Space development master plan

doi:10.15406/aaoaj.2024.08.00212

eISSN: 2576-4500

Aeronautics and Aerospace Open Access Journal

Editorial Volume 8 Issue 4

Space development master plan

Giorgio Gaviraghi

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Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Brazil

Correspondence: Giorgio Gaviraghi, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Brazil, Tel 005565999090204

Received: December 09, 2024 | Published: December 12, 2024

Citation: Gaviraghi G. Space development master plan. Aeron Aero Open Access J. 2024;8(4):209-210 DOI: 10.15406/aaoaj.2024.08.00212

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Editorial

Following the Apollo missions, the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station (ISS), interplanetary probes, and other significant milestones, we are transitioning from the pioneering era of space exploration to a new operational phase. With the impending return of humans to the Moon, followed by manned missions to Mars, space development is entering an era driven by economic considerations alongside exploration and scientific research.

In this emerging era, space is poised to become a major economic frontier. The utilization of space resources holds the potential to invigorate the global economy. Exploiting these abundant resources will create opportunities, drive business activities, generate jobs, and increase wealth for humanity. To ensure orderly and effective progress-especially given the involvement of multiple stakeholders, including spacefaring nations and private entrepreneurs-a comprehensive Master Plan is essential. This plan can define necessary activities, establish sequences, and specify required equipment and instruments. Additionally, it can serve as a political tool to facilitate agreements, establish common goals, and delineate areas of influence, promoting peaceful and collaborative development.

The foundation of a Master Plan is the definition of clear goals, which in turn determines the required technologies and progress schedules. These goals, varying across organizations, will shape the technologies needed. Simultaneously, the Master Plan will outline enabling technologies and the sequence of activities required to achieve these objectives.

For a 21st-century Space Development Master Plan, the following goals should be considered:

Moon and Mars colonization with autonomous settlements
Affordable access to space
Advanced space transportation systems
Asteroid capture, deflection, and mining
Establishment of space settlements
Comprehensive solar system exploration and mapping
Development of a trillion-dollar space economy

Scheduling the master plan

Scheduling such an ambitious plan is a complex task due to numerous factors that could influence progress. The Master Plan must serve as a fundamental instrument for space agencies to secure funding while accommodating unexpected private-sector contributions focusing on specific goals. Drawing from past experiences and anticipating future trends, the Master Plan schedule can be divided into several phases:

Space accessibility and transportation systems

The primary goal in this field is to achieve affordable space access and transportation. While recent advancements in reusable rockets have already reduced costs significantly, further innovations are anticipated, such as:

Spaceflight operations resembling commercial airlines, featuring horizontal takeoff and landing from dedicated spaceports
Revolutionary systems like space elevators
Cruiser-feeder transportation systems for interplanetary travel, including cycling spaceships with artificial gravity
Utilizing deflected comets and asteroids as part of interplanetary cruise systems

Space stations to settlements

Second-generation space stations, provided by private companies, will offer services such as waystations for interplanetary travel, spacecraft and satellite maintenance, space hotels, manufacturing centers, and defense facilities for space-based weapon systems. Expanded space stations will eventually evolve into settlements distributed across the solar system, supporting human activities while ensuring terrestrial-like technology and living conditions for their inhabitants.

Moon and mars development

As our closest celestial neighbors, the Moon and Mars will experience rapid development, evolving from initial outposts to fully operational bases and settlements. Key developments include:

Establishing Martian economies by developing local technologies and products, potentially paving the way for future terraforming
Constructing both surface and underground facilities on the Moon to support diverse business ventures and sustain local economies

Solar system development

The entire solar system will witness significant progress, beginning with unmanned missions followed by human exploration. Highlights of this phase will include:

Profitable mining operations on asteroids and other celestial bodies
Space manufacturing initiatives gaining momentum
Advanced propulsion systems reducing travel durations
Fusion power breakthroughs providing sustainable energy sources
Establishing unmanned bases on celestial bodies such as Mercury, Venus, the moons of gas giants, the plutonian system, and selected major asteroids
Proliferation of space settlements throughout the solar system, paving the way for interstellar exploration

Conclusion

This Master Plan outlines ambitious goals and anticipated developments in space access, lunar and Martian activities, asteroid retrieval, transportation systems, habitats, and more. Through coordinated efforts and innovation, humanity can unlock the immense potential of the final frontier, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for generations to come.