Mars And Beyond 3e502t

Mars and Beyond

Raymond Wisniewski

Copyright © 2013 by Raymond Wisniewski.

Library of Congress Control Number 2013914973 ISBN: Hardcover Softcover eBook

978-1-4931-1139-8 978-1-4836-8684-4 978-1-4836-8685-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 12/19/2013

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Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 Deadly Weapons

Chapter 2 Space Exploration

Chapter 3 NASA and the Red Planet

Chapter 4 Moon Base

Chapter 5 Robots in Space

Chapter 6 Mars First Round-Trip

Chapter 7 Man on Mars

Chapter 8 Robots to Mars

Chapter 9 Mars Base

Chapter 10 Valles Marineris

Chapter 11 Mars Colony

Chapter 12 Survival

Chapter 13 Beyond Mars

Chapter 14 Return to Earth

Prologue

Most of this book is fiction about the possible exploration of Mars in the future and travel to a near star. There are enough facts mentioned about progress in space travel to the fact that more advanced space travel is possible. Having a colony of people on Mars could provide ideas to people living on earth to have a more healthy life. With growing world population and declining resources, because of the degrading environment we must think about life in the future. With Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong was able to set foot on the surface of the moon and give the first opportunity for astronauts to travel in space outside of the earth’s orbit. He wore a pressurized space suit to move about on the moon’s surface. Because the moon has no air or water, he had to return to earth in a short time. Additional Apollo trips were made to the moon including a moon buggy for short range transportation. Further trips to the moon were canceled because of the development of the International Space Station and the Shuttle. Rocket probes and robotic rovers which made the voyage to Mars landed to explore for water and minerals. Rockets have become double edged sword that can be used for Fourth of July celebrations and for space exploration, where they are put to good use. When used in warfare as ICBMs or in small military missiles, they can become leathal tools of war. This book is partially factual dealing with rocket events that have occurred. Some of the mostly fiction Martian rocket events, in the book, still have to happen. Hermann Oberth, a German physicist was considered, “The Father of Space Travel,” who Werner von Braun ired. The United States allowed Werner von Braun to come to America after World War II to prevent German missile technology from falling into Russian hands and help the U.S. Army missile programs to get started and developed. Our space technology grew from von Braun’s early work on Army missiles and with his work at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Rocket work at Redstone Arsenal paved the way for NASA to develop the Apollo moon

rocket. After the Apollo missions to the moon, rocket propulsion helped lift the Space Shuttle and Space Station into earth orbit. The idea of going to Mars was considered the next space goal. The use of robotics in space, sending a men to Mars and finding life somewhere in space has stimulated space enthusiasts. Rocket propulsion has shown that payloads can be carried from small distances to intercontinental and outer space distances. Rockets have been and are now being used for peaceful purposes to put up satellites for television, communication systems and for GPS uses. Robotic vehicles as the Curiosity rover have landed on Mars and have explored for water and atmospheric conditions. To use of robotic vehicles and robots aiding astronauts in the future can paved the way for the eventual use of human astronauts for trips to Mars. There have been many science fiction stories about Mars. The stories have told about people living on Mars in advanced societies and how easy it was to take trips to Mars and fly around in rocket spaceships. We know now that Mars has a hostile environment with no air for humans and no liquid water is to be found. This book shows the challenges of going to Mars and the stars and providing life for the astronauts. This book is dedicated to my family and friends and to those who have helped me along the way to gain knowledge and move to a life in engineering and rocket technology.

1

Deadly Weapons

The Blitz

The Blitz (from German, “lightening”) was the sustained strategic bombing of England during the Second World War. During the attacks 100 tons of high explosives were dropped. The bombing did not achieve its intended goal of demoralizing the Brithish into surrender or significantly damage the war economy. The German air offensive failed to destroy Britian’s war industries. The RAF finally gained mastery over the English skies and especially over London after the terrific German bomber blitz over London. Air raid sirens were the only source of warning as the bombers approached London. Spotlights pierced the night sky so antiaircraft guns could obtain targets. RAF pilots shot down as many bombers as they could to protect the civilian population and buildings. Eventually the air raids stopped as the German Air Force could not sustain the heavy bomber losses. But the calm after the ending of the German air raids was not to last for long. had a new flying weapon called te V-1. These would keep flying until the ramjet engine shutoff, and then the V-1 would drop like a bomb to a target below. By September 1944 most of the flying “buzz” bombs were being shot down before they reached London and on September 7th it was proclaimed that the battle of London was over. But one day later a huge explosion blasted Stavely Road Cheswick, there was no warning no air raid siren, this was something new. Three people died and 17 where seriously injured in the tragedy which reduced rows of houses to the appearance of a battlefield. Londoners have heard for the

first time the distinctive sound of the rocket. First the explosion, second overall the rocket motors catching up and lastly the noise of the sonic boom from the upper atmosphere. The noise could be heard all over the capital. The V-2 to attacks went on until 18 September about that time 14 had fallen on London area when they abruptly stopped because of the Allied operation market Garden which forced the rocket batteries to withdraw where they continued to fire but could only reach a East Anglia. London had temporary relief. Before it was over the V-2 rocket killed 89,038 Londoners and injured 25,000 People went scurrying into air raid shelters. After every airraid the buildings were reduced to rubble as fires raged. One of the families, the Smith family, had made it to the air raid shelter safely many times with their children during the bomber raids while the air raid sirens blared. Eventually they send their children to their grandparents in the country so they could be safely away from the the Nazi airplane bomber raids. With the new German weapons, it was different this time because there was almost no warning. The new weapons were unleashed by the Germans. First there was the V-1 buzz bombs powered by a ramjet engine which sputtered along until the engine stopped. It would plunge down to explode on the ground or on some building. The RAF found that they could shoot down the buzz bombs because they were so slow. When the Germans came up with their new weapon the V-2 rocket. They were launched from Peenemunde in northern on the Black Sea. Werner von Braun and his team had tested and developed the long-range rockets to force England to surrender. The English had no defense against the V-2 rocket. Some were able to reach London and explode with devastating effect. Others malfunctioned or fell into the English channel. The Smith family somehow safely made it to the closest air raid shelter. They could hear the explosions of the V-2s impacting somewhere in London. Some of the explosions were close enough to shake the air raid shelter. John Smith told his wife,” I’m glad the children are away with their grandparents because I know they will be safe there.” They waited a long time what seemed to be an eternity. Betty Smith fell asleep on his lap because of the long wait. Soon there were no more V-2 explosions to be heard. The raid was over, and the all clear siren sounded. Betty woke up when she heard the siren. When they emerged from the

air raid shelter they could see fires burning in some of the nearby buildings. Other fires were burning in the distance. John said, “Betty, I’m happy that we made it safely through the air raid.” They made their way home carefully through the rubble in the streets and found that their home wasn’t damaged. The British high command found out that the V-2 rockets were made in Peenemunde. Orders were given for a bomber air raid on Peenemunde. The bomber raid cost enough destruction to slow down the building of the V-2s. As the Allies advanced on , they ended the V-2 rocket raids.

2

Space Exploration

The dream to go to the moon Was like climbing a mountain It took one step at a time

Von Braun

We owe a lot of credit to our Army rocket and space programs because of Wernher Von Braun. His team found a place to work at Redstone Arsenal for the Army after the war. He started with replicas of the V-2 rocket and went on to develop army and civilian rockets which were not as suitable for war. He was given a leadership job at NASA to develop rockets for space exploration. Much of the U. S. Army’s and NASA’s rocket and missile development can be attributed to the impulse that Von Braun and his team gave with the help of private contractors. Hermann Oberth, a German physicist, who was once considered “The Father of Space Travel,” was Von Braun’s early mentor in the 1920’s. Von Braun was inspired by a copy of “A Rocket to Interplanetary Space,” Oberth’s 1923 book. In 1932, Von Braun began pursuing his interest in rockets. When he was 20, he began working for the German army and later during World War II. As technical director of the German rocket development program, his rocket team built and launched the first guided ballistic missile, the V-2 rocket. In 1945 he and some of

his associates found a U.S. Army unit and surrendered to the Allied forces to escape advancing Russian troops. Von Braun and his German rocket scientists tested captured German V-2s at Fort Bliss, Texas from 1946 and later arrived in Huntsville in 1950. Huntsville became known as, “Rocket City.” At Fort Bliss they built and conducted rocket tests for the Army using replicas of the V-2 rocket. While at Redstone, as a technical director, his team helped develop rockets and missiles for the army including the Pershing missile and the Jupiter C rocket which launched Explorer I, America’s first satellite, into earth orbit. Von Braun, the Rocket Man, transferred to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center where he dreamed of going to the moon ever since he was a boy. The Saturn V was developed and used in July 1969, as the vehicle for Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon, from the lunar lander, at the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. He and his German team were very friendly and got along well with the scientists at Redstone Arsenal and the people of Huntsville, Alabama. To develop Apollo he had to coordinate with this team to work out all the problems and details associated with getting the Apollo astronauts safely to the moon and back. The Saturn V booster rocket and all the other smaller Apollo lunar modules had to work perfectly for the mission to be a success. All the Apollo missions worked perfectly except for Apollo 13 which had an equipment failure. Even with Apollo 13 all of the astronauts got back to earth safely. A moon buggy was used on some of the missions to transport the astronauts over the moon’s surface. He started out in during World War II making a rocket of mass destruction. When he came to America after the war he turned to make rockets for peaceful uses. In 1970 he was transferred to Washington as NASA’s Associate Deputy for future planning and retired from government service in 1972. Von Braun was taken from us in 1977 at a relatively young age of 65.

Space Accomplishments

Stars sparkle at night But planets are nearer Dare we go to them?

Pioneer space rockets were launched, in 1958 and 1959, by the Army in response to the 1957 Russian launch of Sputnik to a 370-mile-high orbit.

In 1959 the Army Jupiter missile sent a monkey, in the nose cone, into space.

Mercury space return capsules were recovered in 1960 and 1961.

Alan Shepard made a 15-minute flight aboard Freedom 7. Saturn 1 was successfully tested in in 1961.

John Glenn made three orbits of Earth in his friendship 7 Mercury spacercaft.

Ranger 7 was sent to the moon for close-up images before impact.

John Glenn in 1962 was first American to orbit the earth.

Spaceprobe Mariner 4 flew near Mars after an eight month journey in 1965.

In 1966, Surveyor 1 landed on the moon and send high-quality photos of the surface.

The tragedy struck the space program in January 27, 1967 when Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Chaffee were killed in a Apollo 1 space capsule. They were killed as a result of an explosive fire that burst from the pure oxygen atmosphere of the Apollo 1 test capsule. Iittle is not known what caused the electrical spark. The Apollo capsules were redesigned to not use pure oxygen. Further successful capsule tests were made using a mixture of oxygen and other gases.

In 1973 Pioneer 10 made the first flyby of Jupiter while in 1974 Pioneer made a three month encounter with Jupiter gathering data on the planets’s magnetic field.

In 1976 Viking I landed on Mars and sends back data.

In 1977 Voyager I was launched, and in June 2012 it was 11 billion miles from Earth nearing the edge of the solar system. It’ll become the first manmade object to enter interstellar space. Itwill finally stop sending data between 2020 and 2025.

The Apollo Program

The Apollo program program was set back when Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee died in the Mercury capsule flash fire during an Apollo I sumulation on the launch pad at the Kennedey Space Center, in 1967. In 1968, the first piloted flight of the Apollo 7 spacecraft sent Wally Schirra into Earth orbit, and two months later a Saturn V booster rocket sent astronaughts into lunar orbit. Missile countdown procedures were very critical. Hydraulic power to the missile control systems was activated before launch. Debriefings, after each missile launch, consisted of issues encountered during the countdown activites. Questions were asked if anything was learned anything from the rocket launch. Usually the answer was, “Do not launch the missile or rocket unless everything checks out perfectly in the countdown procedure.” Sometimes suggestions helped to provide ideas for the successful Apollo rocket launches and exploration of the moon later. The NASA Apollo 11 program, in 1969 proved that we could land two men on the moon and bring them back to earth. It was an all American program. All the Apollo System components worked perfectly during launch, during flight, on the moon and back. The Saturn V moon rocket was the key component of the system. In 1971 Apollo 15 included a lunar rover which harvested 173 pounds of moon rocks as samples of ancient lunar crust. The Apollo program spun off many useful commercial products. With Apollo 16, in 1972 astronauts spend three days on the moon. Apollo 17 was the last mission to the moon in December 1972.

Skylab

Skylab was launched in 1973 as an expended Saturn IVB final stage and was used with Apollo 7 spacecraft during docking maneuvers in a 125 mile orbit. Skylab was 118 feet long and weighed 80 tons. It was manned by three astronauts, and was the first version of a space station where astronauts could perform experiments and study the effect of prolonged weightlessness on the human body. It had a multiple docking adapter which would permit Apollo spacecraft to dock and transfer the three-man crews, and it provided an airlock module for crews to travel from one vehicle to another. Skylab proved that an bigger space station was possile. The Skylab was finally abandoned and crashed into the Indian and Atlantic Ocean’s in 1979.

