H2Orbit - Its About Sustainability

Our conclusion is that the risks associated with doing nothing (e.g. maintaining current course and speed) are considerably higher than the costs of taking action to resolve the situation. Historically the opposite has been true and we believe that's no longer the case. We think the path proposed below is the only one that will mitigate the risk to life on this planet. As the previous material presented, we have a limited window of opportunity in which to begin working to resolve the situation and within which the situation needs to be corrected. Both of which we have the technical capabilities to execute. That only leaves the strength of character required to execute the necessary action. H2Orbit believes that humanity has that character. We believe that YOU have that character.

We will further declare that this time we live in right now - is a defining time within the history of humanity. It will test our character and it will seek the leadership in us all. We believe we have what it takes to get this done.

NOTE: Our founder wrote a strategic proposal and submitted it to the administration of the United States government in 2006. The text of that proposal has been published for your reference as: "One Pilgrim's Wish for Earth". We think this strategic vision and plan will solve the current crisis being caused by Climate Change. Only political will of the constituencies stand in the way of success. Our founder wrote a strategic proposal and submitted it to the administration of the United States government in 2006. We think this strategic vision and plan will solve the current crisis being caused by Climate Change, help to correct the global economic crisis, create enduring economic models and business opportunities. We also believe there are significant upside opportunities to attack many social problems with hunger and health through point delivery of energy to remote locations. Think about what we can solve when we can deliver energy to the specific spot on the surface where it is needed with little or no other infrastructure to enable it. Only political will of the constituencies stand in the way of success.

If you demand that we kill trees we're going to charge you about $18. Click for a FREE electronic copy of One Pilgrim's Wish for Earth the only task you'll have to do is to type in the password for the file. The Password is (between the quotes): "MyLifeSpaceMatters". That's it. Why do we make you type in a password but tell you now what it is? Simple - to cause you to take that 1st simple action. You have to do something. Taking action makes you remember better. Additionally it reinforces that your life on this Earth matters. So that's why we did it in this manner.

Energy in abundance that is clean, green, sustainable and implementable within the visable window of opportunity which eliminates primary contributors to global warming. Accomplishing this one item just makes the remaining issues easier to manage. The overwhelming majority of the problems stem from energy production.

| ( Click the image above to review NTIS order #PB82-108846)

NOTE: The above linked report was written in 1981. In September of 2000, John Mankins, Manager, Advanced Concepts Studies Office of Space Flight made a statement to congress, before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Committee on Science U.S. House of Representatives.

NOTE: Please keep in mind that prior to H2Orbit there was no general recognition that the problems in our biosphere could be solved by leveraging space. There were books, and we have linked those in our bibliography, but these presentations and discussions occurred in the absence of any problem needing to be solved. That is no longer the case. Now we have a problem to solve and H2Orbit contends - everyone should be properly motivated to get the problem solved. The point here is hind sight is 20-20, let's all be positive and move toward the solution. No one has time for "should've, could've, would've" discussions. H2Orbit was created to help society understand the path illuminated before us. Problems and challenges remain but we now have a viable path we can follow. We just need to get it done.

