Cities in Space

School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Source: www.nasa.gov

Cities in Space:Articulating the Space Based Economy

Narayanan Komerath

Priya Gopalakrishnan

Sam Wanis


With generous support from the GSGC, Texas SGC/NASA JSC, USRA/NIAC and Georgia Tech


OutlineOutline

Cities in Space The Space-Based Economy

Acoustic Shaping in Microgravity: Experiments Tailored Force Fields

“NASA Means Business” Into Show-Biz…


The natural resources available within the Near Solar System

are a few orders of magnitude greater than those on Earth


In reaching out for them, we will discover, invent and develop ideas

whose impact will be greater by many more orders of magnitude


Support/Service Economy

Tim

e

Launch To Earth Orbit; Race to the Moon

Com-sats; Sensing, Exploration; Military; Research

Space Station; Maintenance; Refueling; Repair; Robotics

Orbit transfer vehiclesGEO/ L1 Station

Lunar Resources

Lunar Mining

Lunar Power

Lunar Manufacturing

Self-sustaining Economy

Lunar Launcher

1950s –70s

2005

2010

2015

Space Habitats

Year 2050 – The Space-Based EconomyYear 2050 – The Space-Based Economy


Example of “Space-Based Business”

Customers, Facilities and Suppliers all Located Away From Earth

(Developed by High School Students under the NASA “SHARP-PLUS” program)

Georgia Space Grant Consortium project


Launch To Earth Orbit

Microgravity Research

Lunar Resources

ISS

Hubble Space Telescope

The Space Yellow Pages: Primary Projects

Com-sats

Remote Sensing

GPS

GALILEO

Military Satellites

Return to the Moon: Heavy Lift + CEV

Science Probes

Race to the Moon: Heavy Lift

Robotic Planetary Missions

Human Missions to Mars

GLONASS


Launch To Earth Orbit

Microgravity Research

GEO/ L1 Station Lunar Resources

ISS

Hubble Space Telescope

Com-sats

Remote Sensing

GPS

GALILEO

Military Satellites

Return to the Moon: Heavy Lift + CEV

Science Probes

Race to the Moon:

Heavy Lift

Robotic Planetary Missions

Human Missions to Mars

ISS Resupply

Fuel for Military Satellites

Commercial Satellite Refuel

Fuel Storage Station

Hydrogen to the Moon

Lunar Steel

Lunar Base Supply

Space Spare Parts Inc

EVA Repairs

The Space Yellow Pages: Level Two Projects

BOEING HABITATS

Lunar Launcher

Lunar Manufacturing

Lunar Power

Lunar Mining

Orbit transfer vehicles


Earth Transport

GEO/ L1 Station

ISS

L 2 Space Telescope

Com-sats

Solar System Prospecting

GPS

GALILEO

Space Defense & Law Authority

Asteroid Belt Prospectors

ISS Resupply

Fuel for Military Satellites

Commercial Satellite Refuel

Fuel Storage Station

R3D3 Robots’R’Us

Hydrogen to the Moon

Lunar Steel

Lunar Base Supply

Space Spare Parts Inc

EVA Repairs

The Space Yellow Pages: Level Three Industry

BOEING HABITATS

Lunar Launcher

Lunar Manufacturing

Lunar Power

Lunar Mining


Octopus Robotic Repairs

BOEING MarsCyclers Inc

Solar Positioning System

Lunar Fuels Inc


GEO/ L1 Station

The Space Yellow Pages: Level Four: Space-based Business

Lunar Launcher

Lunar Manufacturing

Lunar Power

Lunar Mining


Sunspot Cruises Inc

BOEING MarsCyclers Inc

Translunar Rail Authority

Deep BreathLife Support Systems

New Mexico Helium-3 Inc

Lunar Oxygen

Delta Space Lines

Orbit Emergency Medical Inc

Float Bloat

Inflatable Structures Inc Micro-G Burgers Inc

Jupiter Nuclear Propulsion Inc

Lunar Football League

Mars & Beyond: Expeditions

Cislunar Convention Center

Micro-G Chiropractors

Space Engine Repair Inc

North Avenue Emag Constructions

Ocean of Storms Solar Panels Inc

Tranquility Titanium Inc

Omaha Fuel Cells Inc

Far Side Mineral Water

Ace Space Ice Inc.