The Space Shuttle and International Space Station

The Space Shuttle program was developed At Marshall Space Flight Center and flew atop a Boeing 747 in 1977. It was vibration tested and provided a reusable vehicle for building and supplying the International Space Station with needed materials and for rotating the astronauts on schedual. It was developed, tested, and used many times to complete the Space Station:

April 12, 1981 - The first shuttle, Columbia, is launched into space.

Nov. 28, 1983 - First Spacelab module is ferried int orbit.

Jan. 28, 1986 - Challenger shuttle explodes 73 seconds after lift-off because of defective O-rings on fuel tank.

April 26, 1990 - Discovery shuttle releases Hubble space telescope.

June 29, 1995 - Atlantas shuttle docks with Russian space station Mir.

Feb.1, 2003 - Columbia shuttle breaks up on re-entry to Earth because of thermal coating failure on wing leading edge.

After the Challenger and Columbia failures, corrective measures were made to provid better O-ring protection and better visual inspection of thermal insulation during reentry. After their last mission, the remaining Shuttles were sent to space museums.

During the 1981-2010 years, the Space Shuttle became the workhorse for NASA by putting communications satallites, suppling components for the Space Station and putting the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. In 1998, assembly of the Internation Space Station began being continually supplied with astronauts and components delivered by the Space Shuttle and Russian Souz rockets.

The Space Shuttles were retired in 2011 and placed in museums in New York City and Washington, DC. The Russian Souz shuttle became the main means of supplying astronauts and supplies to the Space Station.

Space Launch System (SLS)

SLS/Orion is NASA’s new space launch sysyem developed at Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center and constructed at other NASA and contractor facilities. Orion, the multipurpose crew vehicle will fly on top of SLS, to carry astronauts and payload to the outer reaches of space. NASA’s goal is to create a vehicle that will make human exploration of deep space the reality and create new possibilities for scientific discovery. The vehicle will be the largest rocket ever built providing the power to to explore beyond our current limits. It will carry 70 metric tones to space with a larger version of the rocket would launch up to their 30 metric tons. This will provide a single launch capability for destinations such as an asteroid, the moon and Mars. In 2012, the central core stage design, of the big new NASA rocket, ed a critical independent review. The rocket’s components were manufactured from blue-prints to an actual system. The new stage will stand 200 feet tall with a 28 foot diameter. The core has large liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks to fuel four RS-25 engines, the same engines that lifted the space shuttle. Two solid rocket boosters also provide lift. NASA is planning to launch Orion, the most advanced spacecraft ever designed,

on the first uncrewed mission in 2014. Orion will be traveling 36,000 miles above the Earth’s surface which is 15 times farther than a International Space Station’s oral orbital bowl position. Mankind will continue to explore the outer reaches of space because the lessons learned will further the survival of people on earth.

3

NASA and the Red Planet

Climb every mountain Swim every stream Find every island Mars has to be seen

Manned Mars mission is no longer a sci-fi fantasy. The planet is on the average 140,000,000 miles from earth, its year is 687 Earth days, but its atmosphere isn’t hospitable to human life. The human voyage to the planet is now for the first time within the realm of possibility. As a result, plans for a mission around the planet and ultimately plans for lengthier stays have been sprouting like springtime flowers. The Phoenix lander earlier sampled water ice in shallow Martian soil. With the successful landing of the large Curiosity rover in a Martian crater, there is a growing eagerness for space entrepreneurs to mount and fund missions to Mars and for new data about the radiation risk of such an expedition. NASA hopes to land astronauts on the planet within the next two decades and the agency is developing a heavy—left rockets and capsule to achieve its this goal. The optimal time frame for this event will be in the early 2030s when the different orbits of the two planets bring them closest to each other. NASA has overcome the technical challenges of landing and operating spacecraft on Mars robotically and is developing technologies needed to send humans to Mars in the 2030s.

The Rovers

What better thing than to put robotic technology on wheels that would enable travel over the surface of Mars and to explore for water and minerals.

The rovers do not have to rely on food, water or air to exist. The latest rover was Curiosity the largest of four NASA rovers landed in 2012. In 1997 Sojourner was the smallest and simplest rover that proved that Mars roving was possible. Spirit an Opportunity landed into 2004 with Opportunity still operating. A unique feature of Curiosity is that it can drill into rocks and scoop up the powder into an on-board chemical lab.

Health Risks

The health risks for the astronauts going to and from Mars need to be addressed. The health risk associated with radiation in space and on Mars needs to be reckoned with. Radiation measurements made by an instrument on Curiosity have found high radiation levels on Mars that could threaten astronauts. There are also very high, levels of high-energy cosmic and solar rays both en route and on the service surface of the planet. Extensive shielding of astronauts would be needed but the risk of later illnesses due to radiation may increase the risk of fatal cancer by 5%. Improving shielding may yield only limited gains in safety and the key to a successful mission is faster propulsion. Long-term isolation is a problem for trips to and from Mars and for staying on Mars for extended periods of time. Space suits have to be designed withstand the 180 degree F. temperature swings and bitter cold of Mars as well as the thin atmosphere made up largely of carbon dioxide. The spacesuits have to be comfortable and flexible for the astronauts to move easily on Mars.

Funding the Mars Programs

The problem is that the NASA budget is now but a small fraction of what it was in the years after Pres. Kennedy set a precise timetable for landing on the moon.

The funding problem is one reason why private companies and space agencies from other nations are expected to play a significant role in any human mission to Mars. The question of whether the national budget can be balanced is dependent upon the expenditures for national defense, civilian entitlements and space exploration. The Mars programs may be able to be funded if they are spread out over a longer period of time. The development of the Mars mission components may take some time. Safety of astronauts should be the primary concern.

Mars Trip Options

NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) cruise capsule and the Orion spacecraft are intended for use one day in a man mission to Mars the MSL delivered the Curiosity rover to Mars in 2012. These and other rocket components will determine how much funding will be spent for each Mars trip. Just orbiting Mars and coming back to earth will be the least expensive trip and safest for the astronauts. Each trip will become more expensive as more rocket components are added. As more funding is available in astronaut may be able to land on Mars, take some rock samples, return to a Mars orbiter, and then return to Earth. For more expensive trips, an underground base station may have to be built on Mars for a more permanent astronaut stay. If Mars construction robots can be developed they could construct an underground Mars base by remote commands from Earth. These options are delineated in the following pages of this book. Robots are the main tools for providing a base station on Mars. Robots are not subjected to health problems, such as, air, water, and food which are necessary for the astronauts to survive. Also robots are not in influenced by a radiation. Electrical power and the ability to withstand the cold temperature of Mars are still needed by the robots. Spending more time in deg and fabricating robots to assist the astronauts may be more essential and safer than rapidly sending a human astronauts to Mars.

4

Moon Base

They came to explore A strange new world What they found Was not like earth

The First Moon Base

In 2030, before NASA could decide on building a Mars base, a prefabricated moon base was landed on the moon with room for one astronaut. The moon base was self-contained with food, water and sleeping quarters. It was not subject to the cosmic radiation that an astronaut would expect on Mars. Being closer to Earth, supplies were sent to the astronaut, Jack Carter, on a regular basis to provide life food, water and air. The prefabricated moon base had an air pressure regulating doorway which enabled Jack to go out side on the moon’s surface and still maintain the air pressure in the moon base. Jack was able to go outside in his pressurized suit and explore small moon craters and collect moon rock samples. Jack provided Mission Control with data concerning the expenditure of the food, water and air supplies. He also provided data on his health status including blood pressure, heart rate and ability to complete puzzle tasks. To keep from getting bored, he was able to read books, watch television and keep up with Earth news. Jack missed his family, his wife Jane and his two little children. He told her how he wished that she was with him to see the earth and sunrise over the moon’s surface. The earth glowed like a big blue round marble with the streaks of clouds all over its surface. The supply rocket arrived on the moon every two months. Jack was able to put on his space suit and unload the necessary food and water supplies from the moon lander. This also included oxygen air tanks.

The Recovery

After a year long stay, Jack secured the moon base and was relieved to enter the

earth return capsule (ERC) and blast off from the moon’s surface on his way home. Jack’s recovery capsule was oriented several times by steering jets to safely return to the Earth’s atmosphere. His reentry capsule left a meteor like fire trail which was seen over Australia. An aircraft carrier with helicopters waited for the sonic boom and capsule descending under the deployed parachute. Soon the cry came out, “I see it — there it is!” The ERC landed in the sea with a splash. The astronaut’s families were notified that the capsule was recovered and Jack was safe. The news was flashed to the waiting world that Jack was back. With this news, further trips were planned to Mars and the establishment of a Mars base. He demonstrated that an astronaut was able to undergo a year long stay in space without any mental or physical defects.

The Debriefing

The data that Jack sent from the moon was analyzed. Because the moon is closer to the earth than Mars, it was easier to supply a food, water and air to Jack while he was on the moon for a year. It was decided that it would be much more difficult to send supplies to Mars on a two month basis. Sending astronauts to Mars and keeping them alive would stretch the astronauts survival techniques to the limit. The International Space Station astronauts were already using recycled water that has been purified for human consumption. However food packets have to be brought up to the space station on a regular basis for the astronauts to have solid food. There may not be enough room for food and water on the spacecraft for journey of over two years. It was agreed upon that robots could fill the gaps when astronauts cannot survive in space and on Mars for extended periods of time. The robots could be controlled by commands from the Mission Control Center. Construction robots could be used to build an underground Mars base.

5

Robots in Space

Why Robots?

No disease can effect them They didn’t need food or water Human commands they followed Robots do as they are told

Robotic rovers have already landed on Mars. Some of them have been:

July,1997 Pathfinder lands on Mars and its rover Sojourner sends back data from the Red Planet. 2004, Rover robotic vehicles landed on Mars to explore for water and study rocks for minerals.. They are controled by signals from earth. No air, water or food, which create additional weight, are necessary for the robots. The robotic vehicles used solar cells to generate electricity for storage in batteries and they were engineered to protect electrical and mechanical components from the cold Martian temperatures. Solar cells and batteries supplied power for the electrical systems of the robotic vehicle. The robotic vehicles had to overcome the environmental problems of dust, wind and cold temperatures for extended periods of time. The effect of the environmental problems on the vechicle

components were used to engineer the Mars lander components. The Opportunity, a solar powered six-wheel rover, continued to function on Mars as late as 2012. By exploring the the rims of massive craters and taking photos when the light is right, it was able to send the picture back to earth Mars Curiosity rover, containing the Mars Science Laboratory mission, descended safely into a crater on the surface of Mars on August 6, 2012. The Curiosity rover drilled into the Mars bedrock for the first time on February 7, 2013. It discovered an ancient dried-up riverbed which indicated that water flowed there at one time. Data collected by the Mars curiosity Rover have confirmed that water flowed ankle to hip-deep in streams on ancient Mars. Scientists say that detailed analysis and review has confirmed their original interpretation of slabs of rock containing pebbles in Gale Crater. These rounded rocks, the first ever found on Mars, were once part of a streambed. The rounding indicates sustained flow. It occurs as pebbles hit each other multiple times for more than weeks or months at a time. Mars doesn’t have enough atmosphere to make a flow of liquid water possible today, but the planet does have large quantities of water ice. Curiosity is looking for environments favorable to the existence of microbial life on Mars Why should robots be used instead of humans during the first trips and traveling to and from Mars? Foremost is the safety of the astronaut and his survival during the harsh environment that he must undergo in traveling to Mars. When robots get there they do their work and meet the astronauts

Here are some problems from man’s trip to Mars:

1. The trip is over two years in duration. 2. Food, water, air and waste disposal for life is necessary. 3. Man loses muscle and bone mass due to no gravity going and coming from Mars. 4. Cosmic rays can injure DNA which can lead to cancer.

5. Meteroids can pierce the wall of the spaceship during the trip. 6. The shelf life of food for the round trip is questionable. 7. Messages to Mars take over three or more minutes.

Here are some advantages of the robots trip to Mars:

1. A robot can be designed to last many years in space. 2. A robot does not need any food, water, air and has no waste disposal. 3. A robot does not lose muscle or bone mass due to no gravity. 4. Cosmic rays or solar radiation to not affect a robot. 5. Robots can be remotely controlled to do designated tasks.

NASA’s Challenge

In 2040, because of the dangers for human astronauts in space, NASA decided to use more advanced robots in space. Contracts were led out to companies to fabricate humanlike robots, special function robots and construction robots. The the robots would receive human commands from the NASA Space Control Center. A robot would take the place of a human astronaut on the spacecraft and not be subjected to radiation damage or human life . The safety of a round-trip orbiting Mars with a robot astronaut would demonstrate the safety of the operation. The construction robots could land on Mars and construct a Mars underground base of operations. Later the construction robots can expand the Mars underground base to a human

colony. The human colony would consist of scientists from earth to take scientific measurements of the Mars environment and a basis for ing life in the future on Mars. In the event of an atomic war, survivors on Mars could perpetuate the human race until the radiation levels on earth become safer.

Our Robot Servants

Robots have become increasingly important in civilian and space technology. Robots are being used by law enforcement agencies to apprehend criminals. They are saving policeman’s lives by going in where there are bombs in hiding criminals. The robotic technology is already used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military and civilian use for aeral surveillance. However, robots need command and control instructions to tell them what to do. They have no intelligence on their own. A simple television hand controller is an example of what is used to control the television set. To supplement astronauts in long space missions robots can be used because they do not eat food or drink water and have no waste products. The only thing they need is an electrical power to run their systems. They can be programmed to respond to human commands. By responding to human commands they can perform tasks remotely on Mars as commanded by an Earth Robotic Mission Control Center controller.

