Moon World Resort: Why Leave Earth?

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Artist’s rendition MOON Dubai, depicted close to the Palm Jumeriah and Burj Al Arab. (Moon World Resort)

It is quite the slogan to sell the Moon to the masses: “12 people have been there, 7 billion want to visit.” But this is not Elon Musk talking. This is a new real estate project aiming to bring the Moon to Earth in multiple locations in order to push shopping malls, spas, and condos. And maybe even conduct some space training, but I would not hold your breath (in your luxury pool).

On its Facebook page, Moon World Resort has a bold vision:

Moon World Resorts Inc. is proud to introduce the reinvention of the famed Las Vegas strip; unveiling MOON, the next giant leap for Hospitality, Entertainment, Technology and Attraction Tourism.

As a futuristic “building of global significance”, MOON will be heralded as an Architectural, Engineering and Design icon; delivering an additional 10 million annual tourists to Las Vegas, during its inaugural year!

So what is it exactly? Here are some details:

  • 735 feet (224 meters) high;
  • 5.5 million square feet (516 thousand square meters);
  • a lunar sphere 650 feet (198 meters) in diameter;
  • 4000 luxury hotel suites within the sphere;
  • various commercial endeavors, including a Convention Center, Event Center, Holistic Wellness Spa, Fitness Center, Arena, Beach Club, Night Club, Star Chef Restaurants, Boutique Plaza, E-Sports Center, Aquatic Center, Lagoon, Ballrooms, Meeting Space, Casino, Show Theater, Discovery Center, Amphitheater, Planetarium, Observatory and various Sports Facilities; and
  • a Lunar Colony attraction.

The cities targeted for this “shoot for the moon” project include one in North America (USA, with Las Vegas already named in the press release), South America (Brazil), Europe (Spain), MENA (UAE) and three in the Asia Pacific Region (China, Japan, India).

All the project needs now is investors to drop about $5 billion on this idea. Until this idea becomes a reality, you can spend your hard earned money on pretend Star Wars adventures in Florida. I guess it’s better than sending tourists to the International Space Station where they will only get in the way.

You can always find a customer for this stuff, and Las Vegas does seem like a logical place to start. Water is already in short supply in the Las Vegas desert, as it is on the Moon. Hence, this may be the perfect time to test lunar water recycling ideas with or without the lunar sphere.

Artemis I: Still Looking for a Window

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: The Plain Dealer

According to Artemis blog, NASA is looking at a new Artemis I launch date of either September 23 or September 27. The blog states NASA has requested the following launch periods: 

  • Sept 23: Two-hour launch window opens at 6:47 a.m. EDT; landing on Oct. 18 
  • Sept. 27: 70-minute launch window opens at 11:37 a.m.; landing on Nov. 5 

Someone needs to update NASA’s Artemis I web-page, which as of today still shows a September 3, 2022 launch date.

Success is key for NASA to keep the momentum. Before the planned September 3rd launch, The Economist magazine (paper version) had an article titled “A Flying Turkey,” with the subtitle “The Space Launch System is yesterday’s rocket, powered by yesterday’s technology and brought about by yesterday’s thinking.” In addition to listing the Frankenstein approach used to cobble together a mission that makes reusable components non-reusable, it highlighted the ugly politics out of Alabama under Senator Shelby, calling the rocket system the “Senate Launch System.” The only endearing qualities of the Artemis missions appeared to be the commercial components under the last Artemis phase utilizing commercial partners.

This criticism is not new, but it will continue while NASA struggles to get Artemis I underway. We have already skipped out on the Moon for the last 50 years. Let’s get our heads back in the game!

Artemis I: Failure is Not an Option

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Artemis I mission awaiting launch on September 3, 2022. (NASA)

This is the mission status from 11:22 am today:

The launch director waived off today’s Artemis I launch attempt at approximately 11:17 a.m. EDT. Teams encountered a liquid hydrogen leak while loading the propellant into the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket.  Multiple troubleshooting efforts to address the area of the leak by reseating a seal in the quick disconnect where liquid hydrogen is fed into the rocket did not fix the issue. Engineers are continuing to gather additional data.

An early September launch is not possible, so here are the future launch windows that NASA can consider:

September 19 – October 4 

  • 14 launch opportunities 
  • No launch availability on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30

October 17 – October 31 

  • 11 launch opportunities 
  • No launch availability on October 24, 25, 26, and 28 

November 12 – November 27 (preliminary) 

  • 12 launch opportunities 
  • No launch availability on November 20, 21, and 26 

December 9 – December 23 (preliminary) 

  • 11 launch opportunities 
  • No launch availability on December 10, 14, 18, and 23 

Space Quote: Why the Moon?

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): President John F. Kennedy addressing a crowd at Rice University’s stadium in Houston
reaffirming his support for America’s space program including landing a man on the Moon. (NASA)

“But why, some say the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why – 35 years ago – why fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the Moon, we choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one in which we intend to win, and the others too.“

-Statement by President John F. Kennedy at Rice University in Houston on September 12, 1962 discussing plans to send a man to the Moon. Next month, NASA and Rice University in Houston will host multiple events from September 10-12 celebrating the 60th anniversary of his historic speech.

Credit: NASA

Artemis 1: Ready for Launch

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Lightening striking the Artemis I launch pad on August 27, 2022. (NASA)

Even after thunderstorms threatened the Artemis I launchpad over the weekend, everything is still a go for tomorrow’s scheduled launch at 8:33 am EDT of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket.

This NASA video shows you the entire plan for the Artemis I unmanned mission around the Moon. A few mission facts from the NASA site are also provided below.

Mission Facts:

  • Launch date: Aug. 29, 2022
  • Mission duration: 42 days, 3 hours, 20 minutes
  • Total distance traveled: 1.3 million miles
  • Re-entry speed: 24,500 mph (Mach 32)
  • Splashdown: Oct. 10, 2022

Now all we can do it await the new day.

Update: Given some engine problems Monday morning, it appears we will need to wait a little longer for this launch. The next window is September 2nd if NASA is ready. We have waited this long, so a few more days will not matter too much. I think the dummies on board are pretty patient.

Image (Credit): Artemis I mission patch. (NASA)