Copernicus Metals Inc

Orbital Junk & Salvage

Inner Planet Transport System

Acoustic Shaping Inc


Time

Am

bitio

n

1985: Permanent Colonies on Mars by 2035.

1999: Reference Mission. Six Astronauts to Mars & back by 2018, 2 more missions to follow

2000: Systematic set of robotic missions followed by human mission by 2020

2001: Robotic exploration of Mars

from orbit, robotic landers “in the

next 20 years”.

1985 2000 2015 2030

NASA Strategic Plan for Human Exploration of Mars: An Opinion Based on Observation

2004: Moon landing by 2008; Moon base 2016; missions to Mars; nuclear energy OK


Source: www.nasa.gov

Interior of Space Settlement ‘Island One’: (from the 1970s) Courtesy SSI

http://www.ssi.org/slideshow.html

Building Cities in SpaceBuilding Cities in Space

Major obstacles:

- Radiation shield construction

- Need for artificial gravity

- Need for “critical mass” of commercial interest


Gravity, Rotation and RadiationGravity, Rotation and Radiation

•Humans need near 1g: 9.8m/s^2 “gravity” for long-term living.Humans need near 1g: 9.8m/s^2 “gravity” for long-term living.•Artificial gravity at rim of rotating wheel: Rotation rate must be lower than 1 Artificial gravity at rim of rotating wheel: Rotation rate must be lower than 1 RPM to avoid disorientation. RPM to avoid disorientation. Radius ~ 1km. Radius ~ 1km.

•Radiation in Space (solar neutrons, charged particles + gamma rays + Radiation in Space (solar neutrons, charged particles + gamma rays + cosmic rays):humans cannot survive.cosmic rays):humans cannot survive.

•Need .5m of water or 2m of soil to stop radiationNeed .5m of water or 2m of soil to stop radiation

Mass & “weight” of shield for 2km diameter habitat are huge! Mass & “weight” of shield for 2km diameter habitat are huge!

Note: Today’s space stations do not have artificial gravity, or sufficient Note: Today’s space stations do not have artificial gravity, or sufficient shielding. If a solar storm occurs, astronauts go inside small shelters, but shielding. If a solar storm occurs, astronauts go inside small shelters, but exposure accumulates. exposure accumulates.

No solution for long-duration mission (e.g. Mars).No solution for long-duration mission (e.g. Mars).


Bootstrapping Infrastructure: The 2km Cylinder Project


Learning to Build Without Machine Tools: Learning to Build Without Machine Tools: The Acoustic Shaping ProjectThe Acoustic Shaping Project


•

ACOUSTIC SHAPING

•Experiments on the NASA KC-135 “Vomit Comet” - Reduced Gravity Student Experiments on the NASA KC-135 “Vomit Comet” - Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program:1997- 2000. Flight Opportunities Program:1997- 2000. •Team of AE sophomores first studied the behavior of a multitude of particles in a resonant acoustic chamber, in reduced gravity.


Wall formation process: KC-135 test. Frequency 800 HzACOUSTIC SHAPING


In micro-gravity, solid particles in a resonant chamber assume stable locations along surfaces parallel to nodal planes of the standing-wave. Liquids in finite-g form walls along nodes – which are regions of lower static pressure.

Works with most materials, and with liquidsWorks with most materials, and with liquids

Irregular grain: microgravity

Powder suspended in water: 1-g

Hollow Al2O3/ Al spheres:

microgravity


Extension of Acoustic to Electromagnetic ShapingExtension of Acoustic to Electromagnetic Shaping

Tailored Force FieldsTailored Force Fields

Can large radiation shields be constructed far away from Earth before humans have to go there?


