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10 Spac U.S. shoi By JAMES BAUERNSCHMIDT Staff Writer The following story is an analysis of the benefits of a strong international effort to explore space. Our civilization's transistion into the space age, specifically the establishment of a lunar base, will open new possibilities for economic, environmental and social recovery. The major world powers (USA, Europe, Russia, Japan and China) are all putting forth effort to establish their presence in the cosmos. This trend will be the focal point of the 21st century. Space exploration will determine the next political arena as well as the development of the world economy. By recognizing this trend to ex IS?*'-'.' ''i m: -4 \fe: J lv V|p g-V Ife i 1^-' lfc fe' \ ? .. -.a k-:: 1 &v. ' *" OM I pand into space, we have the opportunity right now to positively influence its development. The ability to recognize trends allows for better planning for the future. Businesses rely on trends of changing consumer preferences in strategic planning. Trends set by the end of the Cold War (i.e. lower defense spending) are considered bv governments when determining foreign policy. The best action governments can take right now is the advocation of an international lunar base. An outpost on the moon permanently manned by an international crew :eExp ilH c\A\Tcmc\ CAVA V/VU will solve the major problems which will confront us in the 21st century ? economic conflicts and environmental damage. Military Spending Monster Dead What will be the driving force in the world economy in the 21st century? During the 1980s, about one trillion dollars a year were spent on various militaries in the world during the 1980s. This role is now diminishing. Already the two military superpowers, along with many other countries, have started vastly cutting back their military expenditures. This move away from investing huge quantities of money in military resources leaves trillions of dollars and thousands of researchers open for other projects. A lunar base could be the mutual endeavor that keeps previously militaryoriented countries out of trade conflicts. If you recall the guns verses butter diagram from Economics 101, less money spent on guns means more resources available to spend on butter. In the short term, this occurrence seems positive. However, the effect of money spent on research and development in the military is ignored. Recent economic endogenous growth models show a significant relationship between money spent Coiu f i __ Muaeiii Eric Ward i/lelissa Owenby Amy Taylor arina Theodotou anfe you for all ???___Good ilorai te lunar t on research and development and economic growth. Economic growth is indirectly determined by the rate of technological change. Because less money is being appropriated to military budgets, the world economy is losing the research and development effect from the military expenditures. Productive researchers from the militnrv am nr? 1r?ncmr nntfintr fh*?ir efforts into developing innovative technologies which are adopted by various industries and thus stimulate economic growth. For example, many highly skilled Russian scientists who have emigrated to the West are settling for menial jobs. Thus, their talent is going unused. In order for the world economy to continue experiencing growth because of a high rate of technological change, there needs to be a transistion of these military research and development people into some other kind of scientific research and development. A new focal point is needed. Establishing a lunar base will provide this focal point for technological change. Consider some of the spinoffs from space exploration to date. The computer revolution has heen p.nhanr.p.d hv rhp. Annllo nrn jects. The shuttle program has spurred the development of fiber optics. Just imagine possible spinoffs from the technology deveirntnl media Wendy Pac .11: ocou nuin Sandra Strin m * # _ iviarK wimar Maria J. Sicoi . of your hart fuck and Bes ] hnn 1/lVfll >ase ! loped in order to sustain life inde- 1 finitely on the moon (i.e. a cure for 1 cancer). Alternate Energy Sour- 1 ces By the year 2050, the world will 1 need 20,000 billion watts of 1 electric power annually to maintain a high level of prosperity. Thus, 1 having to find alternative sources : of energy may be a problem which 1 will confront us sooner than we 1 think. 1 The supply of petroleum from 1 the Middle East could easily be obstructed if it does not shortly run 1 out. For example, another madman 1 like Saddam Hussein could use nu~t .?:i 1 ^icai wcapuna IU ucsnuy me un fields in the Middle East. ' The existence of a lunar base would offer the potential for new 1 sources of energy. Consider solar energy. Solar panels on the earth ( are inefficient. They require a lot of space and operate best only , under clear skies. The moon does | not have these problems. Under j cloud-tree lunar skies, energy irom the sun would be gathered by solar cell arrays. During the 14 days of lunar night, mirrors orbiting the moon would act as "light buckets," reflecting sunlight to the solar farms. This solar energy would be converted into microwaves that are in turn beamed to sites on earth for [afions Gradual ,w Renee W s Darren Sh< 9er Dennis S nslx. Elizabeti lOlfl ( work and dedl ;t Wisfest 1992 Graduation Tab reconversion to electricity. Another future energy source will come from nuclear fusion. Vast amounts of energy are obtained by heating lower chemical elements to around 10 million degrees Fahrenheit. Because no physical container can withstand such high temperatures, the reaction is contained within a magnetic field. As the lower chemical elements heat up, they begin smashing into one another, forming heavier chemical elements. This fusion gives off enormous amounts of energy. The same process occurs within the sun. The most suitable starting element for this thermonuclear reaction is an isotope of helium, helim 3. This element, virtually nonexistent on earth, can be found in abundance in lunar soil. The facilities of a lunar base could mine lu nar soil tnrough a heating process, extract the helium 3 and then store it in sturdy fiberglass containers. These containers would then be floated back to earth for the fusion process. One shuttle full of helium 3 would provide enough material for the fusion process to satisfy the ;nergy needs of the United States for an entire year. Chance to Start Anew This international lunar base :ould be the climax of civilization. Vou yourself may some day, along with people of several other naionalities, be able to actually set foot on the moon. However, we leed to act now to ensure that the :osmos does not develop into a fuure battle ground. If you would like to help advo;ate the idea of an international lular base, send this article to the chairman of the Senate committee or Space, Science and Technol)gy, Sen. Ernest Hollings/The Senate/Washington D.C. 20510. ? I v| Yif? -if f I arren ;|| apherd :m healy 1 Fox m * . * ':Vg lcatton*j^