Developing Robots for Mars

It was decided to design and develop robots which would be used to orbit Mars and build a Mars Base Station which would take the place of men in its construction. The robots initially would be remotely controlled from the Robotic Mission Control Center located on Earth. Three kinds of robots were decided upon: A task inegration robot (TIR), a digger robot (DR), an builder robot ( BR) and an electronics checkout robot (ECR).

Several companies submitted proposals to develop robots for NASA for space exploration and exploring Mars. The winning contract was for Space Robots, Inc. The company began to develop, build and test robots for building a Mars base. The first robots to be developed were designed to preform most of the functions that a human astronaut would perform on Mars but without the need for food or air to stay alive in the low pressure Martian atmosphere. The first robot to be developed was named Andy. Andy was a computer with an electronic brain that could be intergrated into the spaceship electronics and have the ability to receive and act on commands received from the robotic control center. Andy would relay the status of the spacecraft and respond to maneuvering commands by activating the sustainer rocket and maneuvering jet thrusters. Andy didn’t need any food or water but needed electrical power and the ability to last a three year space mission.

6

Mars First Round-Trip

First you have to dream To reach an unreachable star You have to travel very far Plan if you can do it at all

Man’s Attaction with Mars

Planet Mars can be seen on many a night sky with viewing telescopes. The planet’s polar caps and reddish features provided an interest. Dust storms appeared from time to time on its surface. At on time canals were thought to exist on its surface. Atmospheric data was radioed back from probes that the air was too thin to life. The search for water began in earnest. Before man could land on Mars, the pattern of Apollo orbiting the moon had to be followed as the first step. The problem of getting a man to orbit Mars was further complicated by the over two year trip to Mars and back to Earth.

Man’s Problem with Mars

Man on Earth is used to its gravity and air pressure. Food and water at a reasonable temperature are always at hand. It is not the same case for the planet Mars.If the life problems of the Mars trip can be solved than the trip is possible. Here are the problems from man’s trip and life on Mars:

1. Mars thin air is 1000 times less then earth’s atmosphere. 2. Mars thin air cannot human life. 3. Man loses muscle and bone mass due to no gravity going and coming from Mars. 4. Cosmic rays can injure DNA which can lead to cancer.

5. Meteroids can pierce the wall of the spaceship during the trip. 6. The shelf life of food three year round trip is questionable

Man on earth is used to its gravity and air pressure. Food and water at a reasonable temperature are always at hand. It is not the same case for the planet Mars.If the life problems of the Mars trip can be solved than the trip is possible for a human astronaut. Orbiting Mars remotely with a robot astronaut does not present the same problems found with a human astronaut.

Mars Rocket Booster and Thrusters

The NASA Space Launch System (SLS) is the basis for the manned Mars Program which is more complex than just going to the moon and back. The factors of bigger boost engine thrust, trajectory accuracy, material reliability, sustainability, and life are essential for the success of the program. Based on the payload weight, the rocket booster engine thrust tests must be successful or the program cannot proceed. Also there are other just as essential thrust tests. Thrust tests of the sustainer engine, trajectory correction thrusters, and Mars orbiter braking thruster,

Tale of a Round Trip to Mars

Mars Rocket Booster and Thrusters

The NASA Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion Spacecraft are the basis for the manned Mars Program which is more complex than just going to the moon

and back. The factors of bigger boost engine thrust, trajectory accuracy, material reliability, sustainability, and life are essential for the success of the program. Based on the payload weight, the rocket booster engine thrust tests must be successful or the program cannot proceed. Also there are other just as essential thrust tests. Thrust tests of the Earth return sustainer engine, trajectory correction thrusters, and Mars orbiter braking thruster were completed. The earth return sustainer engine provides variable thrust for the earth return module to catch up with Earth’s obital velocity around the sun. While a human astronauts would be desired, because of survivability and safety considerations, only one astronaut robot was chosen for the trip. Andy robot was selected for the first Mars orbiting mission. Andy ed all the operational tests better than the other robots. He would have to survive a grueling almost three year round trip before he could to see Earth again.

Computer-Controlled Round-Trip

By 2045, the first round-trip to Mars and back was decided on to demonstrate that such a trip is possible without risking a human astronauts life. The trip would use commands from the NASA Mission Control Center to the computer, electronic robot wired into the Orion space ship controls. The electronic robot was named Andy and was wired in the electronic system of the spaceship. Andy replaced a human astronaut and did not need air food or water to subsist.

The Launch

Andy’s activity status was programed by computer with sensors providing to Mission Control. The booster, thruster and life tests for the Mars mission proved to be successful. With all the components assembled, the huge multistage SLS

II/Orion 2 sat ready on the launch pad. The countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. The mission control room operators checked the telemetry readings of the their gauges. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge rocker engine. The earth shook from the sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the SLS II/Orion 2 rocket lifted, belching a huge blazing plume, on its way to Mars. The booster rockets seperated from the main booster rocket and conformation of the vehicles trajectory was obtained from the control room computers. Once the rocket was on its way, there was no turning back Andy did not feel the acceleration of the massive rocket, being an electronic robot on the way to orbit Mars hopefully coming back safely.

Trip to Mars

As the earth and the moon grew smaller, the blackness of space was seen from one of the port windows. In his small space, Andy waited for occasional checks from Misssion Control. Andy kept in with the Mission Control room by providing the capsule status and the status of the Orion Spcecraft instrumentation. Mission Control, using a super computer, reminded Andy when to make thruster burn corrections to keep on the trajectory to Mars. The eight months to Mars went by fast for Andy because he had no knowlwdge of time. Andy ed Mission Control and give the status of the Orion Spacecraft as the spacecraft neared Mars.

Mars is Orbited

Andy activated the cameras and radar as Orion apprached the Red Planet. Communication with Mission Control indicated that thruster firing corrections were necessary for putting the vehicle into the proper trajectory for orbit insertion. At the proper moment the braking thruster was fired, to get the right velocity for orbiting Mars, at the right altitude. A message was sent to Mission Control that the maneuver was successful. The Orion telescopic camera recorded pictures of the Mars terrain below and possible landing sites for the future missions. Andy kept orbiting Mars and relaying the camera data.

Returning to Earth

Andy checked for the time for returning to earth’s orbit around the sun. Mission Control provided the correct time and trajectory for the descent module to fire the retro-rocket. Otherwise Andy would be stuck in orbit. Andy’s computer program was transferred to the ERV (Earth Return Vehicle) electronics module. The ERV was attached to the orbitor caspule during the entire flight. Mars slower orbital velocity around the sun was not fast enough to catch up with earth,s orbital velocity. The ERV return sustainer engine had to be fired for a long enough time for the module to attain enough velocity to catch up with earth, at the right precise time. The mission control supercomputer calculated the correct time and duration of the sustainer engine to fire. This gave Andy the correct velocity and heading to meet with Earth by intersecting the earth’s orbit at earth’s orbital velocity. Mission control sent up the necessary data for the sustainer engine firing. The data was entered into the flight computer. Andy oriented the earth return vehicle (ERV) to the correct heading. The ERV sustainer engine blazed for what seemed an eternal time and stopped. Andy was on his way back to Earth with all the data that future Mars missions required. Andy let the ERV computer regulate the maneuvers necessary during the eight month return trip, to intersect with the earths orbit at the right time. As earth neared, the ERV module was jetisoned after Andy was tranfered electronically to

the the earth reentry capsule (ERC). After a few thruster corrections were made using mission control computer data, the blue earth grow larger and larger as it neared. The capsule heat shield gave protection from the reentry heat. The reentry capsule left a meteor like fire trail which was see over Australia.

The Recovery

An aircraft carrier with helicopters waited for the sonic boom and capsule descending under the deployed parachute. Soon the cry came out, “I see it— there it is!” The ERC landed in the sea with a splash. Andys electronic program and records were safe. The news was flashed to the waiting world that Andy robot returned from Mars and operated successfully. With this news, further trips were planned for more robots to be used in space, a human Mars landing and the establishment of a Mars base and colony for people.

7

Man on Mars

First you have to get there Then you have to survive By hook and br crook If you want to stay alive

Tale of Man’s Mission to Mars

Mars Rocket Booster and Thrusters

The NASA Space Launch System (SLS) is the basis for the manned Mars Program which is more complex than just going to the moon and back. The factors of bigger boost engine thrust, trajectory accuracy, material reliability, sustainability, and life are essential for the success of the program. Based on the payload weight, the rocket booster engine thrust tests must be successful or the program cannot proceed. Also there are other just as essential thrust tests. Thrust tests of the sustainer engine, trajectory correction thrusters, Mars orbiter braking thruster, Mars atmospheric entry braking thruster and mars landing module thruster tests must be successful. While a crew of three astronauts would be desired, because of weight and space

considerations, only two are recommended because of life considerations for the almost 3 year trip. Bob Howard and Jack Edwards were given the role. One astronaut was given a task of setting foot on Mars like Armstrong did with Apollo 12. The other astronaut would remain on the Mars orbiter while the other astronaught lands on Mars and explores briefly at a landing spot. The Mars Assent Vehicle (MAV) will get the Mars astronaut back to the Mars orbiter. For return back to Earth the Mars orbiter thruster will fires to put the earth reentry capsule on a trajectory for return back to earth similar to the Apollo 11 Earth reentry capsule. Computer simulation of the Mars flight involved trajectory analysis using all the variables of the space vehicle’s velocity and position in space. The effects of gravitational forces of the earth, sun, moon and Mars on the flight had to be considered. The simulation and Andy robot’s successful round trip in orbiting Mars proved that the flight could be safely undertaken.

Life Tests

The astronauts have to be sustained on the space vehicle going and coming from Mars. Their bodily functions had to be taking care of: like eating and drinking water and going to the bathroom. The storage and use of food, water and their bodily waste had to be considered. Before even considering sending men to Mars, a sustainable life system was researched and tested. The long Mars mission will take appoximately more than two years for going, staying, and coming back from the planet if the current rocket propulsion system is used. The amount of air, food and water necessary for one or two astronaughts was estimated to be staggering. A very large space vehicle had to be required for these supplies. Human engineering was done to solve the mission life problems.

1. Pressurized skin tight space suit was developed to provide flexibility, oxygen

and mobility to the astronaut. 2. And air recycling machine was developed much like the one used on the space station to reuse the astronauts air supply. 3. To supplement food and water, a food and water recycling machine was developed because of the long duration of the flight and stay on Mars. 4. The duration of the trip was to be less than three years because of the loss of muscle and bone mass due to no gravity, cosmic rays and danger from meteroids.

Tests for recycling air and water, as were done for the space station, provided some answers to life reliability. Food nutrition and storage for more than two years was a problem. Small food packs, to be mixed with water, could suffice for half of there trip. Recycling the astronaughts waste was the main problem. Recycling waste could become an unpleasant ordeal. Tests on the ground were made to prove whether these measures were possible for the duration of the mission. Volunteers, under medical supervision, were called upon to undergo long durations of sleep tests to see what minimum amount of food and water a sleeping astronaught needs for extended periods of time. The tests were necessary because of the limited space for food and water on the Mars space ship for the two or more year trip. The astronauts had to be life sustained on the space vehicle going and coming from Mars. Their bodily functions had to be taking care of: like eating and drinking water and going to the bathroom. The storage of food, water and their bodily waste had to be considered. Before even considering sending men to Mars, a sustainable life system was researched and tested. The long Mars mission will take more than two years for going, staying, and coming back from the planet if the current rocket propulsion system is used. The amount of air, food and water necessary for one or two astronaughts was estimated to be staggering. A very large space vehicle had to be required for these supplies. Human engineering was done to solve the mission life problems.

1. Pressurized skin tight space suit was developed to provide flexibility, oxygen and mobility to the astronaut. 2. And air recycling machine was developed much like the one used on the space station to reuse the astronauts air supply. 3. To supplement food and water, a food and water recycling machine was developed because of the long duration of the flight and stay on Mars. 4. The duration of the trip was to be less than three years because of the loss of muscle and bone mass due to no gravity, cosmic rays and meteroids.

Tests for recycling air and water, as was done for the space station, provided some answers to life reliability. Food nutrition and storage for more than two years was a problem. Small food packs, to be mixed with water, could suffice for half of there trip. Recycling the astronaughts waste was the main problem. Recycled waste could become an unpleasant ordeal. Tests on the ground were made to prove whether these measures were possible for the duration of the mission. Volunteers, under medical supervision, were called upon to undergo long durations of sleep tests to see what minimum amount of food and water a sleeping astronaught needs for extended periods of time. The tests were necessary because of the limited space for food and water on the Mars space ship for the two or more year trip. The life tests for recycling air and water that were done for the space station, provided some answers to life reliability. Food nutrition and storage was the main problem. Small food packs were to be mixed with water and recycling the astronaught’s waste would be used, as necessary, for the round trip. Tests on the ground were made with volunteers, under medical supervision to prove that these measures were possible for the mission even though there were risks involved. The recycled products from the recycling machine were sterilized and tested for human consumption. Chemical analysis verified that the products were non-toxic and bacteria free.

