stamp bulletin - Australia Post Shop

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Is the idea of humans settling on Mars too fantastic to consider? On the contrary, many scientists and engineers consider Mars a logical destination for future space expeditions both crewed and uncrewed. Right now there are no active programmes with the goal of landing humans on Mars. However many researchers are working on proposals for crewed expeditions to Mars within twenty years or so. Much of the research is looking for ways to reduce the costs of such a mission and are trying to identify opportunities to use local Martian resources. Using local resources helps solve one of the major dilemmas that confronts any space mission, the cost (effort) of moving great weights from Earth’s surface to low Earth orbit. Although this part of space travel is relatively easy and quick, it is also the most demanding in terms of effort. Cost, in time and dollars, is just one of the concerns that our imaginary settlers will have to resolve. Despite their exotic destination, their concerns are remarkably similar to those any of us might face moving to a new (terrestrial) neighbourhood. 6 Stamp pack Facts are the foundation for the artist’s imagined solutions to the settlers’ worries: Cost (in time and dollars) to move The Mars based ‘skimmers’ can use locally produced fuel, so the transport ship doesn’t have to bring fuel from earth. Astronauts can take advantage of the lower (~1/3 Earth’s) gravity and ‘freefall’ to the Martian surface, slowed only by a personal thruster device. Availability of basic goods and services Everything the settlers need to survive and prosper must either be transported to Mars from Earth, or made on Mars from local resources. Local production frees space on the transport ships for more valuable cargo, such as instruments and equipment that would be beyond the settlers capacity for some time. Our settlers are growing their own food and reclaiming liquid water from frozen or trapped sources. They can also react carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), which is abundant in the atmosphere, with hydrogen, producing water, oxygen and methane (for fuel and to use as a raw material for synthesising organic compounds). In the kelp rods the settlers are using CO 2 , sunlight, water and the kelp and other algae to produce oxygen. As well as being an excellent fuel, oxygen can be used to enrich the atmosphere and make it more suitable for human habitation.
Overall environment/amenities Beyond the physical and physiological requirements for food, water and shelter, a successful human outpost must also meet settlers’ psychological, social and cultural needs. As well as providing space in which the settlers live and work, the domes provide views of the external environment. Agricultural tubes provide open, green spaces and recreational areas. Environmental suits provide protection from the harsh Martian weather and high levels of cosmic radiation. Robots support the settlers’ efforts. They can work in environments unsuitable for humans and do or help with tasks humans are unable to do, or do on their own. Some proposals for crewed expeditions to Mars start with an advance ‘robot crew’, which get atmospheric enrichment and fuel production processes under way, preparing the way for settlers who arrive years later. Why undertake such a project? Common answers to this question include opportunities to: •advance scientific knowledge •study parallels between Mars’ and Earth’s climate (day to day weather conditions) and environment (long term weather conditions and trends) in the past, present and future • and to exploit this new knowledge to Earth’s economic advantage. There are advantages beyond advancing our understanding of Earth and Mars or exploiting economic opportunities. Space exploration fulfils something intangible yet intrinsic in human beings, the need to explore, the desire to be a pioneer. This is more than the excitement of an adventure. It’s the fuel that powers human development. Sticker book Stamp Collecting Month Activities Visit your local <strong>Australia</strong> <strong>Post</strong> retail outlet for details of Stamp Collecting Month activities in your area. Stamp Collecting is out of this world! 7
Page 1 and 2: stamp bulletin AUSTRALIAN No.257 Oc
Page 3 and 4: STAMP COLLECTING MONTH Miniature sh
Page 5: On the ground just outside the stam
Page 9 and 10: Technical details Issue date date..
Page 11 and 12: Technical details Issue date ......
Page 13 and 14: Silent Night This commemorative iss
Page 15 and 16: Stamp pack Christmas 2000 Mail orde
Page 17 and 18: ARTS FESTIVALS MUSIC, ART, DANCE, D
Page 19 and 20: International Stamps Transition gui
Page 21 and 22: New Issues New Issues Mail Order Pr
Page 23 and 24: Also Available Australian Stamp Cat
Page 25 and 26: Order Code Description of items $
Page 27 and 28: stamp bulletin SURFACE MAIL No.257

stamp bulletin - Australia Post Shop

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?