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The Moon: Front Line of Asteroid Defense

The Moon: Front Line of Asteroid Defense. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net. Rutgers Symposium on Lunar Settlements 3-8 June 2007 New Brunswick, New Jersey. Objective.

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The Moon: Front Line of Asteroid Defense

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  1. The Moon: Front Line of Asteroid Defense Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net Rutgers Symposium on Lunar Settlements 3-8 June 2007 New Brunswick, New Jersey Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  2. Objective • To place a system on the Moon for a 24/7 full sky search for Earth orbit crossing asteroids. This is the first step to reduce or minimize the possibility of any harmful asteroid impact. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  3. The System • The System will consist of several appropriately sited installations to include: • Optical Interferometry Telescopes. • Communication and Control Facilities. • A solar power system. • A shielded and self sufficient living/work facility. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  4. Know Before You Go • Recover a Lunar Rover to evaluate regolith dust damage to moving parts and any other effects on metal or plastics. • Identify the minimum number of suitable Moon surface locations that can view the total Moon sky. • Evaluate methods to smooth and sinter the surface regolith to minimize exposure to dust in operational areas. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  5. Minimize Regolith Dust • Prepare a 100 meter x 200 meter pad: • Select an area with high iron content. • Remove all rocks larger than 2 centimeters to a depth of 15 cm. • Grade the area. • Prepare a 15 cm crust by: • Sinter the area by microvave to that depth (multiple passes?), or • Sinter and lay (2 offset layers) interlocking tiles. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  6. Optical Interferometry Telescope Examples of this type telescope are: The Keck Observatories located on Mona Kea (4,145 M) in Hawaii. Each has a ten meter mirror and are separated by 85 meters. The Very Large Telescope is located on Cerro Paranal (2,635 M) in Chile. Each has a 8.2 M mirror. A set of four 1.8 M telescopes is dedicated to interferometric observations. The highest resolution is obtained with this type telescope. This will provide a better indication of asteroid size, shape, and rotation(?) from a faint image. CREDIT NASA W. M. Keck Observatory CREDIT EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO) Very Large Telescope Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  7. Full Sky Siteing • Depress telescope to 0o elevation and perform a 360o scan. If no local horizon obstacle is found this is an optimum site. • Four sites – Moon boxed in tetrahedron with telescopes at the four tangent points. • Six sites – Moon boxed in cube with telescope at the six tangent points. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  8. Communication & Control Facility • Will be integral with living/work facility. • Power & communication raceways may be under the sintered area, or the tiles, or overhead. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  9. Solar Power System • Solar cell farm. • Carbon fiber flywheel nighttime backup. • Power control and distribution center. • Power lines to telescopes, communication equipment, and living/work facility. • Waste heat radiators. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  10. Living/Work Facility • This modular facility will: • Be underground or shielded with regolith. • Contain electrical switching and communication equipment. • Contain spares and tools to perform repairs and install upgrades. • Contain facilities including exercise equipment adequate to support four persons for 30(?) days. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  11. Conclusions • The asteroid threat is near universally seen as real. It is impossible to quantify with the minimal data available. • A case can be made that this (these) be the first permanent installation(s) on the Moon. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  12. Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  13. Meteor Crater II Note: This material may be dated. Do not use for aerial navigation. Credit NACO/FAA Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

  14. Elements of the Target The Earth at Night (Credit NASA). A correlation exists between the light intensity and the concentration of population, infrastructure, and industry. However, note North Korea and South Korea Carlton L. Rhoades rhoades11@comcast.net

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