1. Lunar Lighthouse: The First Small Step in Returning to the Moon
Robert E. Strong
&
Richard J. Pollack
West Liberty State College SMART-Center &
Sir. Arthur C. Clarke NEO Observatory / Near Earth Object Foundation
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

2. Next Frontier Question 1: Earth’s Moon or Mars?
Moon is a featured disk with phases
Mars is a dot
With a modest telescope
Visibility to unaided eye
Moon is a world rich and diverse
Mars is usually a disappointment
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

3. Next Frontier Question 2: Earth’s Moon or Mars?
Distance and Travel Times Considerations
Moon is three days away from Earth, can return at any time
Mars is months away from Earth, return is based on orbital placement of Mars and Earth
Supplies and Rescue
Radiation and Micro-gravity Considerations
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WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

4. Next Frontier Resolution: Earth’s Moon or Mars?
The Earth’s Moon overwhelmingly fits the requirements as the next destination for humanity in space
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WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

5. Return to the Moon Question 1:
How to we get back to the Moon?
Need a purpose
Need public support
Need governmental support
Need industry support
Need LOTS of $$$$$$$$$
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

6. Purpose for Returning to the Moon, the REAL Reason
Insuring the Survival of the Human Species by creating an off Earth habitats for humanity.
Construction of Lunar Far-Side Near Earth Object Observatories to safeguard the Earth and Moon from impact hazards
Creating limited resources technologies
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

7. Return to the Moon Question 2:
How do we capture world wide public:
Interest?
Excitement? and
Support?
Answer – the Lunar Lighthouse
A West Virginia grown concept for private, grassroots, interactive Lunar exploration
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

8. WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV
The Lunar Lighthouse
The Lunar Lighthouse represents a fundamental intermediate step between the present time of doing very little and the full on human return.
What a light house means…
What a Lunar Lighthouse means…
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

9. The Lunar Lighthouse “Beacon Light” 1
The Lunar Lighthouse beacon light will: be too dim to be seen with the unaided eye – thus not offending the poetic sensibilities of romantic humans
The apparent visual magnitude of the beacon light will be between 7 and 8, thus easily visible to anyone with a pair of binoculars or small telescope
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WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

10. The Lunar Lighthouse “Beacon Light” 2
The beacon light will allow for the first time an degree of interactivity with the Moon
The beacon light will be visible as a flashing light for a few seconds every hour on the hour
The beacon light will come from the north or south Lunar pole, giving a reference point to the Moon’s surface for the public
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

11. The Lunar Lighthouse “Beacon Light” 3
The beacon light is a green 555 nm laser light that will scan the Earth producing a flashing effect
The beacon light will contain a carrier for Lunar data and possible pictures
If location is near Lunar south polar region, “Peaks of Eternal Light” (atop Malapert Mt)
Earth visible 100% of time, Sun > 90%
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

12. WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV
Earth & Moon Facts
The Earth is the third planet from the Sun
The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth
Activity: How big is the Moon to “scale” if the Earth were the size of a basketball (23.85 cm in diameter)?
Activity: Once the “scale” size of the Earth and Moon is found, how far, to scale are they?
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

13. Size of the Earth and Moon Double World System?
If the Earth is a Basketball (23.85 cm) the Moon is a Tennis ball (6.51 cm)
8.11 m at apogee
405,696 km
7.26 m at perigee
363,104 km
7.69 m at mean distance
384,399 km
or 1.28 light sec
Scale 1 cm = 500 km
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

14. The Lunar Lighthouse EARTH / MOON CLASSROOM MODEL
The basketball and tennis balls hanging above are scale models of the Earth and Moon. The closest tennis ball represents the Moon at perigee, or closest point to the Earth in the lunar orbit. The tennis ball that is further away represents the Moon at apogee, or its greatest distance from the Earth.
The distance between the basketball Earth and the tennis ball(s) Moon is to scale. The sizes represented are also to the same scale. The Moon is about 3/11 the diameter of the Earth and is at a mean distance of 384,399 km from the Earth (7.69 m to scale). At perigee the Moon is 363,104 km from the Earth (7.26 m to scale). This scale model shows the “Earth” and “Moon” (basketball and tennis ball) are 405,696 km apart at apogee (8.11 m to scale)
To see the size of the Moon in the Earth’s sky stand under the basketball Earth and look back at the tennis ball Moon. We all see this all the time. To see the size of the Earth as seen in the lunar sky from the surface of the Moon (only seen by 12 Apollo astronauts), stand under one of the tennis ball Moons and look back at the basketball Earth model.
Scale: 1 cm = 500 km
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

15. WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV
The Earth is 6th largest object in the Solar System
The Moon is the 15th largest object in the Solar System
Activity: How many Moon masses does it take to make one Earth mass?
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

16. Comparing the Earth and the Moon
Mass = 1.0
Volume = 1.0
Density = 5.52 g/cc
Period of Rotation
1 day
Atmosphere N2, O2
Surface Temperature
240 to 320 K
MOON
or 1/(81.3)
0.02 or 1/(50)
3.34 g/cc or E.
Period of Rotation
27.3 days
None
Surface Temperature
100 to 400 K
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

17. Comparing the Earth and the Moon
Surf. Press. = 1.0 bar
Surf. Gravity = 1.0
Magnetic Field = 1.0
MOON
0.0
0.165 or 1/6
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

18. WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV
More Earth Moon Facts
The Earth has a Nitrogen / Oxygen atmosphere, liquid water, and intelligent life
The Moon as yet has none of these
Activities: Pendulum times for the Earth and Moon - different?
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

19. Even More Earth and Moon Facts
Activity: On Earth m long would swing in 1.0 sec
On Moon would swing in 2.43 sec
Like a pendulum on Earth swinging 1.5 m long
The Earth’s gravity at the Surface is almost 6 x that at the Moon’s surface
Activity: Find your weight on the Moon and Earth with scales
Activity: Paperclip boxes for the Earth and the Moon
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

20. WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV
“If God had intended humans to travel into space he would have given the Earth a Moon”
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WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

21. The Lunar Lighthouse Lunar Misconceptions
Official “NASA” Image!!
The only correct size
scale here is the Earth
Moon scale
All other planets, asteroids,
and comets not to scale
Space Shuttle does not
travel to the Moon
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WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

22. The Lunar Lighthouse More Lunar Misconceptions
The Moon is 1/4 the
size of the Earth
The Moon is made
of green cheese
The Moon has no
gravity
The Moon’s phase
changes behavior
Astronauts never
landed on Moon
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WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

23. The Lunar Lighthouse Up Date August-Nov 2007 b
Find I have a severe “Kook Index” when I approach an aerospace firm and say:
“Hi my name is Robert E. Strong – I want to create the first ever private, grassroots, interactive, and educational Lunar mission to the South Polar region of the Moon …”
“… I have no funding just an idea, can you help me and share my vision?”
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV

24. The Lunar Lighthouse Up Date March, 2008
We (Near Earth Object Foundation) need your help with the Lunar Lighthouse mission
We want your ideas and your students ideas for the Lunar Lighthouse mission
Science (space and Lunar) to be performed?
What the Lunar Lighthouse would do?
What equipment would it carry (names)?
Include Name, school,
4/22/2019
WVCTM, March 14, 2008, Days Inn, Flatwoods, WV