Mars Manned Mission

By 2050, Andy robot’s round-trip to Mars and back proved that a round-trip to Mars and back to Earth was possible. Bob Howard and Jack Edwards were trained for the first Mars landing mission. They were to be more famous than the Apollo 12 astronauts. They would have to survive a grueling almost three year trip before they could to see their families again. Tests and studies were conducted because of the limited space on the Mars space ship for the journey. The life tests for recycling air and water that were done for the space station, provided some answers to life reliability. Food nutrition and storage was the main problem. Small food packs, to be mixed with water and the recycled astronaughts waste would be used together for the round trip. Tests on the ground were made with volunteers, under medical supervision, to prove that these measures were possible for the mission even though there were risks involved.

The Launch

The SLS III/Orion 3 booster, thruster and life tests for the Mars mission proved to be successful. With all the components assembled, the huge multistage SLS III sat ready on the launch pad. The astronauts said goodby to their families, knowing the dangers of the trip as the whole world watched. The countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. The mission control room operators checked the telemetry readings of the their gauges. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge rocker engine. The earth shook from the sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the SLS booster rocket lifted, belching a huge blazing plume, on its way to Mars. The attached booster rockets seperated from the SLS booster rocket and

conformation of the vehicles trajectory was obtained from the control room computers. The Orion module seperated and was on its way, there was no turning back.

Trip to Mars

As the earth and the moon grew smaller, the blackness of space was seen from one of the port windows. In their small space, the astronaughts settled back and read their check-off list for the 8-month trip to Mars. Bob and Jack took turns sleeping to conserve energy with the activate life system. The air recyling life was turned on to obtain needed oxygen. Recycled water and food were used from the recycling machine were sterilized, processed and purified. Small plastic bags which suppied a variety of food to be mixed with water for nurishment were to be used sparingly for the trip back to earth. The astronauts kept in with the mission control room by providing their health status and the status of the Mars vehicle instrumentation. Mission control, using a super computer, reminded them when to make thruster burn corrections to keep them on the trajectory to Mars. The onboard computer will reminded them of their daily eating and sleeping schedule. Behind them was a food and water cupboard full of dehidrated food packets and the recycling apparatus. The recycling apparatus had three functions: It would recycle the astronauts waste urin into safe drinking water and when necessary it would recycle their waste into safe packets for solid food supplies. This was necessary because of the three years duration of the trip and a shortage of space for an extra food.

Mars is Orbited

After eight months of eating recycled food and water and taking turns sleeping

both astronauts were awake as they apprached the Red Planet. Communication with mission control indicated that the thruster firing corrections were successful for putting the vehicle into the proper trajectory for orbit insertion. At the proper moment the braking thruster was fired to get the right velocity for orbiting Mars, at the right altitude. A message was sent to mission contol that the maneuver was successful.

Landing on Mars

Bob, put on his space suit and got into the Mars descent vehicle (MDV) and checked the instumentation, communication and the electrical power before the descent to the Mars surface. The MDV separated from the orbiter vechicle. As retro-rockets fired, the MDV descended towards the Mars surface. Parachutes deployed to slow the descent velocity. As the MDV neared the surface, radar helped the braking rocket to fire and settle the MDV on the surface. Looking out the window, Bob saw that they missed several small craters. Climbing down the ladder, he stepped on the sandy surface. Bob radioed to the orbiter and to earth that the landing was OK. He then radioed back, “This step is made for the peaceful exploration of space.” He took soil and rock samples during the few minutes he remained on the ground. The Mar’s soil and rock samples were gathered into the sample collection bag. He set the camera on the tripod and took photos by rotating the camera in a 360 degree arc. One of the picturers taken arc showed him standing with the United States flag and the MDV in the backgraound. A sand storm was beginning to develop which would make the lift-off more difficult. If the wind got much stronger it would prohibit the take-off. Bob radioed back to Jack that he had to leave Mars or face worse take-off difficulties.

Back to the Orbitor

Bob climbed up the small ladder, entered the MAV and closed the door. He checked the timing sequence for the MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) to lift-off and rendezvous with the Mars orbiter. The timing had to be perfect for the lift-off rocket firing because the orbitor was in orbit circling Mars. The sand storm abated for a few brief moments. Bob started the lift-off rocket firing sequence. The lift-off was perfect and the MAV attached itself to the Orion orbitor after several orbits. Bob climbed into the orbitor and John happily greeted him. The MAV was then jetisoned from the Orion orbiter because it was no longer needed. The ERV (Earth Return Vehicle) was still attached to Orion. They checked their air and food supply to see if they had enough time remaining for returning to earth orbit around the sun. An ERV inventory left them with the limited packaged food and water for the eight month return trip to earth. They loaded the small recycling machine into the ERV as an added food and water back-up. Mission control to provide the correct time and trajectory for their ERV module to fire the retro-rocket. Otherwise they would be stuck in Mars orbit with fatal consequences.

Back to Earth

Mar’s slower orbital velocity around the sun required the ERV to speed-up to the earth’s orbital velocity. The reto-rocket must fire long enough for the ERV module to attain enough velocity to catch up with earth, at the right precise time. The mission control super computer calculated the correct time and duration of the retro-rocket motor to fire. This gave them the correct velocity and heading to meet with earth’s orbit and intersecting with earth at the right place and time. Mission control sent up the necessary data for the retro-rocket firing. The data was entered into the flight computer. Bob and John oriented the earth return vehicle (ERV) to the correct heading and braced themselves in their seats. The ERV rocket moter blazed for what seemed an eternal time and stopped. They were on their way back to Earth with the limited recycled food and water supplies left. Bob and Jack took turns sleeping during the eight month return trip to conserve

food and water. As they neared earth, they jetisoned the ERV module and transferred to the earth reentry capsule (ERC). After making a few thruster corrections using mission control computer data and star sightings, they could see the blue earth grow larger and larger as they neared it. They prayed that their capsule heat shield would protect them from the reentry heat. Their meteor like reentry capsule fire trail was see over Australia.

The Recovery

An aircraft carrier with helicopters waited for the sonic boom and capsule descending under the deployed parachute. Soon the cry came out, “I see it— there it is!” The ERC landed in the sea with a splash. The astronaut’s families were notified that the capsule was recovered and Bob and Jack are safe. The news was flashed to the waiting world man has set foot on Mars and, the astronauts were safely recovered. After a health checkup, they were reunited with their families. With this news, further trips were planned to Mars and the establishment of a Mars base.

8

Robots to Mars

There are monsters Lurking under your bed You need protection To keep them away

First Mars Landers

July,1997 Pathfinder lands on Mars and its rover Sojourner sends back data from the Red Planet. 2004, Rover robotic vehicles landed on Mars to explore for water and study rocks for minerals. They are controled by signals from earth. No air, water or food, which create additional weight, are necessary for the robots. The robotic vehicles used solar cells to generate electricity for storage in batteries and they were engineered to protect electrical and mechanical components from the cold Martian temperatures. Solar cells and batteries supplied power for the electrical systems of the robotic vehicle. The robotic vehicles had to overcome the environmental problems of dust, wind and cold temperatures for extended periods of time. The effect of the environmental problems on the vechicle components were used to engineer the Mars lander components. The Opportunity, a solar powered six-wheel rover, continued to function on

Mars as late as 2012. By exploring the the rims of massive craters and taking photos when the light is right, it was able to send the picture back to earth Mars rover Curiosity, containing the Mars Science Laboratory mission, descended safely into a crater on the surface of Mars on August 6, 2012. The Curiosity rover drilled into the Mars bedrock for the first time on February 7, 2013. It discovered an ancient dried-up riverbed which indicated that water flowed there at one time.

Our Robot Servants

By 2050, robots have become increasingly important in civilian and space technology. Robots were being used by law enforcement agencies to apprehend criminals. They were saving policeman’s lives by going in where there may be bombs and criminals. The robotic technology was used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military and civilian use for aeral surveillance. Robots need command and control to tell them what to do. They have no intelligence on their own. A robot controller was to manipulate and control the role but to do the job that was needed to be done. To supplement astronauts in long space missions robots can be used because they do not eat food or drink water and have no waste products. The only thing they need is an electrical power to run their systems. They can be programmed to respond to human commands. By responding to human commands they can perform tasks remotely on Mars as commanded by their robotic mission control.

Sending Robots to Mars

The first Mars manned expedition showed that life systems and food for building a manned Mars base station would be almost impossible. It was decided

to design and develop robots which would build the Mars base station and to take the place of men in its construction. The robots would be remotely controlled from mission control using super computer inputs. Three kinds of robots were decided upon: A digger robot (DR), an assemby robot ( AR) and an electronics checkout robot (ECR). The DR is like a mechanical backhoe digger. It can be programmed to dig a large round hole or a square hole into the soil. It can also break any rock obstructions to the digging process. It is mobile and can move from one spot to another. The digging process as monitored by the DR’s robotic controller. The AR is a flexible robot that can move, assemble and even erect structures and equipment as commanded by the AR’s controller. The ECR is a robot capable of installing, checking, and operating electronic equipment as commanded by the ECR’s controller. Expandable balloons were developed and tested on the earth’s orbiting space station to find a strong balloon material design to withstand the external space vacuum. The deflated balloons were designed to be stored in a very compact package during the trip to Mars. They would be inflated over a small impact crater on Mars which was to be used in the Mars base station construction. Since the atmosphere on Mars has almost no pressure, digging below the Mars surface to provide a shelter to contain air pressure became the next option. The room below the surface could possibly hold atmospheric pressure. Plans for a below-the-surface room where also included for the trip. AR robot would inflate the balloon package to form a dome shape and anchor the sides on the rim of the crater. A pole would erected through the center of the balloon and form an antenna for messages to and from earth. A plastic sheet would be used to cover the remaining Mars soil and prevent the loss of air from the base. DR’s job is to dig under the soil in the center of the domed structure, to form an underground room for astronaught living quarters, test equipment and for the recycling machine for air, water and food. The ECR robot was to test and that the Base Station’s equipment mets all of the specifications. These specifications included:

Safety of airlock doors for entry, air pressure quality, food and water recycling machine quality, and satisfactory electronic communication with earth mission control. The robots have some artificial intelligence including a camera which acted like a Cyclop,s eye to show the robot monitor what the robot was looking at. The mission robot controller interacted with the robot in delegating and commanding the tasks that the robot was to perform. Each robot had a dedicated human robot controller.

Robotic Mission Control Center

A Robotic Mission Control Center (RMCC) on earth was established to better remotely control the robots when they are doing their work. Each robot was programmed to do a certain function especially if the robot was on Mars. But a human robot controller had to tell the robot what to do. The robot controller sat in front of the monitor in a console with multiple joysticks. Each joystick had a specific function. One joystick moves the robot to a particular place to do the work. Another joystick initiates the process that the robot was to perform. A third joystick gets the robot to show the work that it has done. Mars mission robotic control remotely commanded the robots during the early stage of an early model of the Mars base design at a Arizona location. A 12 yard circlular shallow shaped hole was dug in the Arizona desert. A robot control engineer with video monitor and controllers had the DR robot romotely dig the round hole in the desert soil and seal the sides with plastic and install a trap door on top of the room. The room was tested for an air pressure leakage. Another robot control engineer then had the AR robot inflate the balloon package to form a dome over the crater hole. The sides and the floor of the crater were sealed with plastic. The ECR robot control engineer had his robot test the safety of the installed airlock doors for entry, air pressure quality, food and water recycling machine quality, and satisfactory communication with earth robotic mission controllers. The pressurized dome was also tested to prove that it could hold an air pressure.

The Mars Base Station model was approved on earth as satisfactory.

The Robots Go to Mars

The SLS III/Orion 3 booster, thruster and life tests for the Mars robotic mission proved to be successful. With all the components assembled, the SLS/Orion rocket sat ready on the launch pad. The robots successfully completed their training and were checked for the mission which included a one year consruction of a manned Mars base. The countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. The mission control room checked the telemetry readings of pressure gauges so that they are reading accurately. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge booster. The earth shook from the sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the SLS/Orion rocket lifted, belching a huge blazing plume on its way to Mars. The booster rockets seperated from the main booster rocket and conformation of the vehicles trajectory accuracy to Mars was obtained from the control room computers. Once the rocket was on its way, there was no turning back.

Landing on Mars

Mars descent vehicle (MDV) was given an OK to land near the Mars crater designated as Oscar. The MDV separated from the orbiter vechicle. As retrorockets fired, the MDV descended towards the Mars surface drawing nearer to the Oscar crater. Parachutes deployed to slow the descent velocity. As the MDV neared the surface, radar helped the braking rocket to fire and settled the MDV on the surface. The robots and the base station components were unloaded

automatically from the MDV for use in fabricating the base station.