Space based energy can provide the necessary energy to produce hydrogen from green, clean, sources in order to fuel transportation.
We (collective we) are headed toward this strategic view already, albeit on a much slower pace. New data is providing a higher sense of urgency to improve these timelines.
Distribution of energy is also a problem more easily solved from space. It can be sent directly from production facilities to where it is needed. Initially this would most likely be centralized and moving toward decentralization and ultimately an integrated global distribution grid over the course of the implementation timeline. This would allow us to leverage existing grids which lowers costs.
The Goldstone Tracking station, in a test transmitted 400 kilowatts of power to a test tower about a mile away. The microwave energy was converted to direct current energy with an efficiency of over 82 percent. Check that against traditional grid efficiencies and we think you'll be impressed. This test, oh by the way, was conducted in 1977. Think we can do better now?
There are no terrestrial technologies or production processes, requiring fuel, that do not pollute in one manner or another. Nuclear is green until you have to dispose of the spent fuel rods and ultimately you do. Hydroelectric is green but damming all the rivers a) won't provide enough energy and b) causes other ecological problems. Anytime combustion occurs the products of air and fuel combine to produce smog and other molecular pollutants that simply are not healthy. Space is the ONLY alternative that provides the abundance, ease of distribution, and sustainability necessary to fuel not only current demands but those of economic growth.
Energy production that does not require fuel - is too limited in terms of abundance, distribution, or diverse enough to solve the problem on a global scale. Alternative terrestrial generation facilities require many numerous installations that bring other issues along with them. Solving the problem requires the results of implementation to be easily distributed in the quantity needed at diverse locations. Only space based facilities can do that and they are completely green and sustainable. Abundance becomes a problem of design and implementation - not resources.
Construction resources are available both on the moon and in the asteroids. Our reference library and bibliography have reference examples that can cite specifics and a few quick google searches will yield even more. The raw materials are NOT the problem.
Costs need to be calculated based on new concepts like the space elevator and leveraging old concepts of utilization of raw materials already in space or lower gravity sources like the moon. Our "Gaining Orbit" section describes some of these alternatives to rockets.

Costs for the current space shuttle are "flight dependent". That means that means the more flights we have the less it costs to lift every pound taken. Those costs today are as high as they are because the United States is not making the originally planned number of annual flights. We have seen numbers as low as $800 per pound with those systems and the ones on the drawing boards are more economical yet. Space elevators can significantly lower the costs still further. We contend significantly further.

H2Orbit contends that once space elevators are operational the cost per pound will be very affordable, especially in light of the situation and how much those are poised to cost us if we don't solve them. The technologies currently under development essentially make the costs factors ordinary business expenses that can be capitalized over the implementation period. Solving this situation, addressing the issues and surmounting the challenges can be affordable - more so from space because of the ample supply, sustainability, and ease of distribution.

Leveraging resources already in orbital space significantly reduce the implementation costs and drives the creation of thousands of jobs. Once these kinds of capabilities are brought to bear on the overall strategic vision, H2Orbit contends that the economics of the solution become blazingly clear. Especially compared against the potential failure of our biosphere.
Isolation of facilities can provide unique areas to solve manufacturing and other industrial processes in a safer manner than can be accomplished on the surface of the Earth. Safer in this context means less impactful, or poses a lower risk, to the biosphere.
In addition to solving the direct problems, space also offers other areas of human endeavors increased opportunity. Research & development. New materials, new jobs, manufacturing, and transportation will be dramatically altered. Our cities will be transformed as transportation evolves, as mass transit systems include surface to orbit capabilities, like elevators all the way to orbit.
The urgency associated with the global warming is being driven by carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere. We not only have to have a solution that allows 'net new' facilities to be green, (e.g. those not currently constructed) but can compensate for energy from existing facilities.

Having said this there are terrestrial technologies that can augment space based solutions. Indeed those technologies will play key roles in helping to implement the strategic solution. See the Vantage Points section for engineering and other areas that can help us achieve a sustainable biosphere.

Florida Power & Light / Constellation Energy, in September of 2006 announced that they would be investing over $3 Billion to build a single power generation factilty in Glades County, Florida. A single 10 Gigawatt class solar power station can replace five of these same facilities. You can instantly see both the benefit and most likely the sources of opposition.

Correcting problems impacting the biosphere and overcoming the obstacles, daunting as they may be, are all challenges that we can resolve. The opportunity offered in Earth orbit will allow us the time we need by its nearness and its isolation. It offers a chance to continue to learn and grow. We can do this, but we must act, and do so with a high degree of intripidity.

Space isn't just "a way" of solving the problem. It is the >> only << way to solve the problem in an enduring, sustainable, manner and we are not the only people who think this is the case. Actually it will solve many problems beyond just energy production through solar power, especially solar power satellites, but in manufacturing and other areas.

