Above: Artist rendering of a lunar-settlement (Credit: ESA)
This fall, PISCES and the ASA (Aerospace States Association) are working with the State of Hawaii to host a multinational aerospace conference that could make science-fiction dreams a reality. The conference is called “The Next Giant Leap”, and surges forward with an exciting agenda outlining new pathways in space exploration.
One of the key topics will be the moon. Our closest celestial neighbor is an asset in terms of resources and its potential for serving as a launch-point for deep space missions. Its low-gravity field, various forms of regolith (or dirt), and close proximity to Earth all make it a prime candidate for human settlement, 3-D manufacturing development, ISRU (in-situ resource utilization), and launch activities. Lacking Earth’s hazy atmosphere, it could also serve as an excellent observatory location for viewing the universe with unprecedented clarity.
Also on the agenda will be how to pay for all of this. Space exploration and habitation is not cheap, and one of the goals of the conference is determining cost-effective, sustainable methods for developing the technology that can achieve these goals through multinational partnerships.
The conference will be held at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa on Hawaii Island, November 9-13.
For more information, go to: http://2014giantleap.aerospacehawaii.info/