***Lunar Adv***
Government Will Buy tech from private sector
NASA looking to buy tech from private companies including a lunar vehicle
Warwick 04- Graham, Aerospace and technology journalist Graham Warwick, winner of the 2002 AJOYA Decade of Excellence Award in 2002 and most recently a director of Flight International's coverage of the Americas has 30 years of industry experience at Flight International, September 14, 2004, “Agencies seek commercial input; NASA and ESA want to obtain innovative technologies from small private-sector companies and entrepreneurs” Flight International News; Spaceflight; Pg. 27 http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2004/09/14/187391/agencies-seek-commercial-input.html
Space organisations are moving to engage entrepreneurial and non-traditional companies in a bid to gain access to innovative commercial technologies. NASA plans to create a venture-capital fund to sponsor new technologies, while the European Space Agency has launched an initiative aimed at fostering the participation of smaller companies in space technology programmes. NASA's Mercury Fund plans to join with established private-sector venture capital firms to invest in young, privately held companies working on nanotechnology, robotics, intelligent systems and high-speed networks. The concept is similar to the US Central Intelligence Agency's government-backed venture capital fund, In-Q-Tel, which has taken strategic stakes in some 67 firms since being created in 1999. ESA, meanwhile, has issued an invitation to tender aimed specifically at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those not yet involved in space programmes. The agency is looking for innovations by companies active in fields other than space that can be used in renewing its technology base. Under the Leading Edge Technology for SMEs programme, smaller firms will carry out feasibility studies or preliminary validations to demonstrate application of their technologies to space programmes. ESA has invited proposals in areas including design and engineering tools, inflatable structures, small electric thrusters and "green" rocket engines. ESA plans to award multiple 18-month, [euro]50,000--200,000 ($60,000--$240,000) contracts. Under pressure to give the private sector a role in its space exploration programme, NASA has included several smaller companies among those awarded contracts to study preliminary concepts for human lunar missions. One of these, Transformational Space (t/Space), is proposing that private industry builds and owns the lunar infrastructure and NASA buys services to support its explorers. The t/Space team includes Scaled Composites, developer of the SpaceShipOne private-venture suborbital vehicle, and AirLaunch, which is designing a low-cost, air-dropped Quickreach launch vehicle. The two companies will collaborate on designing a crew exploration vehicle that can be developed affordably by private industry. Another team member is Constellation Services International, which is developing the LEO Express concept for low-cost cargo resupply and satellite servicing.
Political Will
Political Will to colonize the Moon/ Mars government doesn’t have the budget
Hatch 10- Emory International Law Review; J.D. Candidate, Emory University School of Law (2010); B.A., Southern Methodist University (2007). “COMMENT: DIVIDING THE PIE IN THE SKY: THE NEED FOR A NEW LUNAR RESOURCES REGIME*”
Emory University School of Law Emory International Law Review 2010 24 Emory Int'l L. Rev. 229
Regardless of whether the Moon is able to aid humanity in solving the impending energy crisis, the satellite will have further importance as states begin evaluating the feasibility of space colonization. While space colonization may seem like the stuff of pulp science fiction, states are actually considering attempting to build Moon bases and, in turn, populating Mars. n59 The International Space Station is a preliminary venture to determine the long-term effects of living outside the confines of the Earth. n60 Additionally, the Moon may be able to furnish valuable mineral ores not commonly found on the Earth. n61 As a result, a number of states are in the initial stages of planning on [*237] visiting the Moon to reap its potential benefits. n62 For these reasons, a new space race is about to commence, which will lead not only to competition on the Earth but to a jockeying for power in space and on the Moon itself. As a result, the law of outer space, and particularly of the Moon, is more relevant now than at any time since the end of the Cold War. B. The Coming Politics of the Moon - Dramatis Personae Probably more relevant than the substance of whether Helium-3 will be a viable solution to the world's energy problems is the fact that the most powerful nations on Earth believe that it is. Before surveying the relevant law that governs the Moon, it is instructive to know who the players in the new space race will be. In this section, I will briefly assess the current status of each spacefaring state's n63 publicly stated intentions regarding the Moon. 1. The United States of America The United States of America is a key player in the future of the Moon. Of all spacefaring nations, only the United States has actually had its citizens reach the Moon. The first Moon landing was made on July 20, 1969. n64 The United States made several return visits later in 1969, 1971, and 1972. n65 No humans have set foot on the Moon since 1972. n66 On January 14, 2004, United States President George W. Bush announced a "new vision" n67 for space exploration. This vision included a commitment to return to the Moon between 2015 and 2020. n68 During this time, astronauts would be "living and working [on the Moon] for increasingly extended [*238] periods." n69 This increased human presence on the Moon would serve as an "important step for ... more ambitious missions," beginning with a visit to the planet Mars. n70 