Remember - we need to mitigate the risks to our biosphere. We now have ecological motivation today that has historically been absent in all the planning that has taken place previously. Not only do we have motivation - H2Orbit believes we have a deadline we must meet. We also believe that the opportunities represented by this endeavor justify the effort. Those opportunities will improve the ecological, economic and social conditions of the entire planet. We must try.

We don't believe the situation currently at hand can be solved without a comprehensive integrated adoption of space based technologies. Terrestrial solutions either pollute, maintain status quo or are too limited in their energy development to really make a difference. Energy production needs to be more than just renewable and 'alternative' (e.g. not based on fossil fuels), it needs to be completely green (e.g. does not pollute or produce greenhouse gases) and abundant enough to meet the demands placed on it by our global society. Solving one country's' situation doesn't fix the problem. We have to solve it for all mankind, indeed we need to solve it for all life on Earth. Everywhere and all at once. Make no mistake human activity is behind these problems. Maintenance issues abound with all terrestrial alternatives. There are limits to terrestrial growth.

Space based technologies offer abundant energy, manufacturing opportunities, low maintenance (higher start up costs to be sure - but then what is the cost of failure?), growth potential in space is unlimited. The challenges are large and not all technical in nature. Many to be sure are social and political. The world population growth demands aggressive action to resolve these problems for us all. As we've said, failure is not an option, our dying reefs provide the urgency. The projected demise of our reefs provides the delivery date our solutions have to not only be operational but delivering results.

There are challenges here enough to give anyone a headache, and probably will give us all one before its done. These problems span national and cultural boundaries. Solar power satellites stand to completely eliminate the generation of energy from terrestrial sources. Why? Because building them will require the investment of all nations. If everyone helps build them, that means the taxpayers create them. Then the consumer costs become one of maintenance and distribution. Creation one of taxation.

That my friends is a problem that requires us all to solve and we can do it.

Together.

Clean
Safe
Abundant
Reliable
Sustainable

be a significant step towards a sustainable biosphere
Increase availability, reliability and serviceability
Eliminate production of CO2 from terrestrial hydrocarbon consuming power plants
Help restore the air, land and water. Help nature recover
Improve atmospheric quality as pollutants are eliminated
Almost completely eliminate acid rain
Lower costs over the long term
Create tens of thousands, if not millions, of jobs.
Reduce dependence on terrestrial nuclear power
Create orbital, lunar and Lagrangian based business opportunities
Increase global security
Improve other ecological factors (by eliminating toxic local power plants)
Leverage existing distribution grids, w/transition to global grid over time - this minimizes implementation costs

We have to go to space. We have to take action to solve terrestrial issues to protect the biosphere. It is as simple as that and we have to take these actions now.

There is no silver bullet. No booming voice from the sky will provide salvation. The starship Enterprise is not going to come sailing into the solar system and save us all. SG-1 isn't going to pop out of a stargate and bring us alien technology. No extra-terrestrials are going to come down waving their glowing fingers to solve problems. God helps those that help themselves. We have to do this, no one else is. We are responsible. Its our choice. Live or die. We have to take action to correct the problem. Humanity's spirit is too bright to submit to ignorance and petty bickering. We're better than that and here's our chance to prove it. Choose sustainable life, its enduring nature will be our only salvation.

Mankind can solve this problem. Knowing there is a solution and doing nothing about it is suicide. No one is too big on that, least of all god. A choice has been placed before us. Do nothing and hit the proverbial brick wall. Solve it and you have the opportunity for salvation. Everyone has a duty to humanity to help assure that the knowledge we have is applied. If you need references for all of this we have some 'reading suggestions' in the bibliography of our Reference Library.

The resolution to these problems is going to have to be driven by constituents. Corporations serve shareholders and shareholders only care about their ROI. Anything that gets in the way of that process will be delayed or eliminated. Brokers will try to maximize economic control to the extent they can in order to minimize impact to their business. Just look at Kodak and what they've had to do as a company. These changes are no different, however this change will shift the economy away from oil, indeed away from hydrocarbons, and onto a technological base.

