Lunar City: The Most Important Development

 

Elon Musk just announced a new and major focus on building a 'self-growing' city on the Moon within ten years. 

Not just a small research base with a dozen crew members. Not just a small tourist hotel. Not just small robotic mining operations. But a city. Where all the above happens in grand scale. Yes, this would include vacations to the Moon for perhaps the price of a luxury cruise. Retirees with weakening bodies may find living on the Moon beneficial and therapeutic to regain youthful mobility. 

The Moon is where we will learn how to live on Mars and other worlds. This is where Musk will perfect the technologies to sustain permanent human presence on Mars. The Moon is three days to home in the event of an emergency. The supply chain is incredibly short. 

Mars alone would have been incredibly difficult and may have failed, costing lives. Incremental gains and iterative gains are necessary.

The Moon is the only testbed for developing and perfecting the necessary technologies. These include habitats, life support, protection from radiation, extremes of temperature, micro-meteorites, communications, vehicles, low-gravity physiology (could humans born on Mars ever come to Earth?) fuel production, energy (nuclear and solar), and of great importance, preventing harm from toxic regolith.

On the Moon, the 'soil' particles are incredibly sharp, and would have effects much worse than asbestos. On Mars, the dust is clingy and contains toxic levels of perchlorates. Preventing infiltration of those particles from getting in habitats, vehicles and space suits will require using existing and new technologies. Learn on the Moon, then take the technologies to Mars.

Journeys to Mars with conventional propulsion takes many months--and are captive to the 26-month launch and return windows. You can't just order supplies for rapid delivery. You can't bail out if everything goes wrong. Those unable to adjust to the initially rough life on Mars and so far from family will also have to wait many months for the window and months more for the transit.

Nuclear-electric propulsion will allow for faster transits and shorter launch windows, but there will always be a long journey to and from Earth.

The Moon will be the site of great manufacturing and tourism in coming years and decades, with easy access to Earth for supplies, personnel and vibrant commerce. Indeed, visits to the Moon will be affordable to millions within a decade, perhaps for the price of a luxury cruise today. 

There will eventually be many jobs on the Moon. And you can look forward to new and modified sports that exploit the advantages of the low gravity.

This concept is a reversal from Elon Musk's previous goal to give the Moon brief attention while he focuses on his goal to create a civilization on Mars. He will get there, but slower and with a great many essential lessons learned on the close-by Moon. 

Blue Origin and many others will join in on making the dream come true. At present, there's a race between SpaceX and Blue Origin to provide the crew lander for Artemis III.

A city on the Moon has vital strategic benefits as well. China has declared the Moon and Mars to be the same as the South China Sea islands they have illegally seized. The resolve to build an initial base within this decade and a true city in the next will deter China's worst instincts. It will forever secure access for the U.S., commercial space and the entire free world.

Those who wish to live on Mars would do well to live for a while on the Moon. Learn what it's like in a largely underground, confined space, no ability to go for a stroll outside or see nature, and to live with few opportunities to don a spacesuit and go outside. If you can make it there, you'll do well as a pioneer on Mars. Better to learn where you can return home if you decide it's not for you.

What does a 'self-growing' city mean? Most likely using an army of Tesla Optimus and many other types of robots to rapidly build the infrastructure, supplied by an automatic fleet of Starships. As elements of the initial base and the city evolve, the human population will grow. 

Because freedom and tyranny cannot peacefully coexist, partnering with China would be off the table. Indeed, China may be afraid to have more than small Lunar and Martian military-led bases. Why? What if they shake off the tyranny and learn to love liberty?

One day, perhaps within a decade, children will point to the lights on the Moon and exclaim, "look mommy, there's people on the Moon!"

And humanity will be forever transformed into a spacefaring society.

Read Elon Musk's announcement for yourself: 

@elonmusk - For those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years.

The mission of SpaceX remains the same: extend consciousness and life as we know it to the stars. It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time), whereas we can launch to the Moon every 10 days (2 day trip time). This means we can iterate much faster to complete a Moon city than a Mars city. 

That said, SpaceX will also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about 5 to 7 years, but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster.

Ad Astra. 

Moon Launch Delayed Until March

The Artemis-II rocket was powered up and run through a complete countdown down to the 5-minute mark. 

The goal of the 'wet dress rehearsal' was to test every system on the rocket up to the point of igniting the engines. Fueling the rocket. Powering up and operating all the electronic systems on the rocket and Orion crew spacecraft. Communications between the ground and the spacecraft. This is routine for launches.

During the test countdown, excessive amounts of hydrogen escaped from the connection between the launch platform and the rocket. This was similar to the leaks that delayed the 2022 Artemis-1 launch.

Due to the time required to troubleshoot and fix the leak, meeting the February launch dates was not possible. 

There will be a second 'wet dress rehearsal on February 13, which will offer clues if the March dates are possible.