Oscar Crater

Robotic mission control (RMC), using the MDV camera, saw the rim of Oscar crater, not too far from the MDV. The DR robot control engineer used his controllers and video monitor to command the DR robot proceed to Oscar crater and romotely dig a 8 foot round shaped room in the Mar’s soil near the crater. Each robotic command took many minutes to complete because of the distance involved. The air-conditioned heated room was to serve as a communication control room, dining room and sleeping quarters for a future astronaut. It was to provide the only life-sustaining space where the astronaut did not need to wear a space suit. The AR robot control engineer commanded AR to seal the sides with plastic and install a trap door on top of the room. The room was tested for an air pressure leakage. The AR robot inflated the balloon package to form a domed room over the Mars Base room. The sides and the floor of the domed room were also sealed with plastic to provide pressure to the dome. An air pressure door was installed for entry from the outside. The domed area was to be used for growing plants for food and oxygen. The AR robot finally installed the air, food and water recycling machine and the solar cell array for electrical power. Radio communication equipment and an antenna were also installed. The ECR robot tested the air pressure quality, food and water recycling machine quality. The solar cell array power and radio were also tested for satisfactory communication with earth mission control. ECR pressed the call to Earth Radio button and Earth Robotic Mission Control acknowledged receiving the signal. The tests proved that the Mars base design was satisfactory for the human astronauts. The robots remained on Mars to be later used by future Mars astronauts.

9

Mars Base

They came to explore A strange new world What they found Was not like earth

Tale of a Mars Manned Base

In 2055, after the robots built the Mars base, NASA decided it was time to send men to Mars for an extended period of time. To prepare the astronauts for the ordeal, the sustainable life system tests were rechecked. The long Mar’s mission would take appoximately two or more years for going, staying, and coming back from the planet. One of the astronauts was to stay on Mars for one year. The amount of air, food and water necessary for one or two astronaughts was staggering. The space vehicle was prepared to be adequate for the life system and for food and water supplies. The equipment for recycling air and water was already done for the astronauts in the space station. Some answers to life reliability was available. Food and water for an extented three year trip was already tested on earth. Small food packs to be mixed with water were to be used when necessary. Volunteers, under medical supervision, were called upon to undergo long duration tests to see that the amount of food and water an astronaught needs for the extended period of

time is adequate.

Mar’s Manned Base Mission

I’m providing an example of the Mar’s manned base mission to give an idea what may be involved. George Willis was designated to be the mission commander and return and Bill Cooper was the base commander of the Mars base and be in charge of the base equipment and operation of the robots. They will be more famous than the astronauts of the first Mars mission. They will have to survive a grueling years on Mars with hope to see their families again. The earth tests and studies were conducted because of the limited space on the Mars space ship for the two year tripand to prove whether these measures were possible for the duration of the mission. The test results indicated, that to minimize the quantity of food and water, the astronauts would have to undergo periods of sleeping to conserve energy during the mission.

The Launch

In 2040, the booster, thruster and life tests for the 3 year Mars base mission proved to be successful. With all the components assembled, the huge SLS IV/Orion 4 sat ready on the launch pad. The astronauts successfully completed their training and were well adapted to the vehicle life system. They said goodby to their families and knowing the dangers of the trip boarded the Orion module, as the whole world watched on TV. The countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. The mission control room checked the telemetry readings of pressure gauges so that they are reading accurately. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge booster.

The earth shook from the vibration and sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the SLS IV/Orion 4 rose belching a huge blazing plume on its way to Mars. The booster rockets seperated from the main booster rocket and conformation of the vehicles trajectory accuracy to Mars was obtained from the control room computers. Once the rocket was on its way, there was no turning back.

Trip to Mars

As the earth and the moon view grew smaller, the blackness of space was seen from one of the port windows. In their small space, the astronaughts settled back and read their check-off. George Willis and Bill Cooper took turns sleeping to conserve energy. The air recyling life was turned on to obtain needed oxygen. Small plastic bags supplied a variety of food mixed with water for nurishment. Recycling water products in the waste water recycling machine, to be sterilized, processed and be purified with chemicals was necessary. The astronauts kept in with the control room by providing their health status and the status of the vehicle instrumentation. Mission control, using a super computer, reminded them when to make thruster burn corrections to keep them on the trajectory to Mars. The onboard computer reminded them of their daily eating and sleeping schedule.

Mars is Orbited

Both astronauts were awake as they apprached the red planet. Communication with mission control indicated that thruster firing corrections were necessary for putting the vehicle into the proper trajectory for orbit insertion. At the proper moment the braking thruster fireded to get the right velocity for orbiting Mars. A message was sent to mission contol that the maneuver was successful.

Landing on Mars

Astronaut, Bill, put on his space suit and got into the Mars descent vehicle (MDV) and checked the instumentation, communication and the electrical power before the descent to the Mars surface. Astronaut, George remained on the Mars orbiter to provide communication with Mission Control. The MDV separated from the orbiter vechicle. As retro-rockets fire, the MDV descended towards the Mars surface. Parachutes deployed to slow the descent velocity. As the MDV neared the surface, radar helped the braking rocket to fire and settled on the surface. Looking out the window, Bill saw the robot constructed Mars Base. The MDV came to rest 50 yards from the Oscar crater and base. Climbing down the ladder, he stepped on the sandy surface. He then radioed back to the orbiter, “Everything is OK so far” George radioed to earth that the landing was OK. With a camera setting on the tripod, pictures were taken in a 360 degree arc showing the MDV, the robots lander and the Base Station. Earth robotic mission control programed the Mars robots to unload the Mars buggy and base supplies. The base supplies were loaded onto the Mars buggy by the robots. Bill, with the electronics checkout robot (ECR), got on the Mars buggy and drove to the Mars Base Station

Mars Base Station

Bill radioed back to George that he was about to enter the base airlock door, go inside and check the base station. Bill stood with ECR and surveyed the interior through the dim light. The sunlight was defused as they came through airlock door into the domed room. Bill went to the center trapdoor airlock door and climbed down into the base station control room and living quarters. Everything seemed to be in order: the communication control , the living quarters and the food supply storeroom. ECR handed down the food and air recycling equipment, emergency food and water supplies. ECR was ordered to shut the trapdoor airlock door.

Bill radioed back to George that he was about to turn on control room switches. All systems came on and began to function normally. The noticed that the air pressure rose to acceptable limits indicating that the air recycling system was OK. The solar array was generating enough electricity for the small base station. An air compressor pumped pressurized carbon dioxide Mars air into the dome covered compartment of the base to keep the dome inflated. The heated dome served as a greenhouse for plants to generate oxygen and food for the astronaut. Bill, once settled in the base station, took off his space suit and then communicated to earth mission control that all the systems were functioning normally.

Mars Orbiter

George, alone on the orbiter, checked his air and food supply to see if he had enough time remaining for returning to rendezvous with earth’s orbit around the sun. An inventory left him with the limited packaged food and water for the return trip to earth. He loaded the supplies into the ERV and waited for mission control to provide the correct time and trajectory for the retrorocket to fire and send the ERV earthward. Mission control continued to maintain with Bill and George. George said goodbye to Bill just before the retrorocket fired.

Mars Day 1

Bill knew that he was to remain in the Mars base for more than one year until the next Mars rocket came to take him home. He hoped that the base recycling system would provide enough food and water supplies until George returned. Bill was tired and saw the bunkbed where he was to sleep on. He saw that the air in the base station was adequate for breathing and took his space suit off. It was cold and had to put on a fur-lined jumpsuit. He then settled down on the bunkbed for a long nap.

When Bill awoke, he looked on his monitor to see what the dome top camera was viewing. The dome top camera was rotated 360° to give a panoramic view of the horizon. He he could see the tops of craters in the distance and decided to go exploring before the sun set. He ordered a robot to stand guard at the entrance way to the base and got on the Mars buggy. Off he went leaving wheel tracks behind him. The buggy went through a depression between two craters bouncing over gullies and rocks. He noticed some strange rock formations in the distance. After a half hour driving he stopped the buggy at the base of a peculiar rock formation. There was a flat red rock among the rock formation. He took out his tools and began to examine the rock. Before he could strike the rock with his hammer he noticed some strange markings on another rock. There was a strange circle with a line through it etched into the rock. He took the rock and put it into his specimen bag along with the other sample rocks. The air supply on his space suit was getting low. He decided to drive back to the moon base and recharge his space suit and get some food and water. When he got back ECR was still standing guard at the entrance way to the base. He climbed down the ladder into the base station and took off his space suit. The recycled food and water tasted good, even though he couldn’t get used to the flavor. He took a sleeping pill to conserve oxygen and tumbled into the small bunkbed.

Mars Day 2

Bill looked on his monitor to see the dome top camera view. There was a dust storm raging outside and he could barely see the robot lander and his Mars lander. It was a good day to start writing into his logbook and the examining the flat red rock. First he radioed back to earth mission control what he had found and send the picture of the rock. The circle on the rock could not have been made naturally with the line through the center of the circle. He also mentioned that he spotted what looked like an ancient creek bed where water may have

once flowed. The logbook became a record of man’s first mission to Mars. Daily entrees were a record of the year and a half of data taken while exploring and living in the cramped base station.

The Recorded Record

Bill reviewed the logbook which recorded a years exploring of the area around the base station. First there was that of red rock which he found with strange etchings. Then there was the creek bed through which water may have once flowed. He had the DR, the digger robot, dig deeply in a spot where he thought there could be water ice under the surface. This was done under the dried-up creek bed. Ice crystals were found mixed with the soil after digging into the loose soil. He brought the soil back to the base and he found that the heated ice would drip down water into containers. This was the only water he was able to use to replenish his supply. He was able to grow mushrooms and potatoes under the soil he found. But that was to limit to his replenishing his food and water supplies. He had to feed the recycling machine to supplement the meager food and water supply. Antibiotics and vitamins help him to stay healthy. The toll of the days and nights on Mars began to get to Bill. Except for the radio communication with Mars mission control, he had no one to talk to. He was getting tired watching DVD movies and was beginning to get worried that he might be stuck on Mars forever if the Mars earth return rocket doesn’t soon arrive. So he radioed to the Mars mission control: “Hey you guys don’t forget about me. I’m stuck at Mars helping with your mission, but I’m ready to come home.” Mars mission control radioed back, “Bill we are about ready to launch the Mars rescue mission with George on board to bring you back. Thank you for doing such a good job. We’re almost good to go”.

Mars Rescue Mission

The Launch

A SLS V/Orion 5 rescue mission was undertakenin a hope of saving Bill before his life system ran out.The booster, thruster and life tests for the Mars rescue mission proved to be successful. With all the components assembled, the huge SLS/Orion spacecraft sat ready on the launch pad. The countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. The mission control room checked the telemetry readings of pressure gauges so that they read accurately. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge booster. The earth shook from the vibration and sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the SLS spacecraft rose belching a huge blazing plume on its way to Mars. The booster rockets seperated from the main booster rocket and conformation of the vehicles trajectory accuracy to Mars was obtained from the mission control room.

Mars is Orbited

George was awake as he apprached the red planet. Communication with mission control indicated that the thruster firing corrections were putting the vehicle into the proper trajectory for orbit insertion. At the proper moment the braking thruster fireded to get the right velocity for orbiting Mars. A message was sent to mission contol that the maneuver was successful. Another message was sent to Bill to say that George has arrived in orbit. George put on his space suit and got into the Mars descent vehicle (MDV) and checked the instumentation, communication and the electrical power before the

descent to the Mars surface. The MDV separated from the orbiter vechicle. As retro-rockets fire, the MDV descended towards the Mars surface. Parachutes deployed to slow the descent velocity. As the MDV neared the surface, radar helped the braking rocket to fire and settled on the surface. Looking out the window, George saw the robot constructed Mars Base. The MDV came to rest 50 yards from the Oscar crater and the base. Climbing down the ladder, he stepped on the sandy surface. George radioed to earth that the landing was OK. George looked around as he walked toward the base station. A robot was standing at the base station dome airlock door.

Where’s Bill

George entered the base station dome and looked around. As he approached the airlock door to the underground base station he noticed that the potato plants were still growing under the covered dome. He rapped on the airlock door hatch. He yelled, “Bill open up!” There was no response. Finally he opened that hatch and entered into the airlock. After the airlock was pressurized, he climbed down the ladder into the base station. No one was there. A note on the desk indicated that Bill was out exploring with the Mars buggy. He turned on the dome camera and began 360° search of the horizon. Rocks and craters were to be seen through the camera lens. At 155° he noticed what appeared to be the Mars buggy drawing nearer and buncing with Bill on board. Bill climbed down the ladder into the base station and gave George a hearty hug. Bill said, “I’m so happy to see you George, I thought no one was coming.” George replied, “I can see from your logbook that you’ve accomplished quite a bit. We don’t have much time to waste because I can see from your food and water supplies that time is running short. Are the recycling machines still working?” Bill replied their still working, but I’ve had to do repairs a couple of times.” They radioed back to mission control that they are ready to start returning to earth.

