
POINT, AND THEN TAKE THE NEXT STEP FORWARD ON THE PATH AS SEEN IN "OUR
PICTURE".

If you will let me stand next to you with my picture frame, we might walk together on these
most interesting paths.

Just don't let me take your picture frame from you. If you wish, maybe let me nudge it a bit, but
don't let me get carried away. Even more, don't let others take control of your picture frame
either. It is your path.

THE FUTURE BEGINS NOW WITH THE NEXT STEP. ON WHAT PATH WILL THAT STEP
BE TAKEN? WHOSE FUTURE WILL YOU LIVE?
- LRK -
*********************************************************

Thanks for looking up with me.

Larry Kellogg

Web Site http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
Blog Spot http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
News ltr https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
More about the Pioneer Anomaly. - LRK -
------------------------------------------------------------
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0512121
The Study of the Pioneer Anomaly: New Data and Objectives for New
Investigation
Authors: Slava G. Turyshev, Viktor T. Toth, Larry R. Kellogg, Eunice. L.
Lau, Kyong J. Lee
Comments: 42 pages, 40 figures, 3 tables
=============================================================

We will do what we can to add some light to the path.
This is the beginning of the end of another week.
It is ok to whistle.
It drives those around you nuts, especially if its Monday.
- LRK -

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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
=============================================================