This document discusses enabling the development of a space-based economy. It proposes using acoustic shaping and tailored electromagnetic fields to construct large structures in space, like radiation shields, without the need for heavy machinery. Experiments using acoustic shaping to arrange particles in microgravity are described. Infrastructure elements like space habitats and lunar mining are presented as stepping stones to a self-sustaining space-based economy. Challenges around the large costs involved are addressed, arguing that mutual support between different space-based industries could help overcome these challenges.
1. Cities in Space:
Articulating the Space Based Economy
Narayanan Komerath
Priya Gopalakrishnan
Sam Wanis
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
With generous support from the GSGC, Texas
Source: www.nasa.gov
SGC/NASA JSC, USRA/NIAC and Georgia Tech
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
2. Outline
Cities in Space
The Space-Based Economy
Acoustic Shaping in Microgravity: Experiments
Tailored Force Fields
“NASA Means Business”
Into Show-Biz…
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
3. The natural resources available within the Near Solar System
are a few orders of magnitude greater than those on Earth
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
4. In reaching out for them, we will discover, invent and develop ideas
whose impact will be greater by many more orders of magnitude
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
5. Year 2050 – The Space-Based Economy
Self-sustaining Economy
Support/Service Economy
Lunar Launcher
Lunar Manufacturing
Space Habitats Lunar Mining
2015 Lunar Resources Lunar Power
2010 GEO/ L1 Station Orbit transfer vehicles
2005 Space Station; Maintenance; Refueling; Repair; Robotics
Com-sats; Sensing, Exploration; Military; Research
1950s –70s Launch To Earth Orbit; Race to the Moon
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
6. Example of “Space-Based Business”
Customers, Facilities and Suppliers all Located Away From Earth
(Developed by High School Students under the NASA “SHARP-PLUS” program)
Georgia Space Grant Consortium project
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
7. The Space Yellow Pages: Primary Projects
Human Missions to Mars
Robotic Planetary Missions
Lunar Resources
Return to the Moon:
Heavy Lift + CEV
Hubble Space Telescope
Science Probes
GALILEO Com-sats
GPS GLONASS
Race to the Moon:
Heavy Lift
Remote Sensing
ISS Microgravity Research
Military Satellites
Launch To Earth Orbit
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
8. The Space Yellow Pages: Level Two Projects
Lunar Launcher
Human Missions to Mars
Robotic Planetary Missions Lunar Steel
GEO/ L1 Station Lunar Resources
BOEING HABITATS Return to the Moon: Lunar Manufacturing
Heavy Lift + CEV
Lunar Power
Hubble Space Telescope EVA Repairs Lunar Base Supply
Hydrogen to the Moon
Science Probes
Commercial Lunar Mining
Satellite Refuel
GALILEO Com-sats
GPS Orbit transfer vehicles
Race to the Moon:
Heavy Lift
Remote Sensing
Fuel for Military Satellites ISS Microgravity Research
Fuel Storage Station
Military Satellites ISS Resupply
Space Spare Parts Inc
Launch To Earth Orbit
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
9. The Space Yellow Pages: Level Three Industry
Lunar Launcher
BOEING MarsCyclers Inc
Asteroid Belt Prospectors Lunar Fuels Inc Lunar Steel
GEO/ L1 Station
BOEING HABITATS Lunar Manufacturing
Lunar Power
L 2 Space Telescope EVA Repairs Lunar Base Supply
Hydrogen to the Moon
Octopus Robotic Repairs Solar Positioning System
Commercial Lunar Mining
Satellite Refuel
Com-sats
Orbit transfer vehicles R3D3 Robots‟R‟Us
GPS
GALILEO
Solar System Prospecting Space Defense & Law Authority
Fuel Storage Station Fuel for Military Satellites ISS
ISS Resupply
Space Spare Parts Inc
Earth Transport
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
10. The Space Yellow Pages: Level Four: Space-based Business
Far Side Mineral Water
North Avenue Emag Constructions
Lunar Launcher
Translunar Rail Authority
Orbital Junk & Salvage
Sunspot Cruises Inc Lunar Manufacturing
BOEING MarsCyclers Inc Ace Space Ice Inc.
