In 2021 a panel of security space experts proposed building a space transport network spanning the Earth and moon, called the “Space Superhighway.” This is a bold vision to create the essential infrastructure needed for a viable space economy and sustained space exploration. Like any major construction project, the majority of this work will likely be carried out by commercial companies but federal support is fundamental to get the ball rolling.
Laying the Groundwork
NASA want to create a self-sustaining space economy and become one customer among many for space services, including crew operations. SpaceX are their most successful partner in this endeavor so far, launching commercial user Axiom Space and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). To further stimulate commercial space activity, NASA has engaged a number of companies to build orbital space stations, which should provide commercial alternatives for the ISS when it retires in 2030. Essentially this would create new destinations in space, enabling broad opportunities for science and commerce that evolve into the first tier of a space economy. In parallel to this effort, SpaceX intend to build large propellant depots in equatorial orbits, to support human landings on the moon, using a modified version of Starship called the Human Landing System (HLS). These depots would effectively become LEO hubs, the first step in building our Space Superhighway.
Cislunar Spur
The next logical step is to extend the Superhighway to the moon, enabling surface habitats to be built, opening this new world to science and commerce. As previously discussed, SpaceX have big plans for the moon which far exceed NASA expectations for a manned lunar outpost. Likely this commercial settlement would act as a hub for SpaceX activity on the moon, and allow startups and services to nucleate in a supportive environment, much like a science park. The former Propulsion CTO at SpaceX, Tom Mueller, believes they have reached a tipping point to make this process possible: -
“SpaceX so far has been evolutionary, Starship is revolutionary. It’s a fully reusable vehicle that’s designed to operate daily like an airliner; it’s gonna change access to space. People like say why do you need to take 150 tons to space, you know for $5m… What are you going to do with this thing, we don’t even know yet. We do know some things: you’re gonna exploit resources on the moon, water and minerals on the moon, mine asteroids. Use that water to make propellant. Use those minerals and metals to build structures in orbit and in the inner solar system. Build gas stations throughout the inner solar system so you can transport. Put giant solar PV (Photo-Voltaic) arrays up there so you can have massive energy and move manufacturing into space.”
Rather insightfully he concludes these operations on the moon will drive space construction, effectively making it pivotal to our future utilization of space.
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