Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM
Monday, October 24, 2005 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium
Klaus Heiss
"A Condominium of Observatories on the Moon"
ABSTRACT -- The speaker presents a study example of observatory building on the Moon, and discusses the advantages of a common utilities infrastructure. He also discusses why observatories on the Moon make more sense than "Fast Food" throw-away space-based telescopes. Although conditions on the Moon are different from those in orbit, they pose no insurmountable problems. Enlarging the site from one telescope to more is discussed, along with the need for human-robot cooperation in construction and operation. Establishment of a permanent Moon Base will allow "on-site" astronaut-astronomers to deploy and operate the condominium. The Moon Base will also resolve issues of the Safe Passage Report (2001).
The talk presents an example of construction and operation. The speaker discusses cost and risk factors for the use, maintenance, repair, and updating of the observatories. Related projects are discussed, especially In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), the intensive use of lunar raw materials.
SPEAKER -- Dr. Heiss was assistant to Prof. Oskar Morgenstern at Princeton University and Mathematica (1964 - 1973). His work involved applications of games theory and mathematical economics. This led to conceptual work on the Space Transportation System (STS), remote sensing systems (e.g. Snowmass 1974, Agristar),advanced space communications concepts (Geoplatforms, VSATs, airborne systems), and space energy concepts. His independent assessment of the STS led to the Space Shuttle Decision Memorandum of October 1971. He presented the initial testimony on the STS jointly with Wernher von Braun and Frank Borman in the early 1970s. He later led a study that led to privatization of Shuttle and Space Station operations.
He initiated a first joint venture in the commercialization of space remote sensing (SPARX Corp. with Comsat and MBB) whose capabilities led to the passage of legislation in 1984 that outlawed the private ownership of original space remote sensing data. At the Three Sigma Group, Dr. Heiss was responsible for advanced planning in Life Sciences as applied to Space Station, Lunar and Mars missions, "Closed Ecological Life Support Systems" (CELSS).
Dr. Heiss has been involved in the early development of space defense concepts (SDI), contributing the "KKV Killer Bee" concept (mid 1980's), later evolved to Brilliant Bees, GPALS - Global Protection against Accidental Launches.
He helped found the Columbus 500 Space Sail Cup competition, to promote the use of solar sails. (This competition led to the launch of the first solar sail in 1993 by Energia NPO.)