These are the 'launch window' dates available for in March: 3 (possible, and it is a daytime launch), 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11. 

The April launch dates would be 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 30.

The astronauts will spend the additional month conducting further practice in the simulators, while ground crews will perform practices as well. 

The goal of such practice is so that the crew and ground teams know instinctively all possible actions they will take during the mission to the Moon, and how to handle any emergencies.

Stay tuned.

The Moon Rocket 'Wet Dress Rehearsal"

 Geek out on this!

The Artemis II 'wet dress rehearsal' is now underway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The countdown clock began at 8:13 p.m. EST, or L-48 hours, 40 minutes before the opening of a simulated launch window at 9 pm. Mon, Feb. 2. The test is expected to go until approximately 1 a.m. Feb. 3.

The term 'wet' means they are filling the hydrogen and oxygen tanks.

This test will run the launch team, as well as supporting teams in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and other supporting NASA centers, through a full range of operations, including loading cryogenic liquid propellant into the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s tanks, conducting a launch countdown, demonstrating the ability to recycle the countdown clock, and draining the tanks to practice scrub procedures. These steps ensure the team is fully prepared for launch day.

A 24/7 live stream of the rocket at the pad continues online. NASA will provide a separate feed during tanking activities, as well as real-time blog post updates regarding the test during the fueling day.

Countdown Milestones
The countdown contains “L minus” and “T minus” times. “L minus” indicates how far away we are from liftoff in hours and minutes. “T minus” time is a sequence of events that are built into the countdown. Pauses in the countdown, or “holds,” are built into the countdown to allow the launch team to target a precise launch window, and to provide a cushion of time for certain tasks and procedures without impacting the overall schedule. During planned holds in the countdown process, the countdown clock is intentionally stopped and the T- time also stops. The L- time, however, continues to advance.

During the rehearsal, the team will execute a detailed countdown sequence. They will pause at T-1 minute and 30 seconds for up to three minutes, then resume until T-33 seconds before launch and pause again. After that, they will recycle the clock back to T-10 minutes and conduct a second terminal countdown to approximately T-33 seconds before ending the sequence. This process simulates real-world conditions, including scenarios where a launch might be scrubbed due to technical or weather issues. At the end of the test, the team will drain the propellant and review all data before setting an official target launch date.

While the Artemis II crew members are not participating in the wet dress rehearsal, crew milestones occurring during launch day will be incorporated into the test timeline and the Artemis closeout crew will practice their closeout operations, which include closing the Orion crew module and launch abort system hatches.

Below are some of the key events that take place at each milestone after the countdown
begins. All times are approximate for when these milestones are expected to occur.

L-49 hours 15 minutes and counting

• L-49H, 15M: The launch team arrives on their stations and the countdown begins
• L-48H40M: The countdown clock begins
• L-47H30M – L-38H30M: Fill the water tank for the sound suppression system
• L-48H45M – L-39H45M: Liquid Oxygen (LOX)/Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) system
  preparations for vehicle loading
• L-39H30M – L-38H45M: The core stage is powered up
• L-40H30M – L-39H: The interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) is powered
  up
• L-38H45M – L-34H30M: Final preparations of the four RS-25 engines

L-34 hours 30 minutes and counting

• L-33H45M – L-33H10M: The ICPS is powered down
• L-32H30M – L-28H30M: Charge Orion flight batteries to 100%
• L-30H30M – L-23H30M: Charge core stage flight batteries
• L-19H15M – L-17H45M: The ICPS is powered-up for launch
• L-19H30M – L-16H: Orion crew suit regulator leak checks

L-15 hours and counting

• L-14H30M – L-13H: All non-essential personnel leave Launch Complex 39B
• L-12H45M – 11H15M: Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) activation
• L-13H15M – L-11H05M: Air-to-gaseous nitrogen (GN2) changeover and vehicle
  cavity inerting

L-11 hours, 40 minutes and counting

• L-11H35M – L-9H20M: 2-hour 15-minute built in countdown hold begins
• L-11H40M – L-10H30M: Launch team conducts a weather and tanking briefing
• L-10H20M: Launch team decides if they are “go” or “no-go” to begin tanking the
  rocket
• L-10H10M – L-9H50M: Core stage LOX transfer line chilldown
• L-10H10M – L-9H25M: Core stage LH2 chilldown
• L-10H20M – L-9H: Orion cold soak
  L-10 hours and counting
• L-9H50M – L-9H10M: Core stage LOX main propulsion system chilldown
• L-9H25M – L-9H: Core stage LH2 slow fill start
• L-9H20M: Resume T-Clock from T-8H10M
• L-9H10M – L-8H55M: Core stage LOX slow fill
• L-9H – L-7H40M: Core stage LH2 fast fill
• L-8H55M – L-6H10M: Core stage LOX fast fill
• L-8H45M – L-8H10M: ICPS LH2 chilldown
• L-8H10M – L-7H25M: ICPS LH2 fast fill start
• L-7H45M – L-6H: ICPS LOX main propulsion system chilldown
• L-7H40M – L-7H30M: Core stage LH2 topping
• L-7H30M – terminal count: Core stage LH2 replenish
• L-7H25M – L-7H05M: ICPS LH2 vent and relief test
• L-7H05M – L-6H55M: ICPS LH2 tank topping start
• L-6H50M – terminal count: ICPS LH2 replenish
• L-6H10M – L-5H40M: Orion communications system activated (RF to mission
  control)
• L-6H10M – L-5H40M: Core stage LOX topping