Back to the Orbitor

With the robots remaining on Mars, George and Bill climbed up the small ladder, entered the MAV and closed the door. They checked the timing sequence for the MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) to lift-off and rendezvous with the Mars orbiter. The timing had to be perfect for the lift-off rocket firing because the orbitor was circling Mars in orbit. The sand storm abated for a few brief moments. Bob started the lift-off rocket firing sequence. The lift-off was perfect and the MAV circled Mars and attached itself to the orbitor after several orbits. George and Bill climbed into the orbitor from the MAV. The MAV was then jetisoned from the orbiter because it was no longer needed. The ERV (Earth Return Vehicle) was still attached to the orbitor. They checked their air and food supply in the ERV to see if they had enough time remaining for returning to rendezvous with earth in its orbit around the sun. A small food and water recycling system machine was tranferred from the orbitor to the ERV. An inventory left them with the limited packaged food and water for the return trip to Earth. They entered the ERV and waited for mission control to provide the correct time and trajectory for their ERV descent module to fire the retro-rocket. Otherwise they would be stuck in Mars orbit with fatal consequences.

Back to Earth

The Mars is in a slower orbital velocity around the sun than the earth’s orbital velocity. To catch up with earth at the right time, the reto-rocket must fire long enough for the module to attain enough velocity to catch up with earth, at the right precise time, and enter earth’s atmosphere at the right angle. The mission control super computer calculated the correct time and duration of the retro-rocket motor to fire. This gave them the correct velocity and heading to meet with earth by intersecting Earth’s orbit at Earth’s orbital velocity. Since the Mars orbital velocity is much less than earth’s orbital velocity, the earth descent

capsule module must speed up to catch up with earth. Mission control sent up the necessary data for the retro-rocket firing. The data was entered into the flight computer. Bob and John oriented the Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) to the correct heading and braced themselves in their seats. The ERV rocket moter blazed for what seemed an eternal time and stopped. They were on their way back to earth with the limited food and water supplies left. George and Bill took turns sleeping during the eight month trip to conserve food and water. As they neared earth, they jetisoned the retro-rocket motor module and transferred to the earth reentry capsule (ERC). After making a few thruster corrections using mission control computer data and star sightings, they could see the blue earth grow larger and larger as they neared it. They prayed that their capsule heat shield would protect them from the reentry heat. Their meteor like reentry capsule fire trail was see over Australia.

The Recovery

An aircraft carrier with helicopters waited for the sonic boom and capsule descending under the deployed parachute. Soon the cry came out, “I see it— there it is!” The ERC landed in the sea with a splash. The astronaut’s families were notified that the capsule was recovered and George and Bill were safe. The news was flashed to the waiting world that men set foot on Mars and, the astronauts were safely recovered. With this news, further trips were planned to Mars and expanding the established Mars base.

10

Valles Marineris

Into the canyon they went Steep sides dimmed the light What would they find? It got dark as night.

In 2070, Dr. Eric Stephenson was put in charge of the development of the Mars robots to explore Mars for water and unusual terrain sites. His robots were developed to be controlled by the Mars base station. One robot was called the Iceman. His job was to explore for frozen water and even go as far as the polar ice cap. He was to bring frozen blocks of ice back to the base station to be melted for water. Another robot was a robust scientific Explorer III whose job was to go where other robots could not go. He was to bring back scientific data from strange unexplored Martian sites. After many experiments and tests, several companies were given contracts to develop the Iceman and the Explorer robots. The Iceman was tested in Antarctica to bring back blocks of ice as commanded. The Explorer was tested in rough terrain and canyons to determine if the robot could surmount almost impossible terrain and obstacle.

Olmpus Mons

Olmpus Mons is the second highest mountain in the solar system. It is an ancient extinct volcano rising high above the Martian plain. One of the Explorer X robots was given the task of climbing the mountain and setting up a communication antenna to relay commands to the other robots. The rocket from earth landed ECR robot at the base of Olympus Mons. Commands were given to the robot to begin scaling the moutain. The robot did not have wheels like the earlier Explorer’s did. It was specifically designed to

climb the mountain and had spiked legs, almost like a spider, to climb the steepest and roughest hillside. At first the progress was slow because of rocks and boulders. It took several days for the robot to reach the top of the crater. ECR installed the communications antenna and fastened it at the highest point of the crater rim. The Olmpus Mons antenna acted like a radio relay transmitter and because of its height it was better able to receive and send messages from earth and from the Mars Base.

Valles Marineris

Valles Marineris is the canyon on Mars longer and deeper than the Grand Canyon. It is 14,000 km long and 7 km deep. It is suspected of having more water crystals in its soil than anywhere else on Mars, except the polar ice caps. The canyon was too far from the Olympus Mons robot. Another rocket from earth landed near the beginning of the canyon. The DR digger robot similar to the Olympus Mons robot was given a task of exploring the canyon from one end to the other by traveling along the bottom of the canyon. The robot found the beginning of the canyon and proceeded down the canyon with the sides looming. At first nothing unusual was to be seen but the sandy bottom and the sloping sides of the canyon. The robot sent up a balloon with a wire attached to act as an antenna for communicating with the base station. It grew darker in the canyon and the robot had to turn on his spotlight. His altimeter indicated that he was approaching the maximum 7 km depth. Suddenly, in the distance, the robot noticed what looked like a cave entrance. As he grew nearer he he had to brush away the sand which was piled up halfway covering the opening. He sent up with another antenna balloon to report the cave and ask for instructions on what to do next. Dr. Eric Stephenson gave commands to the robot to enter the cave and crawl as far as it could until it could go no further and and take photographs of what was

seen. The robot crawled along the cave with its spotlight shining forward. It crawled along the cave inch by inch until it could go no further. The spotlight shined ahead and reflected off of something, suddenly shining upward on what looked like the cave’s ceiling. The robot was at the edge of the ground sloping downward towards an under water lake. If it went any further it would have fallen into the lake. The robot pressed a button and his camera automatically took pictures of the cave, lake and beyond. The water in the lake must have come from the canyon and made the cave tunnel when the canyon was filled with water millions of years earlier when Mars was younger. When the robot saw that it could do no more, it began inching backward through the tunnel behind it. Emerging from the tunnel, it used the antenna balloon to radio the pictures from the tunnel and instructions on what to do next. Dr. Stephenson analyzed the robots radio transmitted data and saw that the water temperature was 35°F, which was just above the freezing point of water. He surmised that there was some heating source below the lake to keep the water from freezing. The robot also took a sample of the underground lake water to be returned for analysis. If there was sufficient water in the lake, to possibly a Martian colony.

The Iceman

The robots landed near the Martian equator far away from the Martian polar ice caps. The Iceman robot had rover capabilities to travel to the polar ice cap. The robot went on to search for the polar ice cap, measure the temperature of the ice, and, cut a one cubic foot of ice. The Iceman robot, with built in rover vehicle capabilities, had the ability to pull its icebox cart long distances. The robot moved toward the ice cap along the easiest path through the rocks and boulders that it could find. Soon the white ice cap loomed in the distance. The temperature was minus 200 degrees F. With difficulty the robot moved to the best piece of ice that it could take a sample from. The cutter blades cut a one cubic foot block of ice. The sample block of ice was put into the icebox cart, and the robot began pulling the cart towards the Base Station.

Base Station Anaysis

The robots sent back their data to Dr. Stephenson at the base station. He saw that the water, brought back from the ice cap and from the Valles Marineris canyon cave, could be used in place of human wastewater used in the recycling machine. The water was drinkable once the minerals were removed. Bringing the water to the base station from such a large distance was a big obstacle. Another problem was that the air pressure and low temperatures did not allow for plant life. The recycling machine converted human waste into eatable foodand would still have to be used. He decided to explore the cave in a Valles Marineris canyon and construct an airtight shelter for use by the projected Mars colony project. For this task he choose the digger robot (DR) and the builder robot (BR) to build an underground Mars habitat for future Mars colonists. A road was built into the canyon enabling Explorer rovers to enter and leave the construction area. The water from the underground lake was drained into a large holding tank for use to suppliment the water from the recycling machine. The digger robot drilled thousand meters into the lake bottom and found the temperature to be 75°F. Ducting was installed to bring the warmer air to the surface. An airlock door was installed at the canyon entrance to contain the oxygen recycled, pressurized air. Soil from the dried-up lake bottom was rich in minerals suitable for growing plants. A small experimental small greenhouse was set up to see if plants could grow using artificial ultraviolet light. It was found that the conditions were excellent for growing mushrooms, potatoes and other underground tubers. Dr. Stephenson checked the progress at the Valles Marineris canyon project and estimated that a small livable underground colony sheltershelter could be completed in one year. He radioed to the NASA mission control to prepare selecting scientists and doctors to live in the Mars colony and collect scientific data.

After one year Dr. Stephenson had all the original Mars base station equipment was moved, with the aid of the robots, to the new Mars colony cave. He set up his command-and-control base and communication center. He checked the greenhouse plants to see if they could supplement the food from the food recycling machine and the water recycling machine. He checked the oxygen in the air recycling apparatus to see if it can convert and pressurize the carbon dioxide found in the Martian air. He knew the water in the water holding tank could not last forever and that the Icebox robot would have to keep supplying water from the polar ice cap. Dr. Stephenson radioed to NASA mission control that the Martian colony facilities are ready to receive a few science colonists. He said that it would be helpful if the colonists had a physician, an engineer, and a married couple with advanced degrees. These people are needed to maintain the health of the colony, repair technical equipment and robots, and see if children could grow up in such a confined environment. Scientific data from these studies could be used to help solve problems on earth caused by earth’s, environmental and overpopulation problems. Drouth is causing water and food shortages. The food and water recycling used on Mars and space travel could be used to alleviate earth’s water and food shortages. Recycling machines could be set up in every city to help people survive.

11

Mars Colony

Escape they did Then they hid Could they be Long on their own

The Mars Colony

The robots moved the Mars base to Valles Marineris for use as the Mars colony. The Mars base station proved to be successful after being built by the robots. The first Mars base was too small and the colony base was built and enlarged for scientists and their families. In 2070, tests proved that the Mars colony design was satisfactory. The robots remained on Mars to be later used by the Mars colonists. In the year 3000, scientists confidenced world leaders to participate in a t venture of colonizing Mars by ing and expanding the Mars colony. The robots were sent to explore further back in the colony cave. The robots found a small age that led to a much larger dome shaped cavern. In the back of the cavern was a small spring of water possibly coming as an underground stream from the ice cap. This would supply drinking water for the colony.

The limited living facilities in the built colony were enlarged by the robots. Life systems were made available for more people to survive in the hostileMars environment. The Mars life system that had been developed on earth was assembled, tested and in use on Mars. Earth’s environmental problems were getting worse because of global warming and freshwater supplies were growing short, ocean levels were rising because of melting polar ice, drought was becoming worse because lack of rain fall, and overpopulation. The crisis was coming, and time was a growing short for the Mars colony to begin providing answers to solve our earth’s environmental and population problems. The first cave section, closer to the canyon entrance, was selected for the Mars colony base station for communication with earth, robot and equipment control. It contained a hospital clinic for treating sick and injured colonists. It also contained a laboratory for scientific experiments and the recycling apparatus. A room for the recycling apparatus contained waste water recycling, human waste recycling, toilet facilities, and a shower facility, The second larger cave section was selected for the dining facilities, recreation and sleeping quarters for the scientists and colonists. The sleepy quarters only contained bunkbeds and had little privacy.

The Launch

As the whole world watched, the countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. Mission control room operators checked the telemetry readings of the their gauges. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge SLS rocket engine. Dr. Haygood the physicist and Arthur Smile the electrical engineer were selected to go. They were strapped down in the Orion spacecraft as the earth shook from the sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the Zeus I lifted, belching a huge blazing plume, on its way to Mars. The booster rockets seperated from the main booster rocket and conformation of the vehicles trajectory was obtained from the control room computers. Once the rockets were

on their way, there was no turning back.

Mars is Orbited

Dr. Haygood was awake as they apprached the red planet. Communication with mission control indicated that the thruster firing corrections were putting the vehicle into the proper trajectory for orbit insertion. At the proper moment the braking thruster fireded to get the right velocity for orbiting Mars. A message was sent to mission contol that the maneuver was successful. Another message was sent to Dr. Eric Stephenson to say that they have arrived in Mars orbit.

Valles Marineris

Dr. Haygood and Arthur Smile met Dr.Stephenson after touchdown near the Valles Marineris canyon. The transport rover drove them and the colonists down into the canyon, and they entered the colony through airlock door. Dr. Haygood and Arthur were impressed by what Dr. Stephenson had accomplished in firnishing the cavern with his robots. They went about checking the equipment and communicating with earth mission control that everything was satisfactory for more colonists to come.

Colonists Arrive

Colonists and supplies kept arriving until there was no more room for any more. They were there to try to survive with the limited environmental facilities

available on Mars. They were selected on their physical and mental abilities to live in the confined space of a cavern. Dr.Stephenson assured them that they would be going home when conditions on earth become more stable. He reemphasized that the environmental conditions on earth are very bad. The health of the people on earth is being affected by air pollution, water pollution and food shortages. The scientific techniques learned on Mars are to be used to alleviate earth’s environmental problems. They had all hard time getting used to the living conditions in the cavern. Light was only available when the big bank of solar cells charged the batteries sufficiently. This was a problem because the sunlight was much dimmer because the distance to the sun was greater from Mars. The lighting was dimmer when Dr. Stephenson was communicating with earth and sending commands to the robots. The food and water were difficult getting adjusted to. The underground spring provided better water for drinking and cooking than the recycled water. When there was a potato and mushroom harvest from the miniature greenhouse, the food tasted better. It was difficult getting used to the recycled solid food that the recycling machine produced. When chickens arrived in the last few earth shipments, chicken eggs were very much welcomed for the menu. The colonists knew that they may never return to earth again. They would have to raise their families on Mars and become real Martians. They had exercise facilities and sunlamps to keep from getting pale looking. They also have a large supply of vitamins and medical supplies to stay healthy. There were games to play like table tennis, checkers and chess. There were plenty of movies to watch to their favorite movie stars. Dr. Haywood and his associate scientists were constantly figuring out how to get more out of the Mars environment and make it more like earth’s environment that they were used to. Everyone have to stay inside the colony cave where there was air pressure, oxygen, water and food. To go outside requires a pressurized space suit and rover transportation to get anywhere. Mars was very much like the moon but it had a thin atmosphere and limited water resources. Because it was smaller than the earth it didn’t have enough gravity to hold down and atmosphere with oxygen like earths atmosphere.

