By John Cserep and Rick Tumlinson, November 11, 2002
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Proponents of sending astronauts to Mars and the Moon continue to offer
their respective destinations as preferred alternatives to each other.
This misleading and self-destructive "zero-sum" attitude is hurting the
cause of all space proponents.
It was on display
again during World Space Congress in Houston, Texas, last week. There,
a debate was held between Dr. Robert Zubrin of the Mars Society and Dr.
Paul Spudis of the Lunar and Planetary Institute. This continued to
give credence to the idea that there is a real basis for argument
between supporters of the two destinations.
The Space Frontier Foundation sees no real conflict, and in fact sees
these as complementary projects, believing that much of the knowledge
and experience required to build and operate permanent facilities on
the Martian surface mirrors that required for a continuing human
presence on the Moon.
The publicizing of Dr. Zubrin's "Mars Direct" plan (for cheap and
extensive manned exploration leading to settlements) has resulted in a
renaissance in Mars advocacy for which we should all be very grateful.
That said, we must frankly state that - six years after the publication
of Zubrin's
The Case for Mars
- we are unable to find anyone in the U.S. government, among those who
will in the remotest way be responsible for making such decisions, who
is willing to support going directly to Mars without first
demonstrating the critical technologies in a less ambitious and risky
locale, such as the Moon.
We disagree with the
premise held by some on both sides that this decision needs to be based
on zero-sum government funding. Given the Moon's proximity and the
commercial possibilities it represents, we foresee a partnership
wherein the government can focus on costly infrastructure and safety
issues - also needed to travel to Mars - while the private sector
focuses on lunar resource development, housing and other potential
money makers. In the end this synergy will save taxpayers billions,
kick-start a lunar economy and free the space agencies to get back to
the job of exploring the "Far Frontier" of Mars and beyond.
When deciding the merits of various proposals for space development, we
use the following to "keep our eye on the ball." For both government
and commercial proposals, we support anything which passes what we call
our Frontier Enabling Test. That is: any technology or policy which has
as its effect the acceleration of the creation of low-cost access to
the space frontier for private citizens and companies, enables or
accelerates our use of space resources, or accelerates the rate at
which wealth can be generated in space. In other words, is the project
or policy going to enable the economically sustainable human habitation
of space? This test makes it easy to see the synergies between the Moon
and Mars.
In recent years Mars advocates have put much effort into "Mars analog"
sites in remote landscapes on Earth, such as the Haughton crater on
Devon Island, Canada, with several more in development. How ironic that
the dispute with lunar advocates has blinded many Mars enthusiasts to
one of the most valuable analog sites around: the Moon. Luna could
serve this function superbly, offering a unique chance to practice for
Mars in a remote, high-radiation, vacuum environment. As with today's
Earth-based Mars analog sites, missions to the Moon would provide a way
to perform risk reductions for more than a few key technologies needed
for Mars. These could start with the launch vehicle, and also include
spin-gravity transfer vehicles, long-duration EVA suits, pressurized
rovers, survivable greenhouses, and more. The Moon offers the single
best place to conduct final testing before astronauts take the plunge
into deep space.
We are for the human settlement of all space, including both the Moon
and Mars, but it has to be done right, or the whole effort could
backfire and lives could be lost, or we could end up with "Apollo on
Mars" - a one-shot burst of glory, and then nothing left but flags and
footprints. It is simply common sense to take the right steps in the
right order.
Moon or Mars? We refuse to choose. For the Foundation the motto is,
"All of the Above!" But we will not be satisfied by stunts or dead-end
missions. This time when humanity goes to another world, we go to stay,
and that means developing economical, viable, rugged and safe
infrastructure, transportation and habitation. Those striving for the
Moon and Mars will succeed or fail together.