L-6 hours and counting

• L-6H – L-5H15M: ICPS LOX fast fill
• L-5H40M – terminal count: Core stage LOX replenish
• L-5H15M – L-5H: ICPS LOX vent and relief test
• L-5H – L-4H40M: ICPS LOX topping
• L-5H40M: Stage pad rescue
• L-5H40M: Closeout crew assemble
• L-4H40M – terminal count: ICPS LOX replenish
• L-4H40M: All stages replenish
• L-4H40M: Start 40-minute built in hold
• L-4H40M-L-4H25M: Closeout crew to white room
• L-4H30M – L-4H20M: Crew Module hatch preps and closure
• L-4H20M – L-3H20M: Counterbalance mechanism hatch sealpress decay
  checks
• L-3H20M – L-2H40M: Crew Module Hatch service panel install/closeouts
• L-2H40M – L2H20M: Launch Abort System (LAS) Hatch closure for flight
• L-1H10M: Launch Director brief – Flight vehicle/TPS Scan results with CICE
• L-1H45M – L-1H40M: Closeout crew departs Launch Complex 39B

L-40 minutes and holding

• L-40M: Built in 30-minute countdown hold begins

L-25 minutes and holding

• L-25M: Transition team to Orion to Earth communication loop following final NTD
  briefing
• L-16M: The launch director polls the team to ensure they are “go” for launch

T-10 minutes and counting

• T-10M: Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) initiates terminal count
• T-8M: Crew Access Arm retract
• T-6M: GLS go for core stage tank pressurization
• T-6M: Orion set to internal power
• T-5M57S: Core stage LH2 terminate replenish
• T-4M: GLS is go for core stage auxiliary power unit (APU) start
• T-4M: Core Stage APU starts
• T-4M: Core stage LOX terminate replenish
• T-3M30S: ICPS LOX terminate replenish
• T-3M10S: GLS is go for purge sequence 4
• T-2M02S: ICPS switches to internal battery power
• T-2M: Booster switches to internal batter power
• T-1M30S: Hold for three minutes to verify core stage certification hold time
• T-1M30S: Core stage switches to internal power
• T-1M20S: ICPS enters terminal countdown mode
• T-50S: ICPS LH2 terminate replenish
• T-33S: GLS sends “go for automated launch sequencer” command
• T-33S: GLS Cutoff/Recycle

Inside the terminal countdown, teams have a few options to hold the count if needed.

• The launch team can hold at 6 minutes for the duration of the launch window,
  less the 6 minutes needed to launch, without having to recycle back to 10
  minutes.
• If teams need to stop the clock between T-6 minutes and T-1 minute, 30
  seconds, they can hold for up to 3 minutes and resume the clock to launch. If
  they require more than 3 minutes of hold time, the countdown recycles back to T-
  10.
• If the clock stops after T-1 minute and 30 seconds, but before the automated
  launch sequencer takes over, then teams can recycle back to T-10 to try again,
  provided there is adequate launch window remaining.
• On launch day, after handover to the automated launch sequencer, any issue
  that would stop the countdown would lead to concluding the launch attempt for
  that day.

If all goes well, and if there's no problems with the weather or with the million elements of the rocket, then the launch may happen on February 8, 10 or 11.

Artemis to the Moon! Soon!

 America is Returning to the Moon

February may mark the moment when American astronauts return to the Moon, joined for the first time with a Canadian astronaut.

On January 17, the Artemis-II rocket was transported to the launchpad for testing and the launch. The journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building 4.2 miles to the pad took 12 hours.

If all checks out, and the weather cooperates, the giant rocket will carry Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Hansen is the Canadian.

This will be a ten-day expedition to circle the Moon and return. The primary purpose is to test the spacecraft for the eventual landing on the Moon. 

It is very similar to the Christmas Eve 1968 lunar flyby of Apollo 8.

Because it will be a wider orbit than on Apollo, the crew will be the furthest from earth ever.

A 'wet dress rehearsal' has started, and will complete on February 2 with a complete countdown from filling the giant tanks with liquid hydrogen and oxygen, and then follow all countdown steps towards a launch. It will halt just before the engines fire. They will repeat that test a couple times.

