Guest:  Kim Holder;  Topics.  Moonwards.com revisited, virtual lunar colonies, returning to the Moon, international lunar coalitions.  Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.

We welcomed Kim Holder back to the show to discuss her latest work in revising her Moonwards virtual colony lunar village work.  Please check it out and follow along with us during our 1 hour 50 minute two segment show at www.moonwards.com.  During the first segment, Kim told us about her efforts to reorganize the site.  Do not miss what she had to say about the reorganization, the Moonwards plan, concept, and goals.  This discussion covered most of the first segment which also included technical aspects about the website and instructions on finding elements being discussed as well as how to contribute to the site's (and project's) development. 

One thing Kim stressed was that Moonwards was not meant to be a plan of action for establishing lunar colonies.  Instead, it is designed to educate the general public about the benefits of space and lunar development.  For now, she is still working on the site and has invited people to help her by volunteering with their specific areas of expertise.  She told people how to contact her if they wanted to volunteer. She also mentioned areas of expertise needed for the site which she said is still being developed for the upcoming roll out to the general public.  As a result of her comments, Linda from Portland sent in an email asking her why she decided that Moonwards would not depict a path to reality for a lunar settlement.  Kim's response was very interesting. Briefly, she talked about the need for a long term vision, not a political perspective.  Don't miss all of what she said in her response to Linda.  Furthermore, Linda's question and Kim's response became a major theme for the rest of our discussion as Kim elaborated on what she meant by the need of a long term vision.

For Kim, a long term vision includes internal collaboration on space development including the Moon.  Her idea is that one country should not lead or do it alone as was done back with Apollo because that excludes and upsets others and is dangerous in the sense it puts too much control in the hand of one nation which may not always be a nice player on the world stage.  She said the international effort was necessary for the benefit of humanity and since we are not yet ready to collaborate for the benefit of humanity, we need to defer individual nation state and private party lunar plans until we can do it with true international collaboration. 

Marshall called with comments about space development, the government cancellation of projects with international partners and the problems that behavior causes, potential SLS cancellations and things of that nature.  Talking with Marshall, Kim was able to stress the importance of public opinion which she said was key to the world changing public space policy.  She repeated that the case for space had to be made for and by the public.  She said public opinion was all that counted.

Later in the discussion, Kim talked about being able to use existing technology.  She mentioned advanced technology, nuclear rockets and more, but said these were not necessary at this time. .  Then the lunar space elevator got thrown into the discussion.  Kim told us how a lunar space elevator might be used in conjunction with her idea combining the ARM to bring a NEO into high lunar orbit, then build down to the surface of the Moon with a tether stopping 100 KM above the lunar surface.  She explained the tether technology and how it would work.  She also outlined the benefits of such a project and responded to a subsequent question from B John about docking too a rotating tether. Do not miss all of what Kim had to say about this concept.

Doug sent in a note referencing the recent Paul Spudis show and mentioning of lunar glass being stronger than earth made glass.  He wanted to know why Kim had modified her idea to go to the lunar poles instead of Lalande crater and the region around the lunar equator.  Don't miss what Kim had to say in response to Doug's question. 

In the second segment, James from Dallas asked about Kim's focus on delaying the returning to the Moon until humanity was ready to work together.  Kim said it was too risky to go to the Moon now (note her earlier comments in the first segment) and that more time was needed for the international coalition to come together that she talked about in the first segment.  This topic was the dominant discussion topic of the second segment. 

Tim in Denver sent in a note challenging Kim on her idea and asking questions.  Then we got a call from Tim in Huntsville who really disagreed with Kim's premise.  They had a very good exchange which you will want to hear.  Kim then suggested the idea of selling space on a lunar hab or settlement to other nations for their astronauts for a variety of reasons. I suggested that the lunar village sponsor could do that and used the US as an example but Kim suggested that the village be sponsored by the international collaboration consortium.  Don't miss this detailed discussion in which Kim more fully explained her ideas that we have been discussing.

As part of the above discussion, I asked Kim if she would provide even a rough timeline for when she thought we might be able to undertake her plan for a return to the Moon mission.  Kim would not provide us with timelines.  She again brought up the need to educate and involve the general public.  She said if we as nations and interested parties were motivated, maybe this could happen in ten years or so.  If we were not motivated to make this happen, it would take much longer.

Before the end of the program, we talked about the Chinese plans to go to the Moon and the Russian plans, possibly with the US, to have a space station in lunar orbit.  Plus the US has both public plans to return to the and there are private company plans to go to the Moon including the Google Lunar XPrize contestants and SpaceX with their plan to orbit the Moon with two tourists in a Dragon.  I mentioned the upcoming show with Coyote Smith on his concept for a space guard or US Space Corps. Coyote will be back on The Space Show near the end of the month to discuss his idea.  This was relevant because it assumes individual governments and private parties going to space, the Moon and beyond.

Just before the program ended, Doug sent in a lengthy email which I read on air.  Don't miss what he had to say.  Before we ended, I asked Kim what she planned for Moonwards for the balance of 2017.  She will stay in touch and share her progress with us.

Please post your comments/questions on the blog for this Space Show program.  You can reach Kim through her website and the address she gave out on air.