Radiation-Shielded, 1-G Station at Earth-Sun L-5 for NEO Radiation-Shielded, 1-G Station at Earth-Sun L-5 for NEO Resource ExploitationResource Exploitation

Example:

Particle diameter: 0.2m

Wavelength: 100m

Particle acceleration: 10-6 g

Resonator intensity: 328 MW/m2

Resonator Q-factor: 10,000

Beam diameter = 100m

Per module: Power input: 258 MW

Active field time: 13 hrs

Solar Collector efficiency: 10%

Collector area w/o storage: 2 sq.km


Why Have Cities Not Been Built in Space Yet?Why Have Cities Not Been Built in Space Yet?

Radiation Shield?

Artificial Gravity?

•No commercial success path

•No convergence of interests

•No rationale for public support

•No CLEAR VISION AND PLAN articulated to the public

•NASA view: “We are at the service of the Public”

•Public view: “We are waiting for NASA to guide us!


““NASA Means Business”NASA Means Business”

Annual competition hosted by Texas SGC/NASA JSC to: “Business Plan to help NASA Strategic Plan for Mars Exploration.” (‘99-2000) “Help develop a “Customer Engagement Plan” (2001-02) Help articulate role of Mars missions (2003) Articulate role of ISS (2004)


The $10B DipThe $10B Dip

Every Business Plan for a small Space-based enterprise is faced with a need for at least $10B in investment, with no return for 10 years or more.

Why: No infrastructure, no repair, no rescue, no synergy with other such businesses.


Effect of Infrastructure on Commercial FeasibilityEffect of Infrastructure on Commercial Feasibility

NPV Boosters

-200

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Baseline NASA in R&D E-mag launchcapability

Both

NP

V (

M$

)


Summary of the Space-Based Economy Concept

•Buyers, Sellers, Suppliers, Manufacturers, are located beyond Earth.

-Critical Mass of mutual interest and investment required to trigger process.

-Infrastructure development with long-term plan.


Future Entrepreneurs Are Already Thinking!!!

Courtesy: Centennial Elementary School, Atlanta, GA. 2nd Grade, April 2001


How do we gather support for a Space-based Economy?How do we gather support for a Space-based Economy?

Everyone on Earth is a stake-holder in such an economy Investment in Space technology seen as commercial investment, not

just as investment in knowledge-generation

Critical needs identified by GSU Strategic Marketing classes:– Reliable, easy-access knowledge on problems, opportunities, and methods.– Realistic expectation that “NASA Means Business” – government

commitment to infrastructure development– User-friendly access to space experiment development and launches.


From Aerospace Engineering Into Show-Biz…From Aerospace Engineering Into Show-Biz…

“NASA Means Business” Competition 2003:

“Develop Public Service Announcements to articulate the reasons to support the Space program, specifically the relevance of Mars missions”


Our MessageOur Message

•What has the space program done for us?What has the space program done for us?

•NASA’s Not Just For AstronautsNASA’s Not Just For Astronauts

•So where does your money go?So where does your money go?

•MARS as a MARS as a stepping stonestepping stone

•Where is the space program headed?Where is the space program headed?


What has the space program done for us?What has the space program done for us?

Advanced shoe design and manufacturing

Improved Aircraft EngineExtended Weather

forecasting

Materials

Earth Resource Management

PC’s

Toys

MRI and CAT Scans

Weather Forecasting


NASA’s Not Just For AstronautsNASA’s Not Just For Astronauts

Medical Doctors

Scientists and Engineers

Technicians

Management

Mission Operations


So where does your money go?So where does your money go?

Space Exploration

Employees – Salaries

Education Programs

Circulates through the economy

$1 technical expenditure = $3 of new business

Communication

Transportation


MARS as a MARS as a stepping stonestepping stone

Fuel generation

Low gravity operations

R & D – Robotics, Communications.

Terraforming?

Search for Life / signs of E-T

Habitats Lander technology

Water??


Where is the space program headed?Where is the space program headed?

Present Space Programs

Future Ambitions

Viking Lander

2001 Mars Odyssey

Mars Global Surveyor

Human HabitationLunar Mining

Space Cities

Not-so distant Future

Asteroid Hotels

Mariner 3 & 4

Past Explorations

International Space Station

Orbiters, Net Landers, Scout Missions


Stay tuned for sample PSA …Stay tuned for sample PSA …

Please visit our websites: Please visit our websites: http://www.adl.gatech.edu/research/tff/http://www.adl.gatech.edu/research/tff/acoustic_shaping.htmlhttp://www.ae.gatech.edu/research/windtunnel/nmb/nmbhome.htmlhttp://www.ae.gatech.edu/research/windtunnel/nmb/nmbhome.html


The economics of starting a space-based production company are heavily dependent on the presence of a rudimentary infrastructure.