This will be the most comprehensive test of all possible systems on the spacecraft, and analysis of the resulting data will determine if any issues must be fixed before launching. That will determine whether Artemis will fly this or next month. 

In February, the possible launch dates would be on Feb 8, 10 and 11. Delays from weather and problems with the million systems aboard could delay the launch to March or later, as happened with the un-crewed Artemis I in 2022. 

The March launch windows are 6,7,8,9 and 11. And should the launch be postponed into April, those dates would be the first, followed by April 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 30.

Stay tuned for updates on the launch date.

Congratulations to Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator

Congratulations, Jared Isaacman for winning an overwhelming and bipartisan vote to become the new NASA Administrator.

Thank you for focusing on landing Americans back on the Moon before China can land and make a territorial claim. We must maintain a U.S. national presence in orbit, return to the Moon--this time to stay and pioneer a permanent NASA-international partner-commercial base that will be the seed for massive science, industrialization, commercialization--and tourism.

In parallel, we'll send Americans and our partners to Mars. A Mars base and eventually permanent colony will forever expand humanity's reach.

Here's a key point. Our national presence protects access for the free world and and for commercial space. We dare not let China control or deny access as they do in the South China Sea.

In your testimony to the Senate, you were absolutely correct: "This is not the time for delay but a time for action because if we fall behind — if we make a mistake — we may never catch up, and the consequences could shift the balance of power here on Earth."

As you'll know, Ye Peijian, the head of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program declared: “The universe is like the ocean, the moon is like the Diaoyu Islands and Mars is like Huangyan Island.” Diaoyu is the CCP's name for Japan’s sovereign Senkaku Islands, and Huangyan is actually Scarborough Shoal which belongs to the Philippines. That is a poetic shot across the bow we must not ignore.

Time is short--shorter than China wishes us to believe. They have an unlimited budget, plundered technologies, and an imperative to beat us to the Moon. They could land on the Moon at early as 2017 or early 2018 if all goes well. Their propaganda timelines are spread out, yet their known progress indicates much a much sooner date.

Our pioneering exploration, continuing since Alan Shepard in 1961, enables and preserves the democratization of space, and extends to the Moon, Mars and beyond. In peace. For all mankind. Just as we promised on the plaque we left on the Moon.

Godspeed, Administrator Isaacman. Americans support a bold space program of exploration, and your efforts will inspire our youth and everyone to a greater future.

Call Senate: Confirm Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator

Following the successful hearing in the Senate on December 3, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a vote on Monday, December 8 to advance the nomination of Jared Isaacman for NASA Administrator to the Senate floor. Once approved in committee, the nomination will be sent to the full Senate for a final vote.

Take action:

• Please call the Senators who serve on the committee at 202-224-3121. LIST Ask for their vote
• Then call your own Senators in favor of confirming Isaacman in the floor vote. LIST

It's essential that NASA has an official Administrator as we prepare to send astronauts to orbit the Moon on Artemis II in February, and then Artemis III must beat China to land on the Moon, ideally in late 2027 or early 2028.

You may hear "China will land in 2030, etc. That's deceptive tactics to make us believe there's no hurry. The truth is the Chinese have an unlimited budget, a militaristic drive to beat us and make territorial claims as in the South China Sea, and their progress in building and testing the hardware is advancing rapidly.

Mr. Isaacman understands the imperative. In his testimony, he stated:

I know it is not lost on anyone in this room that we are in a great competition with a rival [China] that has the will and means to challenge American exceptionalism across multiple domains, including in the high ground of space. This is not the time for delay, but for action, because if we fall behind--if we make a mistake--we may never catch up, and the consequences could shift the balance of power here on Earth.

Let's get Isaacman on the job and go full speed back to the Moon and on to Mars.

Apollo 11 56th Anniversary! Mission Day One

Imagine this: It is July 16, 1969, and hundreds of thousands of people camped out near the Kennedy Space Center overnight waiting for the launch of Apollo 11. 

Hundreds of millions more around the world are glued to their TVs and radios, awaiting the magical moment. It's a bright sunny morning and Apollo 11 is gleaming on the launch pad as technicians check the million-plus systems that all must work perfectly.

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins wave to the cameras as they depart for the pad, and ascend 365 feet to the top of the Saturn V rocket. The hatch is closed, technicians continue their checks of the million or so components that all must work perfectly, and the world awaits...

All systems are GO!

The time is 9:32 AM. The world holds its breath!

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0! Smoke and fire billow from the mighty engines and slowly the rocket rises, then faster and faster. Humanity cheers on the launch of Apollo 11 on its historic mission to land Americans on the moon.

Apollo 11 is now in orbit. Two hours and 44 minutes later, the engines fire to take the spacecraft out of earth orbit and towards the moon, still a quarter of a million miles distant.

The adventure begins.