The scientists planned to place dome structures that could contain an atmosphere like earths and grow plants for food. Again, the water would have to be recycled for growing plants. Many solar cell s would be added to provide enough electricity for the needs of the new colonists.

Recommendations for Earth

Earth’s environment kept getting worse because of overpopulation, food and water shortages, air and water polution to name a few. Dr. Haygood and Arthur Smile met Dr.Stephenson made a list of recommendations based on what they have learned on Mars.

The list included:

1. Use robots to help the population control food and water resources. 2. Use air filters to reduce air pollution. 3. Reduce fosil fuel energy and get electrical power: by using many solar cells, by using an ocean waves and tides for water power. 4. Use windmills where wind is prevalent. 5. Recycle and reuse thrown away materials. 6. Build water and food recycling machines as are being use on Mars. 7. Build greenhouses if necessary to protect food plants from contamination.

12

Survival

When I listen with an ear to the ground I hear vague voices that I used to know Stirring with a faint and restless sound I how the grass did grow

Earth Reacts to Mars Recommendations

Countries that could afford it reacted to the recommendations of the scientists on Mars. Factories were producing various types of robots to help in farming food and in manufacturing. Home air filters were replaced by new efficient electronic air filters which removed error pollution particles. Water used for drinking and cooking was purified to remove pollution. Water used for washing, bathing, and cleaning was recycled because of water shortages. Food recycling machines were distributed to poor countries where there were food shortages. Solar cells, windmills, and water power sources used for generating electricity were manufactured and distributed. It was found that ocean tides an ocean waves could be used to generate electricity. Houses were built more efficiently to reduce electrical demand and conserve space. Some had safe rooms to protect from tornadoes and underground shelters.

Some communities built tornado shelters to protect people in large gatherings and students in schools.

Survival Measures

In 2090. the Mars mission command center was relocated in a secret location so as not to be destroyed by protesters. This was necessary to cope with the possible coming environmental problems and the scare of atomic war. People brought pressures on governments to provide better protection for survival. Governments were forced to take measures to protect people. Sealed underground shelters were built to protect large numbers of people and provide safe air, food and water. Recycling machines, like those used on Mars, were manufactured. Atomic power plants were built underground to provide safe power for many years. Solar s were built to supplement the atomic power plants. Backyard gardens and green houses were built to provide fruit and vegetables. America’s Antarctica station was expanded to serve as a survival place and to provide more food storage for and supplies for the long haul. Huge caverns were built under the ice and living quarters were prepared for people evacuating contaminated land areas.

The Threat

Nations were threatening war with rockets and atomic weapons. Food was getting scarce as animals were hunted to extinction, lack of rain caused food crops to fail, and overpopulation was causing food shortages. If massive atomic war took place the entire human population could be exterminated. As the threat of nuclear war came closer and closer, it became apparent that the superpowers with thousands and thousands of nuclear weapons were capable of destroying all life on earth. Conferences were called to debate the issue of reducing the stockpiles of atomic weapons. If a superpower had 1500 atomic warheads and use them, it would almost destroy itself from the atomic radiation. If the superpowers reduced the number of atomic warheads to a few, it could also serve as a deterrent. Smaller countries with one or two atomic warheads could easily protect their national sovereignty. Atomic shelter’s would offer only temporary protection, because atomic radiation from fallout can last a long time. Shelters stocked with food and water may last only a few months. Air filters in the shelter temporarily would keep atomic radiation from coming inside.

Earth’s Final Problems

I always thought there were monsters I know they are lurking under my bed But when I saw real monsters I knew it was going to be bad.

It was 65 million years ago that a giant comet or asteroid became known as the dinosaur killer. The crater was discovered off the coast of Yucatán Peninsula and was named the Chicxulub impact crater. NASA’s shuttle radar topographically provided evidence of 112—mile wide, 3,000 foot deep impact crater. The impact led to global sulfuric acid clouds which helped to destroy life on earth. It is estimated that 50,000 years ago in iron meteorite impacted near Winslow, Arizona. The Arizona Meteor Crater is also known as the Barringer Crater. It is .737 miles in diameter and the rim rises 150 feet above the surrounding plains. On February 15, 2013 two cosmological events occurred on this same day. The first was an asteroid, 2012 DA 14, the size of a football field that ed 17,200 miles from earth. It was the closest asteroid ing recorded so far. The second was a meteorite which fell near Chelyalinsk, Russia. It left a vapor trail 18 to 32 miles above the ground. Over the town of 1 million people a sonic wave blew out windows and injured 1100 people with flying glass. The sonic blast had the power of an atomic bomb. The meteor was estimated at 10 tons and entered the Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speed of at least 43,000 mph. It shattered into pieces as it sped across the sky at 9:20 AM local time leaving a thick white contrail and an intense flash. Some fragments fell in a reservoir outside the town leaving 26 foot wide crater in the ice. Giant asteroids have been discovered in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Most of the big asteroids have been tracked and they are in no danger of hitting the earth within our time. However smaller asteroids sometimes called meteors are hard to detect. And they are continually flying into our earth’s orbit and atmosphere sometimes impacting in an ocean or on solid ground. The earth is a shooting gallery, and we don’t know when the next big asteroid has our number. Rockets have been sent to sent to study asteroids and bring back photographs of the asteroid surfaces. Some rockets were sent to delibrately crash into the asteroid to study the surface composition. There are no defensive plans if it was determined that a massive asteroid is detected to be on a near collision course to hit Earth. A rocket deflection mission to alter its course should be initiated in time when the asteroid may through

a keyhole in space for impact. An asteroid interceptor rocket was planned to be ready with a nuclear warhead to deflect the asteroid. The need for interceptor rockets to be developed, under t effort by the world rocket scientists, became apparent. The goal was to destroy or deflect the asteroid before it can impact earth. An atomic warhead explosion on the asteroid could nudge the asteroid away from earth or blow it into harmless pieces. Otherwise, if the asteroid impacted the earth, massive destruction would take place, including climate change. Earth’s population would not be able to survive. Finally countries became united as never before. The United Nations and NATO asked NASA and interested countries to conduct studies to build asteroid interceptor rockets and supply material for nuclear warheads to deflect any asteroid on collision course with earth. Trust was developed between governments for an agreement. Plans for the mass exodus of people from coastal areas because of possible huge ocean tidal waves were planned. Underground shelters for storing food and water supplies were built.

Environmental Changes

Earth’s final problems were due to a environmental changes, massive economical and population growth, depletion of most of the useable natural resources, pollution, and inability of the political leaders and nations to develop solutions to the coming disaster. The enviromental changes are caused by, drowth, global warming, tornados and hurricanes. Crops could become more difficult to raise with the limited rainfall and encroachment of urban population on aridable farm land. To many forests were cut down to provide lumber for houses. The shorage of natual resources like oil, coal and metal ore required that substitute alternatives be developed. Solar power and wind power was sustituted for fossil fuels and used to charge batteries for electricity for houses, appliances and automobiles. Bicycles became the main mode of transportation for short distances. With the money spent on wars and space exploration very little is left to care for

the poor and middle classes. Governments will be forced to ration food and fuel. The economical growth of wealth favored only a few billionares while the masses of people were hungry or starving can become critical. There were more people then there were food resources. All earth’s animals were almost hunted to extinction. The population explosion had to be controled by all nations before it is to late. World scientists were given the problem of stabilizing earth’s problems or finding solutions to save the remaining population. Some of the suggested solutions included the mandatory birth control and rationing of food and water, fuel, and wealth.

Domed Cities

Scientists from the Mars colony were called to present solutions to the earth’s environmental problems and atomic atmospheric fallout. Large hemispherical domed cities were constructed to be self-sustaining by recyling everything within the dome. Electricity was generated by solar s on top of the dome. Air and rain water was collected, recyled and purified to be used again. Life in the dome was almost communal. Everything was shared and recycled. Paranoia overcame the people living in the domed cities. Laws were made that no one was to go outside of the dome because it was feared that the outside air was contaminated. Expeditions were made by scientists outside of the domes to examine the condition of the air, water and plants. Wild animals and plants were examined for radioactive contamination. Tests determined that it was still not safe to go outside of the domes. It was recommended that the people remain inside of the domes until it was safer to go outside.

13

Beyond Mars

When I look at the night sky And see stars all around Are there worlds like ours? What would the people be like?

Human Hibernation Tests

The year was 15,000 and people have long move back into the countryside outside of the dome cities. The earth was looking old because humans have ravaged the countryside and taken everything they could find for food and survival. Most of the wild animals and domestic animals were killed for food. Buildings were crumbling and the highways had big cracks in the pavement. Earthquakes provided further damage to anything standing. The sun was beginning to misbehave shooting out more and more solar flares that caused communication disruptions. The earth missed being destroyed by huge asteroids that narrowly missed hitting the earth. A few doomsday asteroids were destroyed by rockets with atomic warheads, but the destroyed asteroid still impacted the earth with its shattered pieces. It was not known how long the earth could last without the extinction of human life. To many species became extinct because of the degrading environment and runaway population. Resources could no longer sustain human life indefinitely. Scientists began studying ways to preserve the human species if the end finally came. In the constellation of Scorpius, 22 light years away, the red M dwarf star Gliese 667C has seven planets orbiting it. Three of the planets may be habitable and two of these planets may reside in the life-giving habitable zone.

The Escape from Earth

The problem for doctors and scientists was how to sustain the life of human astronauts for a time of 22 light years distance, which is in billions of years time. They have studied how a bear’s digestive system can sustain a bear through a long winter’s sleep. But a humans digestive system is different. Patients have been in comas for long periods and have been revived in hospitals. DNA requires

that the body’s cells be constantly renewed during a person’s lifetime. Something new had to be done to sustain astronauts for the 22 light years. Volunteer patients were asked to undergo secret tests to see if body functions could be halted for long periods of time and the patient revived from a coma safely. The patient’s had to sign release waivers in event the tests were not successful. If the tests were successful, the goal was to build a starship which could travel at 22 light year distance and revive the astronauts to land on a earth like planet. After 22 light years of time no living people on earth would know if it was successful. One of the tests was successful using a robotic apparatus that could perform successfully for the duration of the trip to revive a hiberating astronaut. The test was secret because the health community would never approve it. On top of the huge rocket, the life-sustaining module capsule was located with room for two astronauts. The two of healtiest man and woman astronauts were selected from the volunteers.

The Volunteer Astronauts

The woman astronauts name was Billie White, who was a fighter pilot from the Navy. The man astronaut’s name was Kelly Conners, who was an ace fighter pilot from the Air Force. They both agreed to go on the mission to Gliese 667C provided that they could get married to each other and go on a honeymoon for several months. The NASA Outerspace Control Center agreed to this and went ahead building the spaceship. The couple spent their honeymoon on the island of Tahiti where they got to know each other better and fell in love. The odds of them getting safely to the star planet and being revived there were very slim. But it was a trip to save the possible survivors of the human race. Their journey would be long and they would be unconscious through the entire trip. They entered the interplanetary Orion 10 capsule on top of the SLS X gigantic rocket. As they held hands for the last time the automatic robotic sleep procedure put them in an unconscious state. The temperature in the capsule was lowered to preserve their bodies for 22 light years time after which their bodies would be

automatically revived.

The Launch

The booster, thruster and life tests for the mission proved to be successful. With all the components assembled, the huge multistage starship sat ready on the launch pad. The astronauts had already said goodby to their families earlier. The whole world watched on television, knowing the dangers of the trip, as the countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. The mission control room operators checked the telemetry readings of the their gauges. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge rocket engine. The earth shook from the sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the starship lifted, belching a huge blazing plume, on its way to Gliese 667C. The booster rockets seperated from the main booster and conformation of the vehicles trajectory was obtained from the control room computers. Once the rocket was on its way, there was no turning back. The existence of the human race relied on the success of the mission.

22 Light Years Later

As the starship neared the Gliese 667C red star, sensors activated the atomic battery to provide electricity for steering control and a trajectory to the most habitable planet circling the star. With the booster jet and steering jets firing, the spaceship settled into a safe orbit around an earth like planet. The capsule was ejected and fell in a flaming plume, being slowed by the atmosphere, when a parachute slowly lowered the capsule into a lake. It took some time for the lake water to slowly warm the capsule interior along

with the automatic robotic reviving of the astronauts. The robotic reviving procedure continued to get their lives functioning. Their hearts were revived and blood began to flow through their veins. Stimulants were added and they could breathe again. Billie was first to speak, “Kelly I think we made it she spoke softly!” Kelly answered, “Thank God we’re alive.” They held hands again to make sure that everything was real.

