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The next Frontier

UH is ready to help Earth benefit from the moon's resources

by Geronimo Rodriguez
Senior Staff Writer

UH scientists and researchers are helping NASA tie its laces for yet another huge step for mankind: to make a profit from the moon's resources.

"(The concept) is very interesting, and if I'm right about this, it'll pay off for younger generations," said David Criswell, director of the Institute for Space Systems Operations at UH. "It'll be a different world."

Earlier this month, President Bush said he wanted to re-invigorate the nation's space program, outlining plans for the construction of a permanent science base on the moon. Projects regarding an outpost on the moon haven't been finalized, but, like Criswell, some at UH believe we are just a step from seeing this idea come to life — especially because profit is involved.

Criswell, who earned his doctorate from Rice University during the Apollo project, said the moon could be used as a power station to cool solar energy. The energy could then be sent to Earth to sell as electric power, he said.

Electronic devices called solar cell-makers would change the lunar material to microwave beams, said Criswell, who has studied the field for about 30 years and has served at ISSO for 12. The beams would then be converted to electric power, he said.

Compared to Earth, the moon offers endless amounts of power. According to ISSO, converting just 1 percent of the moon's solar power would fulfill the Earth's needs.

Alex Ignatiev, physics professor and task leader at the Texas Center for Superconductivity and Advanced Materials, said his crew has worked for four years to demonstrate that solar cell-makers could be used in this case, stressing that the moon's surface — consisting of silicon and iron ore — is highly useful. In fact, he said most of the tools to be used could be made from the moon's resources.

"We can't pack everything we want onto a space shuttle and take it to the moon, so we're going to be like the pioneers and live off the land. That's the only way to make such a project possible," Ignatiev said. "But doing the prototype experiment on the moon will be involving many more institutions such as NASA.

"That's still in the cards. We haven't gotten that finalized yet, but with (Bush's) initiative, those kinds of things are going to become very possible," he said.

Larry Bell, an architecture professor at UH and director of the UH-based Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture, agreed.

"(The president's announcement) certainly opens up opportunities," said Bell, whose world-renowned program is currently planning and designing a biological life-science facility. "But we've been planning for this kind of exploration for years."
 

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