Life On Mars, Is It Possible?

Scientists seem to be excited about discovering bacteria living two miles beneath the Earth's crust, able to adapt to not only extreme cold but also an oxygen-less environment.

(Mars Today) "The low temperature limit for life is particularly important since, in both the solar system and the Milky Way Galaxy, cold environments are much more common than hot environments," said Neill Reid, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute and leader of the research team. "Our results show that the lowest temperatures at which these organisms can thrive fall within the temperature range experienced on present-day Mars, and could permit survival and growth, particularly beneath Mars's surface. This could expand the realm of the habitable zone, the area in which life could exist, to colder Mars-like planets."

Although it would be interesting to find life on Mars, the planet is not known to be friendly to life as its surface may be toxic, not to mention the lack of a magnetic field.

These organisms may provide another use however, as scientists may be able to insert their DNA into grains and plants, allowing colonists to grow food on the red planet. Of all the worlds that orbit the solar system, Mars provides the greatest opportunity for terraforming. Perhaps these microbes could provide a little assistance along the way.

Space Elevator Games (Enlightening) Revelations

Ted Semon on the Space Elevator Blog and Dr. Edwards over on the Space Elevator Reference have done such a great round up about the X-Prize Cup that there is little need for any extra analysis.

However, after viewing video and reading opinions of bloggers at the event one thing became clear--space may be for the upcoming generation.

Although NASA will undoubtedly build bigger and better (yet more expensive) rockets, the final frontier will still be limited towards the healthy and wealthy, or federal space employees.

It may be a good thirty to forty years until humans begin to travel up a space elevator (an optimistic view, at least from one LiftPort staff member) but perhaps space is not for our generation.

Our fathers may have not prepared us for the final frontier (as their fathers did not do as great a job in this regard) but perhaps the current generation can prepare the future one for the opportunity.

After all, the human race still has plenty of problems to work out on planet Earth (like loving thy neighbor) and perhaps this will give our species time to find a solution for some of these problems before we head off towards the stars.

Titan Has Active Volcano's?

It looks like Titan may be able to join the "active terrestrial club" as their are some interesting clues revealing that its surface may harbor some volcanic action.

(New Scientist Space) The brightest spot on Saturn's moon Titan has been seen brightening and growing, suggesting it might be an active volcano, a controversial analysis of images from the Cassini spacecraft suggests. If so, it would be the first indication of current volcanic activity on the giant moon.

Scientists are interested in whether Titan is volcanically active because volcanoes could help supply the large amount of methane seen in its atmosphere. The methane is quickly broken down by sunlight, so it must be getting replenished in some way.

Although not 100% sure, scientist do think that this bright spot may be a volcanic eruption, although instead of magma or water ice (like Enceladus) it may be more of an ethane-methane mixture.

If so, this is good news as Titan lacks the oceans of methane that were once presumed to cover its surface.

Is Asteroid Farming On Ceres Neccessary?

One can not discuss colonizing the solar system without mentioning asteroid mining. Harvesting the asteroid belt for minerals and metals will be critical towards the future space economy as some worlds (such as Mars and Jupiter's Galilean moons) lack the resources necessary to attract businesses and ultimately future colonists.

But in order to establish mining operations millions of miles away from habitable worlds, we need to find a way to feed those who will be doing the "dirty work" of mining these rocks that dance around our sun.

Although shipping food from Earth and Mars may be tolerable, it may impractical (not to mention expensive). Instead of shipping food, water and other items towards the asteroid belt, why not establish farming communities on Ceres instead?

Despite lacking known metallic resources that would make it attractive towards future space corporations, Ceres does have one element that would make this asteroid worth its weight in gold--water. Scientists believe that Ceres could contain up to 200 million cubic kilometers of fresh water--about five times as much as planet Earth.

By having access to a vast amount of liquid wealth, Ceres could easily grow the necessary food for future mining colonies, saving them both time and money as opposed to receiving rations from Earth.