The resolution will intertwine international economies like never before. Global cooperation in manufacturing, will support the major countries that can implement the plan. Arguably the key countries will be the G8.

There are already many companies, universities, agencies, advocacy groups and individuals working on various aspects of these problems and these potential resolutions. What we will endeavor to do is to correlate these efforts into a focused endeavor. An endeavor, whose journey encompasses us all.

The best tool individuals have is knowledge and that requires education and experience. First hand experience. Experienced and knowledgeable constituents can challenge the status quo and drive change. We can overcome the vagaries of greed and avarice.

Throughout every facet of this endeavor natural market forces must be allowed to shape activities and entrepreneurial spirits. Governments must establish business incentives - globally.

Incent broad space colonization in the spirit of the American West to help drive exploration , travel, innovation and entrepreneurialism. That in turn will drive:

Access
Human Adaptation to Space
Space Stations
Settlement
Colonization of the asteroids
Business Opportunity
Freedom
Stanford Torus
Bernal sphere
O'Neil Cylinder
Develop a unified political approach
The practical matter of language
Assure all endeavors are executed with maximum safety and security for everyone

Incent businesses and entrepreneurs to participate. Prioritize those in the best position to improve the Earth's ecosystem. Leverage physical locations in orbit and the Lagrangian points to best support each endeavor. Look for innovative ways to access orbit; space elevators as an example. Significant improvements areas might be gained by focusing on:

Energy production
Energy transmission
Future Energy Development
Transportation
Materials Processing
Space Mining
Asteroid Mining
Infrastructure
Spacecraft Propulsion
Manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals
Research & Development requiring isolation and / or low to no gravity
Medical & Health Care
Farming (aquaculture, livestock & agriculture)

Create programs that foster reduction in atmospheric and oceanic CO2. Oceanic CO2 decreases the pH of Earth's oceans, increasing their acidity. Industries that can create marketable products that result in the consumption (binding/sinking) of environmental CO2 would be a huge help. Ecological programs to foster formation for rebuilding existing reef systems and establishing artificial reefs around the world would succeed in helping Earth to cope. Ecological economics will go a long way towards helping to refocus agendas at all levels.

Supplant terrestrial hydrocarbon consumption with fuel cell & other green technologies. The transition phase should last no longer than thirty to forty years & should start with modest implementation now ramping up after that.

Significant challenges posed by existing economic and political infrastructure:

Shortsightedness will inhibit many, if not all, phases of transition
Engage market forces through strong governmental leadership worldwide
Augment terrestrial agriculture with Lagrangian facilities
Prioritize distribution of power and resources to high need areas
Be as organic in our approaches as possible
Contain the use of fertilizers and chemicals that otherwise adversely impact the ecosystem
Continue to pursue existing terrestrial programs that improve the ecological condition of the Earth and reduce pollution.
Establish 'canary' sites assuring benchmarks can demonstrate improvements [ Florida might be a good place to start. ]
Structure education to maximize 'real time' student participation across all programs
Establish 'apprenticeships' at appropriately attained school levels to better integrate job opportunities going forward
Maximize long term learning opportunities through open programs and distance based technologies to share information
Ensure that these activities provide equal benefit - (e.g. minimize monopolistic practices)

The commercialization must encourage competition and development in:

Technology
Business Development
Resource Development
Infrastructure both on & off planet
Training and education
Human Services

There is plenty of room to engage all existing ecological conservancy groups and enlist their memberships. The momentum of the ecology movement will increase as a result.

There are more than just 'orbital opportunities'. Terraforming is a subject written about for many decades by science fiction writers. Today it is a serious subject.

We must all work to include international participation. A view that accommodates and recognizes the establishment of these new frontiers across the "geopolitical spectrum" must be nurtured. People that choose to live 'off world' must be integrated into that view. Their feedback must be integrated into the strategic direction. Materials gathered from and processed in orbit presents additional challenges that will need to be resolved. A multilateral approach will absolutely be required.

Humanity has always looked to the sky with the yearning of burning curiosity and desire. Interstellar travel abounds in our literature and in the dreams of visionaries.