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SPACE EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES

SPACE EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES. Robert S. Wegeng Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Operated by Battelle Memorial Institute. National Laboratories Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, Washington.

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SPACE EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES

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  1. SPACE EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES Robert S. Wegeng Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Operated by Battelle Memorial Institute

  2. National Laboratories Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, Washington Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, New York Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tennessee Idaho National Laboratory Idaho Falls, Idaho National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, Colorado Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, California

  3. Exploration Status • Substantial uncertainties exist over the future direction of Human Space Flight, but… • We know that the Augustine Commission and National Academy of Science studies seem to favor a technology development funding increase • Space exploration is still very expensive • We need innovations that improve the productivity (ratio of value to cost) of human and robotic systems • Earth has problems that may be solved or mitigated by space systems • Earth’s energy and environment issues continue • We need to determine the resource potential of the Moon 3

  4. GRAND CHALLENGE Use the resources of near-Earth Space to bring benefits to the Earth 4

  5. EXAMPLE PROJECT: Thermal Wadis and Rover Prospectors • Thermal Wadi Energy Storage provides Productivity Benefits: • Thermal Wadis are engineered sources of heat and power • Computer simulations confirm thermal advantages provided by thermal wadis • Rovers, based from thermal wadis, can be expected to survive months to years on the lunar surface • Benefits include: • Enables broad resource prospecting/ characterization and technology demonstrations on the Moon • International collaboration and broad public participation (including inspiration and eduction) • Commercial participation • Informed decisions about human activities on the Moon 5

  6. To Recap… • Although the USA human spaceflight program is going through a period of uncertainty, there are good reasons to be optimistic about what comes next • Potential Grand Challenge for Space Exploration: • Use the resources of near-Earth Space to provide benefits for the Earth • But first, we need to characterize the resource potential of the Moon • Thermal Wadis and Rover Prospectors are one example of a possible collaborative international project • In our Space Exploration Breakout Session, we hope to identify multiple possible collaborative international projects 6

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