GEO/ L1 Station
Tranquility Titanium Inc Lunar Oxygen Lunar Power
Jupiter Nuclear Propulsion Inc Mars & Beyond: Expeditions Lunar Mining
Copernicus Metals Inc
Inner Planet Transport System Orbit transfer vehicles
Deep Breath
Life Support Systems
Ocean of Storms Solar Panels Inc Acoustic Shaping Inc
Lunar Football League Cislunar Convention Center
New Mexico Helium-3 Inc
Space Engine Repair Inc Orbit Emergency Medical Inc
Delta Space Lines Micro-G Chiropractors
Float Bloat
Micro-G Burgers Inc
Inflatable Structures Inc
Omaha Fuel Cells Inc
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
11. NASA Strategic Plan for Human Exploration of Mars: An Opinion Based on Observation
1985: Permanent Colonies on Mars by 2035.
1999: Reference Mission. Six Astronauts to
Mars & back by 2018,
2 more missions to follow
Ambition
2000: Systematic set of
robotic missions
followed by human
mission by 2020
2004: Moon landing by 2008; Moon base 2016;
missions to Mars; nuclear energy OK
2001: Robotic
exploration of Mars
from orbit,
robotic landers “in the
next 20 years”.
1985 2000 2015 2030
Time
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
12. Building Cities in Space
Major obstacles:
- Radiation shield
construction
- Need for artificial
gravity
- Need for “critical
mass” of commercial
interest
Interior of Space Settlement „Island One‟: (from the 1970s)
Courtesy SSI
http://www.ssi.org/slideshow.html
Source: www.nasa.gov
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
13. Gravity, Rotation and Radiation
•Humans need near 1g: 9.8m/s^2 “gravity” for long-term living.
•Artificial gravity at rim of rotating wheel: Rotation rate must be lower than 1
RPM to avoid disorientation. Radius ~ 1km.
•Radiation in Space (solar neutrons, charged particles + gamma rays +
cosmic rays):humans cannot survive.
•Need .5m of water or 2m of soil to stop radiation
Mass & “weight” of shield for 2km diameter habitat are huge!
Note: Today‟s space stations do not have artificial gravity, or sufficient
shielding. If a solar storm occurs, astronauts go inside small shelters, but
exposure accumulates.
No solution for long-duration mission (e.g. Mars).
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15. Learning to Build Without Machine Tools:
The Acoustic Shaping Project
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
16. ACOUSTIC SHAPING
•Experiments on the NASA KC-135 “Vomit Comet” - Reduced Gravity Student
Flight Opportunities Program:1997- 2000.
•Team of AE sophomores first studied the behavior of a multitude of particles in
a resonant acoustic chamber, in reduced gravity.
•
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
17. ACOUSTIC SHAPING
Wall formation process: KC-135 test. Frequency 800 Hz
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
18. Works with most materials, and with liquids
In micro-gravity, solid particles in a resonant chamber assume stable locations along surfaces
parallel to nodal planes of the standing-wave. Liquids in finite-g form walls along nodes – which
are regions of lower static pressure.
Irregular grain:
microgravity
Hollow Al2O3/ Al
spheres:
microgravity
Powder
suspended in
water: 1-g
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
19. Extension of Acoustic to Electromagnetic Shaping
Tailored Force Fields
Can large radiation shields be constructed far away from Earth before
humans have to go there?
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
20. Radiation-Shielded, 1-G Station at Earth-Sun L-5 for NEO
Resource Exploitation
Example:
Particle diameter: 0.2m
Wavelength: 100m
Particle acceleration: 10-6 g
Resonator intensity: 328 MW/m2 Per module: Power input: 258 MW
Resonator Q-factor: 10,000 Active field time: 13 hrs
Beam diameter = 100m Solar Collector efficiency: 10%
Collector area w/o storage: 2 sq.km
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
21. Why Have Cities Not Been Built in Space Yet?
Radiation Shield?