Towards this end, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") announced plans for a permanent lunar base on December 5, 2006. n71 NASA's goal was to permanently staff this base by 2024. n72 The staff would have "rotated in and out, as is done with the international space station." n73 To achieve this return to the Moon, NASA began the Constellation Program: a program that would develop both a new series of rockets as well as a new type of spacecraft that would be more conducive to travel to the Moon. n74 The Constellation Program would consequently signal the end of NASA's focus on the space shuttle program. n75 One of NASA's explicitly stated aims for this planned return to the Moon was to "establish one or more alternative energy sources for Earth based on lunar resources. Potential energy sources include Helium-3 mining for use in fusion reactors on Earth and supplying materials and components for assembly and operation of space solar power satellites ... ." n76 NASA's lunar ambitions have suffered a setback following the accession of the administration of President Barack Obama. Shortly after his inauguration, the President summoned a panel of experts unaffiliated with NASA to review the agency's lunar ambitions. n77 In September 2009, that panel argued that the Obama administration should reject plans for a return to the Moon based on high costs associated with the trip. n78 Additionally, the President's proposed [*239] Congressional budget for 2011 includes $ 2.5 billion for the purpose of ending the Constellation Program. n79
Political Will to colonize the moon, colonization of the moon musters up the political will to colonize mars
Dinkin 04-Founder and CEO at Spaceshot, Inc.Frequent Contributer at The Space Review Chief Economist at Optimal Auctions, Inc. September 7, 2004, “Colonize the Moon before Mars” http://www.thespacereview.com/article/221/1
The Moon may become a very exciting destination with a substantial GDP. Being there first means that the high ground is already occupied for any future militarization of the Moon. It’s possible that colonizing the Moon will help muster the political will to colonize Mars. Earthers will be able to see the colony directly with their own eyes. A convincing existence proof will be there for everyone to see that colonization is feasible and profitable. A lunar colony is a politically feasible off-Earth gene bank increasing the chances that the species will be immortal. The act of leaving the cradle may be the other addition to our chances for immortality. It will be harder to monopolize communication between the Earth and Moon than Earth and Mars. This will create a free flow of ideas that will benefit both societies. There will be a greater spirit of freedom sooner with lunar colonization due to speedier development, and the faster mixing of ideas. Colonizing the Moon will also be a faster spur to legal development. The development of space law, especially property rights, mineral rights, and to a lesser extent labor law and human rights will create additional liquidity for other space colonization activities. The Moon may make a Mars colony feasible or desirable, thus enabling three branches of humanity. Having independent space nations will enrich the solar system polity and make the solar system and the species more secure from natural disaster. We can speed interstellar exploration and colonization. Ultimately we may create two new worlds that are every bit as rich, varied and interesting as our own.
Political will to colonize
Wingo no date- Dennis Wingo is a 22-year veteran of the computer, academic, and space communities. He worked for early computer pioneers in the development of local area networks which eventually led to innovations such as DSL. “Economic Development of the Solar System: The Heart of a 21st-century Spacepower Theory” NDU Press “Toward a theory of Space Power: Selected Essays” Chapter 8:
Conflict will not end with expansion into the solar system. There will always be reasons for conflicts, but one of the major ones throughout history, the acquisition of resources, will change focus. The strategic focus will change to acquiring the most easily accessible resources off planet rather than a scramble for the remaining resources here on Earth. It is speculated that a psychological shift in the populace of the world will take place that will lessen the causes for conflict here. If it is seen that there are resources beyond those of just our one planet, then much of the strategic posturing that is in active process today by China, India, countries in the Middle East, and Russia will be rendered moot, as it is based on securing a dwindling terrestrial resource base.48 The biggest problem that confronts the United States today is that many who would read this simply refuse to believe that what is laid out in this chapter is feasible. From those of us who have given our lives to the development of space, we assure you that all of this is possible and indeed necessary if we are to transcend the physical resource limitations that confront our civilization today. Problems such as climate change cannot be solved simply by conservation and alternative energy. We need to create a planetary civilization that provides opportunity for all of our world's citizens to have a better life than our ancestors and provide our children with the same beneficial society that we enjoy today. With the resources of space, this becomes possible. Without them, we are on a course toward conflict far worse than the skirmishes that have defined the last 30 years of history. We have a choice before us, and the results of the choice made by our generation will last for a very long time. Ideas are the currency of hope, and the idea of an expansive economic development of the solar system is a necessary step in educating our political leaders and our people of the hope that is out there for us to grasp.