A national-level investment in space-based infrastructure is

an essential catalyst for the development of a space-based economy.

Infrastructure Investment is the Key


Summary: Enabling Steps For Space-Based ManufacturingSummary: Enabling Steps For Space-Based Manufacturing

ENABLING STEP: Robot-built, Solar-powered Mass Driver on the Moon- enable commercial metal extraction; propellant extraction

ENABLING STEP: Shuttle Main Tank Farm (or other large station) in LEO: - large-volume construction facilities; fuel storage; parts storage; - jump-start human presence

Courtesy: Space Science InstituteCourtesy: Space Science Institute


Advantages of Space Based Economy ApproachAdvantages of Space Based Economy Approach

The business plan of a single industry that may appear risky when viewed by itself, becomes realistic when patched into the network of a Space based Economy

Efficiencies of scale and mutual interest, providing viable solutions to today’s “insurmountable” problems.

Various pieces of the SBE support each other : Path to a self- sustaining economy which generates wealth for Earth-based investors.


Creating Examples of “Space-Based Business”

Criteria: Customers, Facilities and Suppliers all Located Away From Earth

•Devise a Business Plan & Technical Plan.•Identify supplier/customer needs•Publicize: Show opportunities!


•For size << l, standing wave trap force ~ 103 times single-beam force.•Trap stiffness in standing wave trap ~ 107 times single-beam value.•Source only needs to provide small gain over losses -

STANDING WAVE FIELDS: Particles Drift into Stable “Traps”. Theory similar for acoustic or e-mag fields!

With standing waves in a low-loss resonator, small input intensity suffices to produce substantial forces on particles.

Various mode shapes can be generated by varying frequency and resonator geometry.

Trap regions can be of complex shape.

FORCES IN UNSTEADY POTENTIAL FIELDS

ForcePotential

Stable Trap


The Launch-Cost Dip and its SolutionThe Launch-Cost Dip and its SolutionExample for “Acoustic Shaping Inc.”, Virtual prototype of a Space-Example for “Acoustic Shaping Inc.”, Virtual prototype of a Space-

based construction company 2000 NMB Competitionbased construction company 2000 NMB Competition

Discounted Cash Flows for ASI

-120.00

-80.00

-40.00

0.00

40.00

80.00

120.00

0 5 10 15 20Year

Dis

cou

nte

d C

ash

flo

w (

M$)

Baseline, NPV = $321M

NASA involvement in R&D, NPV = $369MNASA involvement in infrastructure development, NPV = $632M

Both NASA R&D and Infrastructure, NPV = $700M


Flight test proof of wall formation. Self-aligned. No spin.

Acoustic chamber

Mode 110 Styrofoam walls in reduced gravity

Ground test comparison between predicted pressure contours and measured wall locations

ACOUSTIC SHAPING


2 2 0 3 2 01 1 0

1 0 0 + 0 2 0 2 3 0 + 1 0 0 1 1 0 + 2 2 0

SIMULATION: PREDICTED WALL SHAPES


•Solar-powered radio resonators in the NEO region to reconstitute pulverized asteroids into specified shapes. •Formation-flown spacecraft to form desired resonator geometry.•Asteroids pulverized using directed beam energy or robots, •Solar energy converted to the appropriate frequencies. •Materials and structures for such an endeavor must come mostly from lunar or asteroidal sources.

Asteroid Reconstruction to Build Cities?


Concept for micro-g manufacturing, used to examine the startup of a small company in space.

Creating Examples of “Space-based Business”: NMB2001

Non-contact manufacturing in reduced gravity• Solid panels with specified shapes : flat, curved, cylinders• Scalable to 10ft x 10ft x 1” panels, or micro-fabrication

Flexible Automation: tailor sound & injection location Compatible with solar energy: Acoustic drivers and radiant heating

Cities in Space

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