Artificial Gravity?
•No commercial success path
•No convergence of interests
•No rationale for public support
•No CLEAR VISION AND PLAN articulated to the
public
•NASA view: “We are at the service of the Public”
•Public view: “We are waiting for NASA to guide us!
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
22. “NASA Means Business”
Annual competition hosted by Texas SGC/NASA JSC to:
“Business Plan to help NASA Strategic Plan for Mars Exploration.” („99-2000)
“Help develop a “Customer Engagement Plan” (2001-02)
Help articulate role of Mars missions (2003)
Articulate role of ISS (2004)
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
23. The $10B Dip
Every Business Plan for a small Space-based enterprise is faced with a
need for at least $10B in investment, with no return for 10 years or
more.
Why: No infrastructure, no repair, no rescue, no synergy with other
such businesses.
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
24. Effect of Infrastructure on Commercial Feasibility
NPV Boosters
1200
1000
800
NPV (M$)
600
400
200
0
Baseline NASA in R&D E-mag launch Both
-200 capability
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
25. Summary of the Space-Based Economy
Concept
•Buyers, Sellers, Suppliers, Manufacturers, are located
beyond Earth.
-Critical Mass of mutual interest and investment required to
trigger process.
-Infrastructure development with long-term plan.
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
26. Future Entrepreneurs Are Already Thinking!!!
Courtesy: Centennial Elementary School, Atlanta, GA. 2nd Grade, April 2001
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
27. How do we gather support for a Space-based Economy?
Everyone on Earth is a stake-holder in such an economy
Investment in Space technology seen as commercial investment, not
just as investment in knowledge-generation
Critical needs identified by GSU Strategic Marketing classes:
– Reliable, easy-access knowledge on problems, opportunities, and methods.
– Realistic expectation that “NASA Means Business” – government
commitment to infrastructure development
– User-friendly access to space experiment development and launches.
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
28. From Aerospace Engineering Into Show-Biz…
“NASA Means Business” Competition 2003:
“Develop Public Service Announcements to articulate the reasons to support the
Space program, specifically the relevance of Mars missions”
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
29. Our Message
•What has the space program done for us?
•NASA‟s Not Just For Astronauts
•So where does your money go?
•MARS as a stepping stone
•Where is the space program headed?
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
30. What has the space program done for us?
Materials
Toys
Advanced shoe design
and manufacturing
PC’s
Weather
Extended Weather
Improved Aircraft Engine Forecasting
forecasting
MRI and CAT Scans
Earth Resource Management
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
31. NASA‟s Not Just For Astronauts
Medical Doctors
Scientists and Engineers
Mission Operations
Management
Technicians
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
32. So where does your money go?
Space Exploration Education
Programs
Employees – Salaries
Circulates through the economy
$1 technical expenditure = $3 of new business
Communication
Transportation
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33. MARS as a stepping stone
Water?? R & D – Robotics,
Communications.
Fuel generation Habitats Lander technology
Terraforming?
Low gravity
operations
Search for Life / signs of E-T
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
34. Where is the space program headed?
Future Ambitions
Space Cities Asteroid Hotels
Not-so distant Future
Orbiters, Net Landers,
Scout Missions
Lunar Mining
Human Habitation
Mars Global Present Space Programs
Surveyor
International Space
2001 Mars Odyssey Station
Past Explorations
Mariner 3 & 4
Viking Lander School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
35. Please visit our websites:
http://www.adl.gatech.edu/research/tff/
http://www.adl.gatech.edu/research/tff/acoustic_shaping.html
http://www.ae.gatech.edu/research/windtunnel/nmb/nmbhome.html
Stay tuned for sample PSA …
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
36. Infrastructure Investment is the Key
The economics of starting a space-based production company are
heavily dependent on the presence of a rudimentary infrastructure.
