I have been forced to downsize facilities I had made available for “Deep Space” experimental work. More than five years ago I set aside facilities which would have made possible long duration, human life support studies in support of an “ultralight” Mars Mission. In preparation, I completed lab prototypes of all the key systems, and initiated ramp up to the required size and capacity. With zero results from fund raising efforts and a lack of the necessary volunteers, only the lab tests reached operation and were run flawlessly for 1200 days (more than a Mars round trip). I just completed “Moth Balling” the prototype and pilot production hardware. When and if there are explorers ready and Willing to go to Mars, they can be resurrected. By “Willing”, I mean persons with the passionate, restless WILL to GO! “Mons Olympus or Bust.” Persons like Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton. Each made several arduous forays into the polar regions, and a great many forays into the public arena in search of funding. They “earned” their opportunity to go by sharing their passion with listeners and inviting these to “go” vicariously by contributing to the necessary funding.
These three, and a short list of others, were perennially associated with polar exploration. I know of no name today similarly associated with either entrepreneurial return to the Moon, or Mars Exploration. “This Road” stands open for those Willing to walk it!
The first of the three I listed returned to tell of his success. The second did not. The third arrived, much delayed, and was unrecognized by a man who knew him! After a heroic journey unsurpassed in history, Shackleton came home, with his entire team alive! Such is the nature of exploration, once described as “finding new ways to die”.
I will soon “blog” a summary of my “Mars Mission” research. But the final summary is “In the context discussed – No obstacle, other than funding, stands in the way of a Human Mars Mission: A mission with costs comparable to an Ocean Racing Sailboat, and risks comparable to other exotic sports.”
I will soon also return to blogging about our progress with ultralight systems to reach the Moon, and win the Google Lunar X PRIZE, as well as streamline space experimentation and access in the process.
Those of you who are willing and able to help support REAL development work towards affordable human spaceflight should focus on “OpenLuna” . This organization has a group of committed leaders, a demonstrated ability to attract funding and partnerships (currently on a small scale), plus associates (myself one) who are qualified to develop the necessary systems.
It is important to understand that a largely volunteer organization STILL NEEDS CASH CONTRIBUTIONS! Everything from supplies to maintenance still costs, and many people consider their time, travel costs and incidentals to be an adequate contribution. Other supporters, with a different mix of cash resources and available time, need to write checks to maximize the volunteer's effectiveness! One well known organization has seen serious decay of their field facilities due to inadequate maintenance. Since continuity, experience and skill are important in maintenance of complex systems, cash payment should be available to keep a good repairman interested when the novelty wears off.
Entrepreneurial programs in Human Spaceflight have succeeded with 1% (1/100) of NASA's budget for comparable efforts. Volunteer work can push the cost down by an additional factor of 20, but if the remaining 0.05% of a “NASA budget projection” does not materialize, the work doesn't get done!
One hundred individuals, each contributing $100 every month, could thus support an effort resembling a $2.4 Million/yr entrepreneurial program (this includes a 100% “matching fund” contribution). These round numbers hide the importance of even smaller contributors. One thousand regular contributors, averaging only $10 per month, would be even more attractive for foundation and corporate donors, who want to see broad support. In five years, a nominal $12 Million project can be completed. History has shown that this could “replace” a $1.2 Billion NASA budgeted effort, but that equivalence would produce “adequate” hardware far different from the NASA target, and with very different constraints.
I won't quibble about the exact ratios or rationale, but the point is YOUR SMALL CONTRIBUTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Even for Human Spaceflight, YOU can be a real part of producing the answers that make affordable flights possible! Seize the Dream! (tm) Help make it Happen!
The numbers listed are a good estimate of the time and cost to “prove” the Mars expedition systems, and make serious ($100 Million) funding of a flight possible. Contact, and support, OpenLuna!
(The finance figures reflect my ten years as (volunteer) Vestryman, Senior Warden and Stewardship Chairman in an Episcopal Church.)