Political Will to colonize the moon
Koelle, 97- MS Mechanical Engineering, Technical University Stuttgart, (1963) Ph.D. Berlin, (1955-65) member of the Dr. von Braun team at Huntsville Ala. (Chief, Preliminary Design, ABMA & Director, Future Projects NASA/MSFC), (1960) US Citizen, (1961) Editor-in-Chief: Handbook of Astronautical Engineering -McGraw-Hill, (1965-91) Professor of Space Technology, Technical University Berlin (TUB), (1989-91) Dean, Department of Transportation, Technical University Berlin, Member of International Academy of Astronautics, Chairman, Subcommittee on Lunar development, over 300 publications. , 1, July 1997 “ANALYSIS OF A LUNAR FACTORY BASELINE MODEL” ILR Mitt. 322 (1997)
The lunar flights of the APOLLO program led to several proposals to continue the exploration of the Moon and utilization of its resources 1-12. Regardless of how this may be done, the key to return to the Moon is the development of a new space transportation system19. None is available at the present time, after closing the production line of the SATURN 5 launch vehicle in the USA in 1969, and of the Russian ENERGIYA in 1992. Proposals to re-open these production lines have occationally been made8. However, it is unlikely that such proposals will be approved, because expendable launch vehicles are not economically attractive in a Moon-Mars program with human participation in situ. - This study has been conducted to shed some light on the economy of lunar resources eventually to be used in government sponsered projects in due course of development. It also attempts to find out, under which circumstances a commercial interest in lunar products might develop. In this connection it should be mentioned that a few years ago, a Japanese construction company has published plans on how to build a city on the Moon. Such a large program appears premature, it is unlikely to happen in the first half of the next century. But nevertheless, new computer codes are now available allowing an annual simulation of the acquisition and operation of complex lunar installations, including their logistics support by space transportation systems10,13. The next years can and must now be used to develop additional insights into this rather complex problem and prepare program proposals which might be attractive enough to lead to an other phase of lunar development. Lunar bases can be small and serve modest research needs or they may be quite sizable to provide lunar products and services in large quantities. Smaller lunar bases have been analysed elsewere20, the subject missing sofar was a lunar factory, this will be done in this report.
Will to colonize
Smiterhman 03- Member NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Advanced Concepts Office Huntsville, AL 35812 256/544-2053 David.Smitherman@nasa.gov, January 28th 2003, “"Pathways To Colonization." AIP Conference Proceedings 654, no. 1: 1243.
Key to the initiatives is not technology development or large spending bills. It It a simple matter of good policy that establishes a clear goal with incentives to move government and industry investment in a direction towards space infrastructure development. Industry and policy makers have proposed many ideas for expanding markets into space, but any initiative staled by the government must be backed up with appropriate regulations and incentives. The Public Space Travel Workshop (O'Neil. 1998). New Space Industries Workshop (Smiihcrtrian. 1998) and the National Forum on the Future Development of Space (Pooling, 2000) all identified policy issues that were critical to the successful future development of space. Key policy issues discussed repeatedly in these and other workshops and studies included the following. • Promote private investments in space development tluough govemntenl anchor tenancy, tax credits, consortiums, trade promotion, education, and endorsement. • Promote the creation of innovative financing opportunities, such as a space development bank, limited liability insurance, and government guaranteed loans to reduce risk and cost of new space investments. • Consider promoting ton policy that will leverage Uw revenues from mature ami profitable apace commerce to fund space infrastructure development initiatives. • Promote technology development and demonstration of new x-vehicles that will lower the cost of space transportation and enable public space travel. Implementation of these kinds of polices is the only way to simultaneously open new markets and spur industry to develop the required infrastructures.
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