“To the Moon and beyond”
Posted: Friday, July 01, 2011
by Reinaldo Irizarry, Sr.
Neil Armstrong was the first man to step onto the surface of the Moon on July 21 1969; about 600 million people worldwide watched this event, unfold before their eyes as they watch their TV sets. There have been six manned landings (between 1969 and 1972) and numerous unmanned landings. I believe it’s time to return to the Moon and beyond. We have the resource, we have the technology, and we have the dedicated personnel to make it happen.
My hypothesis;
We have the appropriate Space Craft, the Shuttle to accomplish this task. The Shuttle is big enough to accomplish this mission, fly to the Moon, Mars and beyond. With few adaptations, the Shuttle could be made more suitable for longer space flights, instead of just orbiting and returning to Earth. A Shuttle can be adapted with exterior Hydrogen tanks while being ducked at the space station which will make it possible to go to the Moon in a shorter time and also Mars.
These tanks could be the same size as the ones been used today. Instead of two tanks, they could attach four or maybe even more making it possible for longer flights. Giving them plenty of fuel so as to not worry about been stranded in space. Extra fuel would also make it possible for the space craft to fly at a faster speed making the time to and from the Moon less. The speed in which the Shuttle travels to the Moon could be double allowing it to reach the Moon in a shorter time. When it arrives at the Moon, it would go into a suitable orbit making any necessary adjustments before the Astronauts descend to the surface.
Other adaptations can be made such as control nuzzles to the Shuttle to control needed maneuvers while in space. There is also, plenty of cargo bay space where food and water and other lifesaving items can be taken for the Astronauts use during the time of their mission.The cargo bay is big enough so that a small Lunar Module can be carried to the Moon. Once the Shuttle is in orbit the Module could exit the Shuttle and descends to the surface of the Moon. Allowing the crew to remain on the Moon surface for longer periods, to accomplish their scientific analysis;
A total of two men and two women would be enough for the mission to the Moon and Mars. In departing the Moon orbit, the Shuttle would return to the Space Station where they would disconnect from any unnecessary tanks leaving it at the Space Station, returning to Earth as they have been doing.
With the same numbers of crew the same procedure used to go to the Moon could be used to, travel to Mars and back. The same Lunar Module could be used to descend to Mars surface and back to the Shuttle for the trip back to Earth. The Astronauts would feel safer and more secure in a Space Craft which is bigger and more spacious allowing them more room to move around, not making them feel claustrophobic. In a bigger Space Craft, such as the Shuttle, the trip to Mars would be safer because the Shuttle could be adapted with automatic computer controls to assist the pilot during the flight. Extra fuel tanks adapted to the Shuttle ducked at the Space Station would help increase its peed making the trip to Mars shorter. I believe a round trip from Earth to Mars could be made in Six Months. Allowing a week for the Astronauts to go down to Mars surface to make analysis needed and back to the Shuttle while in orbit.
Once the Shuttle has completed the Missions to Mars or the Moon, returning to the Space Station it will un-duck and returned to Earth like it has been doing for decades. Phase-out of the Shuttle at this time is a big mistake. It is a Space Craft which has been in used for a reasonable period of time and has proven itself to be a reliable Craft… Please reconsider the phase-out of this Craft.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I do believe in space travel however, I believe we must get our priorities straight. We must first take care of our ailing planet earth before we venture into outer space or we won't have a planet to blast off from.
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