The Gliese Planet

The capsule bobbed up and down because of the waves on the lake making their stomachs feel sick. Kelly found some food and water stashed in the capsule. “We had better eat something if were to go on.” he said to Billie. After they had eaten something they began to feel better. All of a sudden they felt the capsule being lifted up. Kelly opened that hatch and looked up and saw they were ensnared in a net and being lifted up by some strange aircraft. As they were carried along, he saw that the water had a pink color to it and what looked like pink trees and buildings in the distance. He thought that the color was cause by the reflected light from the red dwarf sun. Soon their capsule was set down on a plaza between some tall buildings. Since they could hardly walk, human like creatures carried Kelly and Billie into a room where there was strange furniture and a huge bed. They were given robes to wear so they could get out of their musty travel uniforms after they refreshed themselves in the shower. A human looking hostess, with pointed ears, brought them trays of food to eat and said something which they couldn’t understand. Kelly gave her a dictionary which he was carrying for the trip for translating purposes. The hostess left and locked the door. After Kelly and Billie ate, they were soon asleep in the soft bed, for the first normal sleep in 22 light years time.

The Meeting

They slept a long time and were awakened by the hostess who beckoned them to follow her to what appeared to be a large room with a circular table in the center. Chairs were provided for them to sit. Several almost human looking persons sat across from them. They were given earphones with microphones attached to a cell phone looking gadget. They put them on and were soon able to understand what was being said to them The Gliesian Council of Elders was meeting to determine what to do with Kelly and Billie. A man, who’s name sonded like Ezeer, seem to be the leader, spoke saying, “Who are you and where did you come from? We we saw your craft approaching in a fireball and almost shot a missile at you. When we saw you come down in your parachute, we sent our aircraft to bring you here.” Kelly was first to answer, “We have traveled through space for 22 light years time sleeping in frozen coma state. We come from a planet called Earth which is in this same galaxy as your planet is. We mean no harm and come in peace to live with you because we have no way of going back to Earth. The people we knew on earth are no longer living, and we don’t know that there is any life left on earth. We would like to stay and live with you and perhaps have children to continue our world’s human race here on your planet. The Ezeer replied in words that they could barely understand, “Earth people you are welcome to stay and learn our ways and our speech. Generations of us have lived on this planet in peace and have been living under a set of rules given to us by the Great Ones of the past. These rules are laws under which we live. You will learn these laws and know that if these laws are broken there a penalties. We have not yet learned to travel in space space over the light year distances. By studying your spacecraft and capsule we wish to build a spaceship that can return you back to earth if you wish. Kelly replied, “The world we come from has many religions and some of them believe in and an Eternal Being, who they call God. But these religions believe in God in different ways, and there have been wars over trying to force a religion on someone else. Atomic weapons have been developed that can destroy life on earth, and there is a great fear in using them.” There was no way for Kelly and Billy to communicate with earth. They were on their own and had no choice but to make friends with the Gliesians.

After the meeting was over they went back to their room and saw they were given uniforms similar to what the Gliesians were wearing. They were told to go to the language classroom and learn the Gliesian language. Soon they were speaking and conversing in the new language without the use of electronic devices.

The Gliesian Rocket Complex

They were told that the Gliesian scientists, who had studied their recovered spaceship and capsule, learned how the automatic robotics sustained them through the 22 light year trip. By studying the navigation system of the capsule, they were able to trace their journey from earth and now knew where Earth was located in space. Their plans were to build a huge rocket and send a Gliesian couple to Earth and tell them that Kelly and Billie successfully arrived at a Gliesia planet. Kelly told Ezeer, “If you are able to trace the trajectory path to earth and land your astronauts safely, I would like you to give Earth this message.”

NASA and Earth people, Gliese 667C red star 22 Light Year Time

We were launched by rocket from earth 22 light years ago and have successfully made it to a planet located in the Gliese 667C red star planetary system. Please do not harm these astronauts from the planet Gliese where we have landed after 22 light years of travel in space. We have been welcomed by the inhabitants of this planet and have learned their ways and language. We do not wish to return to earth the same way we came. But this Gliesian astronaut couple, Alzare and Helika, have volunteered to make the 22 light year journey to earth. They already know your English language which I have taught them. My prayers are

that you will accept them and hope that Earth still exists in peace. Please accept this astronaut couple as one of your own and help them to learn to know your ways so that they may raise a family of their own.

Sincerely,

Billie White and Kelly Conners

Their Home on Gliese

Ezeer gave them a beautiful home in the suburbs of the capital city. It was beautifully landscaped and had a swimming pool. Inside the rooms consisted of an automatic food preparation kitchen, and entertainment room with a large twoway viewing screen controlled by voice commands, the huge bedroom with a large bed with softness control, a laundry room that automatically did their laundry and an exercise room where they could exercise two programmed exercise routines. Billie and Kelly couldn’t be more happier because this is where they planned to raise their children. They were told to watch a historical program on their large viewing screen. Gliese historians were able to trace life on the planet back 5 million earth years when rockets from one of the other planets orbiting Gliese 667C landed on their planet. Life on the other planet was deteriorating and people were becoming extinct. These new people found that the Gliese 667C third planet was their sanctuary. The people on Gliese are descendents from these original people.

The Great Ones

The historical viewing program continued with the history of the Great Ones who formed the present Gliesian society. The people from the other two planets who landed were, at first, constantly at war with each other and crime could not be controlled. Ages ago, arose a leader of such great courage, leadership, and healing talents that thousands of people were drawn to him. Somehow he was able to bring peace to the planet. His name was Yezus. He spoke of his father who he said was the creator of the universe. To prevent further wars and crime he issued what was called, “The Creator’s Laws.” These were as follows:

1. Love everyone and forgive your enemies. 2. Love your mother and father. 3. Love and never leave your spouse. 4. Care for everyone and do not steal. 5. Do not kill any living thing. 6. Care for and heal the sick. 7. Help when asked for help.

The Healing Temple

Kelly and Billie were taken to the Gliesian Healing Temple which was more like a hospital. They were given complete physical exams. They were in fine physical condition and their DNA was compatible with the Gliesian DNA. The medical doctors and nurses were much like those on earth. The doctors checked the physical conditions of the patients and performed operations. The medical test equipment seemed to be more advanced than was on earth.

Return to Earth

The huge Gliesian spaceship rocket was taking shape at the Gliesian Rocket Complex and would be ready to launch in a few months. Alzare and Helika agreed to go if they were married. Their marriage ceremony was nothing like Kelly and Billie ever saw. An organist played beautiful music that they never heard before. Instead of exchanging rings they exchanged golden bracelets and gold wreaths were placed above their heads. Afterwards they went on their honeymoon somewhere on the planet. Kelly and Billie had to instruct the physicians and scientists how to prepare Alzare and Helika for the 22 light year trip to Earth. The robotic life preservation and revival system on the Orion X capsule was tested again and again to make sure that it would function for the full-time duration. The return navigation trajectory was reprogrammed into the capsule computers. Alzare and Helika would return to earth 44 light years after Kelly and Billie have left it. They don’t know what they would find or whether they would be welcomed.

The Launch

The booster, thruster and life tests for the mission proved to be successful. With all the components assembled, the huge multistage starship sat ready on the launch pad. The astronauts said goodby to their families, knowing the dangers of the trip as the whole world watched. The countdown proceded to minus 15 minutes. The mission control room operators checked the telemetry readings of the their gauges. The fuel pump pressures were OK, and the countdown proceded to minus one Gliesian minute for a final check. Everyone held their breath as the countdown proceeded to ignition of the huge rocker engine. The Gliese ground shook from the sound waves of the booster, and with a sound of thunder the starship lifted, belching a huge blazing plume, on its way to Earth. The booster rockets seperated from the main booster and conformation

of the vehicles trajectory was obtained from the Gliesian control room. Once the rocket was on its way, there was no turning back. Would they still find survivors of human race.

14

Return to Earth

When the visitors arrived And saw what had happened To cause such desolation They repaired the damage

22 Light Years Later

Out of the darkness of space came the Gliesian starship heading straight for an encounter with Earth. As it came nearer the robotic automatic navigation control took over and ejected the cocoon capsule into the Earth’s atmosphere. The capsule fell in the atmosphere like a meteor leaving up bright plume behind. A sonic boom was heard as it fell. Soon parachutes opened up and the capsule was gently lowered it into the Gulf of Mexico with a splash. The warm water slowly thawed out the occupants of the capsule, Alzare and Helika. The automatic robotic reviving system brought them to life. Alzare was the first to speak, “Helika are you awake because we have landed in some water and were bobbing up and down. Helika replied, “Alzare I’m so glad were alive and have arrived safely to Kelly’s and Billie’s world.”

Helicopter Rescue

Air Force radar picked up the blip off the southern coast of the Florida Panhandle. It was determined that something may have landed into the water. A helicopter was sent to investigate. The helicopter pilot soon was able to see the capsule floating in the water, with the parachutes trailing alongside. They secured the capsule and brought it to the Air Base. The capsule was lowered in front of a hanger and the hatch on the capsule opened up. Alzare’s head appeared. Alzare and Helika were helped down from the capsule and brought to the Air Base hospital. Alzare gave the nurse the message from Kelly and Billie, who left Earth 44 light years earlier. The nurse gave the message to the hospital who forwarded it to NASA and the president. Alzare and Helika were able to communicate using the English that Kelly and Billie have taught them. They said that Kelly and Billie were safe on the Gliese

667C third planet and were accepted by the Gliesians. There was no longer any way of communicating with them because 44 light years of time have elapsed. Alzare and Helika were given food and some time to recuperate from their long trip and get used to human beings. They were given a complete physical examination and it was found that their DNA is no different than a humans. If they were to have children who were to marry humans, there would be no problems. The were also given a schedule to visit the president and to later give a speech to the World Government assembly. Things must have really changed since Kelly and Billie left because billions of years have ed and the world and the world governments were entirely different from the time Kelly and Billie left for outer space. And a war took place destroying many of earth’s large cities, and during those billions of years an ice age came and left. America’s Antarctica station survived and the scientists and people there were not severely affected by atomic radiation. Also the scientists and people in the Mars colony survived. When the atomic radiation became minimal these saved people returned help rebuild cities and infrastructure. The food and water recycling machines as were used on Mars were used to help people get established until food crops could be grown again. All atomic weapons were destroyed except were only atomic power was allowed to generate electricity. Political parties were abolished and college graduates with advanced degrees were selected as managers to establish a government run by the people.

Alzare and Helika Become Celebrities

They met with the new president, John Livingston, at the White House, which was located in St. Louis, Missouri, because the old United States capital at Washington DC was destroyed by an atomic bomb. Capitals of other major warring countries were also destroyed. The old political systems no longer existed and were replaced by direct votes of the people. After they were given some time to rest, they spoke at the World Government assembly. Representatives from all over the world came to hear them speak and

tell of the Gliesian world from which they came.

Alzare and Helika’s Speech

Alzare and Helika first read the message that Kelly and Billie had given them to give to the people Earth:

NASA and Earth people, Gliese 667C red star 22 Light Year Time

We were launched by rocket from earth 22 light years ago and have successfully made it to a planet located in the Gliese 667C red star planetary system. Please do not harm these astronauts from the planet Gliese where we have landed after 22 light years of travel in space. We have been welcomed by the inhabitants of this planet and have learned their ways and language. We do not wish to return to earth. But this Gliesian astronaut couple, Alzare and Helika, have volunteered to make the 22 light year journey to Earth. They will already know your English language which we have taught them. My prayers are that you will accept them and hope that earth still exists in peace. Please accept this astronaut couple as one of your own and help them to learn to know your ways so that they may raise a family of their own.

Sincerely,

Billie White and Kelly Conners

Alzare and Helika continued their speech with the story of the Great Ones who formed the present Gliesian society. The people from the other planet of the Gliese 667C red star system, who landed their planet, were constantly at war with each other and crime could not be controlled. Ages ago, arose a leader of such great courage, leadership, and healing talents that thousands of people were drawn to him. Somehow he was able to heal the sick and the dying. His name was Yezus. He spoke of his father who he said was the creator of the universe. To prevent further wars and crime he issued what was called, “The Creator’s Laws.”

These were as follows:

1. Love everyone and forgive your enemies. 2. Love your mother and father. 3. Love and never leave your spouse. 4. Care for everyone and do not steal. 5. Do not kill people. 6. Heal and care for the sick. 7. Help when asked for help.

They went on saying, “Ever since these laws were taught in schools and in our hospitals there has been peace and love among the people. That is why when Kelly’s and Billie’s capsule splashed into the lake nearby, they were not harmed by the Glisians. We know that we could never go back to the the Gliese 667C red star system because Kelly and Billie will have been long gone because of the long distances of space travel and the time that is involved.” They further said, “We were married for two months before we volunteered to

undergo the long space travel to Earth. We only wish to stay here in comfort and have children to raise. If you help us to do this we know that the spirits of Kelly and Billie will reward you and rest in peace.