A national-level investment in space-based infrastructure is
an essential catalyst for the development of a space-based economy.
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
37. Summary: Enabling Steps For Space-Based Manufacturing
ENABLING STEP: Shuttle Main Tank Farm (or other large
station) in LEO:
- large-volume construction facilities; fuel storage; parts storage;
- jump-start human presenceScience Institute
Courtesy: Space
Courtesy: Space Science Institute
ENABLING STEP: Robot-built, Solar-powered Mass Driver on the Moon
- enable commercial metal extraction; propellant extraction
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
38. Advantages of Space Based Economy Approach
The business plan of a single industry that may appear risky when viewed by
itself, becomes realistic when patched into the network of a Space based
Economy
Efficiencies of scale and mutual interest, providing viable solutions to today‟s
“insurmountable” problems.
Various pieces of the SBE support each other : Path to a self- sustaining
economy which generates wealth for Earth-based investors.
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
39. Creating Examples of “Space-Based Business”
Criteria: Customers, Facilities and Suppliers all Located Away From Earth
•Devise a Business Plan & Technical Plan.
•Identify supplier/customer needs
•Publicize: Show opportunities!
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
40. FORCES IN UNSTEADY2.7 b 143186.56 FIELDS
POTENTIAL
2 3
A k R
STANDING WAVE FIELDS:
k 2
F ( z) 5 sin ( 2 k z)
Particles Drift into Stable “Traps”. Theory similar for acoustic or e-mag fields!
6 b
•For size << l, standing wave trap force ~ 103 times single-beam force. A 2 R 3
•Trap stiffness in standing wave trap ~ 107 times single-beam value.12 b c os ( 2 k z)
D ( z) 5
•Source only needs to provide small gain over losses -
0.06
0.04
0.02
Force
F ( z) Potential
D ( z) 2 1 0 1 2
Trap regions can be
Stable Trap
of complex shape. 0.02
0.04
0.06
With standing waves in a low-loss resonator, small input intensity suffices to
z
produce substantial forces on particles.
Various mode shapes can be generated by varying frequency and resonator
geometry.
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
41. The Launch-Cost Dip and its Solution
Example for “Acoustic Shaping Inc.”, Virtual prototype of a Space-
based construction company 2000 NMB Competition
Discounted Cash Flows for ASI
120.00
80.00
Discounted Cash flow (M$)
40.00
0.00
-40.00
Both NASA R&D and Infrastructure, NPV = $700M
-80.00 NASA involvement in infrastructure development, NPV = $632M
NASA involvement in R&D, NPV = $369M
Baseline, NPV = $321M
-120.00
0 5 10 15 20
Year
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
42. ACOUSTIC SHAPING
Flight test proof of wall formation. Self-aligned. No spin.
Acoustic chamber
Mode 110 Styrofoam walls in reduced gravity
Ground test comparison between predicted
pressure contours and measured wall locations
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
43. SIMULATION: PREDICTED WALL SHAPES
220 320
110
100+020 230+100 110+220
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
44. Asteroid Reconstruction to Build Cities?
•Solar-powered radio resonators in the NEO region to reconstitute pulverized
asteroids into specified shapes.
•Formation-flown spacecraft to form desired resonator geometry.
•Asteroids pulverized using directed beam energy or robots,
•Solar energy converted to the appropriate frequencies.
•Materials and structures for such an endeavor must come mostly from lunar or
asteroidal sources.
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
45. Creating Examples of “Space-based Business”:
NMB2001
Concept for micro-g manufacturing, used to examine the startup of a
small company in space.
Non-contact manufacturing in reduced gravity
• Solid panels with specified shapes : flat, curved,
cylinders
• Scalable to 10ft x 10ft x 1” panels, or micro-fabrication
Flexible Automation: tailor sound & injection location
Compatible with solar energy: Acoustic drivers and radiant
heating
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
