ADAPTATION STRATEGY:Human Spaceflight Technologies for Critical Structures and Infrastructure

ASTE 527 ConceptCourse Advisor: Prof. ThangaveluJing Zhang

Context - External and Internal Threats

•It is just a matter of when, not if•Deal with meteorites shower and resonant, sympathetic effects:earthquakes, tsunamis, sustained extreme weather patterns

Asteroid threat(1)

•Nuclear Winter•Population – dwindling resources•Gene engineered viruses

Manmade problems

•Global Warming(2)

•The frozen methane time bomb(3,4)

•Sea level rose ten times faster than their 2000-year average

Climate Change

What if we are not prepared?

Context-Climate Change Conundrum

Planet Earth is highly complex system

Insufficient Scientific Data Current range of data, tools and

models not adequate Potential Engineering Solution

Adaptation projects employing high technology and Macro Engineering principles

Context-Critical Structure and Critical Infrastructure

A system or systems that protects humanity and life sustenance over indefinite periods, should things go terribly wrong due to unforeseen events caused by external or internal agents beyond our control.

Spaceship Earth – Buckminster Fuller

Historical background- Arcology

Arcology (Architecture + Ecology) Visionary architects have designed near

self-sufficient architectures(5)

Minimize the destructive impact of development on the Earth

Arcosanti began construction in 1970 in central Arizona

Freedom Ship –Norman Nixon

West Edmonton Mall - Canada

Marine City - Kiyonaru Kikutake

Biosphere ll- Arizona

Biosphere – Montreal, CA

Eden Project – Cornwall, UK

Ark Hotel –Remistudio, Russia

Historical background-Masdar City

Rely entirely on solar energy and other renewable energy sources, with a sustainable, zero-carbon, zero-waste ecology

Planned to cover 6 square kilometres and home to 45,000 to 50,000 people and 1,500 businessesTotal cost $20 billion400K per person

120m2/person

Historical background

McMurdo Station U.S. Antarctic research

center  Technologically-

advanced, self-sufficient human community

Las Vegas Strip Protect people from the

45C (110F) heat Travel between several

different casinos without ever going outdoors

Svaalbard Seed Vault

International Space Station

Rationale

Critical technical issues already resolved and developed in human space technology Closed Ecological Life Support System

(CELSS) in development(6)

Sufficient energy supply , solar energy and

nuclear energy, RORSAT, SNAP-10A (7,8)

Thermal Control System Redundant, system cross-strapping and

backups for safety and reliability

SNAP: 22.4 cm*39.62 cm30kW for a year

Rationale

Water and atmospheric control systems

Concept-Possible structures

Potential Natural Sites for Large Population Shelters

Natural caves and lava tubes Giant quarries after mining

Manmade structures

Concept-Example of Quarry Utilization

Concept – Adaptation using current and advanced Human Space Technologies

ISS shielding technology(9)

Particle Radiation Meteorite impact Hazardous gas Fatal virus and

patient quarantine

Energy support and control Solar energy(10)

Nuclear energy▪ Support the whole

habitat if solar energy is not viable

Heat exchange

Concept - Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS)

WATER AND AIR

Water recycling Oxygen

Extracted from the outside polluted air

From plants in the manmade biosphere

Generated by decomposing water and chemicals as in spaceship

FOOD

Algae and other plants grow inside the shelter

CEAC Antarctica food chamber

Lunar Green House Project

Hydroponics, Aquaponics

WASTE Supercritical Oxidation Recycling

Merits and Limitations

Merits Take advantage of

existing space technology and generate profit

Reduce dependence on natural resources for sustainable development

Supplement Planetary Defense Strategies

Provide reference for long-distance space exploration

Limitations Large amount of investment

in a short period, for US400K*0.3Billion/4=30 Trillion,

Global, national consensus lacking

Reliable shielding materials and methods that can withstand large impact shock and after effects over long periods

Rapid, large population evacuation strategies

Conclusion

As Charles Darwin pointed out, only the adaptable survive.

Flora and Fauna are adapting to changes continuously.

Combine space technology and architectural technology, we could build critical structures and infrastructures enabling human beings to survive cataclysmic events beyond our control.

We will adapt to future environment.

Conclusion

The self-sustainable projects would push forward future space technology

With this knowledge, human beings, in giant sustainable biosphere ships, would really step out of the Earth’s cradle to settle the length and breadth of the universe.

Further studies

Utilize self-sustaining space technology in macro engineering scale.

Bring down the cost Prove adaptation saves more in the long

run.210 Billion/400K=0.5 million (11)

12Trillion*20%/400K=64 million (12)

438Billion*10/400K= 109 million (13)

Enhance global cooperation and collaboration on massive scale projects

Prof.James Lovelock on Adaptation to Climate Change

On whether we are capable as a species of tackling climate change:I don't think we're yet evolved to the point where we're clever enough to handle a complex a situation as climate change. We're very active animals. We like to think: "Ah yes, this will be a good policy," but it's almost never that simple. Wars show this to be true. People are very certain they are fighting a just cause, but it doesn't always work out like that. Climate change is kind of a repetition of a war-time situation. It could quite easily lead to a physical war. That's why I always come back to the safest thing to do being adaptation."I've always said that adaptation is

the most serious thing we can do"

References:

1. “Asteroid Threats: A Call for Global Response." Astronomy Jan. 20092. Bronstert, A. (2003), Floods and Climate Change: Interactions and Impacts.

Risk Analysis, 23: 545–557. doi: 10.1111/1539-6924.003353. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/4. Atmospheric science: Enigma of the recent methane budget, Nature 476, 157–158 (11 August

2011) 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcology#Development6. D.F. Doerr, Interaction between exercising humans and growing plants in a

closed ecological life support system, Acta Astronautica, Volume 36, Issues 8-12, October-December 1995,

7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RORSAT8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNAP-10A9. Extreme Climate Control Membrane Structures, 2006, Volume 54, 151-

174, DOI: 10.1007/1-4020-4604-9_910. Sui Pheng Low, & Xiu Ting Goh. (2010). Exploring outer space technologies

for sustainable buildings. Facilities, 28(1/2), 31-4511. Shaping Climate Resistant Development report12. "Climate costs." Nature 461.7261 (2009): 150. Academic OneFile. Web. 13

Dec. 201113. Frank Ackerma, The Cost of Climate Change, NRDC REPORT 2008

Thanks!