AbstractA long-term goal of space exploration is the development of a lunar settlement that will not only be largely self-sufficient but also contribute to the economy of the Earth–Moon system. Proposals for lunar mining and materials processing developments, as well as tourism-based applications, have appeared in the literature for many years.However, so great are the technical and financial difficulties associated with sustained lunar development that, more than 30 years after the end of the Apollo programme, there have been no practical advances towards this goal. While this may soon be remedied by a series of proposed unmanned orbiters, landers and rovers, the philosophy of lunar exploration and development remains the same as it has for decades: conquer, exploit, and ignore the consequences.By contrasting the well-recognised problems of Earth orbital debris and the barely recognised issue of intentional spacecraft impacts on the lunar surface, this paper illustrates the need for a new model for lunar exploration and development.This new paradigm would assign a value to the lunar environment and provide a balance between protection and exploitation, creating, in effect, a philosophy of sustainable development for the Moon. It is suggested that this new philosophy should be an integral part of any future strategy for lunar colonisation.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Lunar exploration and development—A sustainable model


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 57 , 2-8 ; 161-166


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2005-01-01


    Format / Umfang :

    6 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch



    Lunar exploration and development-A sustainable model

    Williamson, M. / International Astronautical Federation / International Academy of Astronautics et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Lunar exploration and development#8212A sustainable model

    Williamson, Mark | Online Contents | 2005



    Nuclear Propulsion for Sustainable Lunar Exploration

    Bulman, M. / Borowski, S. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006


    Nuclear Propulsion for Sustainable Lunar Exploration

    Bulman, Melvin / Borowski, Stanley | AIAA | 2006