Supplying future asteroid colonies with the necessary food will be difficult, if not nearly impossible as there are thousands (if not millions) of asteroids, each with its own chaotic orbit around the Sun. Without an orbital "ran de vue" point, permanent mining colonies may become "over looked," resulting in outposts being abandoned simply because a space settlement ran out of food.

With the heart of the asteroid belt located around 2.7 AU (astronomical unit), Ceres lies in perfect position to supply future colonists with the necessary food supplies, as its orbit ranges between 2.55 and 2.98 AU. As the asteroid king makes its journey around the sun, mining colonies could be easily resupplied with food grown on the rocky world, enabling permanent outposts to focus on extracting minerals and precious metals.

Containing roughly 25% of the asteroid belts mass, Ceres may have the necessary gravity to allow for more plant life than would be possible in a micro gravity environment.

Although hovering around 3% (when compared to Earths), the gravity on Ceres may be tolerable to plant life, although humans may have to adjust to the low gravity by either finding chemicals to counter act atrophy or simply constructing artificial gravity space stations nearby.

Despite being recognized as a dwarf planet, Ceres will play a major role in mining operations within the asteroid belt, if not the solar system as a whole.

By simply acting as an agricultural world (or rather dwarf planet) it will save future Earth and (hopefully) Martian governments millions (if not billions) in transport costs, and may enable humanity to reap the rewards of harvesting the asteroid belt to the benefit of the human race.

Could Ballutes Replace Heat Shields?

A new type of technology may allow for future space craft to pack more equipment into space by replacing the heavy heat shields with a "ballute"--a cross between a parachute and a balloon.

(New Scientist Space) [I]n the last few decades, engineers have toyed with the idea of flexible, lightweight heat shields. Because they would weigh less than conventional solid shields, the weight they save could be used to carry more science instruments or other gear.

Ballutes, which use pressurised gas to inflate cushions on the bottom of their payloads before entering the atmosphere, could also slow the payloads down for a soft landing. Robotic missions to Mars have dipped into the upper reaches of the planet's atmosphere to slow down and circularise their orbits. A ballute would provide even greater surface area, increasing the atmospheric drag and maximising this "aerobraking" effect.

Although engineers have to work out a few kinks in the system (as to insuring that the ballute inflates) this technology may be quite useful and help decrease the overall expense of rockets (at least by a little).

Note: LiftPort may also want to consider this as part of their space elevator design, as insurance just in case a climber (full of people or cargo) breaks off from the tether.

China Becoming "Space Hungry"

Of all the nations with better excuses for not visiting the stars, China seems to be very serious about conquering the final frontier--whether it is expensive or not.

(C|Net News) Sun Laiyan, head of the China National Space Administration, also defended the cost of the space program, saying Beijing spends far less than the United States, has benefits for ordinary people and is a matter of national pride. [...]

"The success of our manned space missions, becoming only the third country in the world to put a man into space on our own, is a source of pride for the Chinese nation," Sun said during a press conference outlining the next five years of the space program.

Next year, China plans on sending a probe to orbit the moon and is even considering space tourism as an avenue to help fund its space program. China has previously used space to help out farmers by exposing grain to radiation (increasing crop yields).

China seems geared for the next generation of space travel. Unfortunately the same thing can not be said of America.

Space Elevator Community Coming Together

It looks as if the Space Elevator community is coming back together again after a brief tit for tat arguments over the precise launch of the first space elevator.

Bryan Laubscher seems to be calling the SE community to work together as a whole, probably a wise thing as "a space elevator divided, shall not be built" (to paraphrase a wise man).

(Space Elevator Reference) As a community we need to work more closely together to encourage and support good work while discouraging shoddy work. And we need to do this out of the public eye. All of us need to be willing to have our work reviewed. Indeed, my most talented scientific colleagues insist on having their work reviewed by peers because they know the importance of their work and they honor their reputations! This level of activity is for adults with serious intentions. It is not for the insincere or insecure. Through this process we will all be called to a higher standard of work.

Bryan is asking for a SE workshop to be carried out at the 2nd Biennial Space Elevator Workshop in March next year (more details over here). This forum may be worth attending, and hopefully everyone can lay aside the personal attacks.