Guest: Dr. Bernard Foing. Topics: ESA, SMART-1, lunar development, lunar science, European space community and interest. Dr. Bernard Foing returned to The Space Show to discuss the ESA SMART-1 mission which he was the father of. In the first segment, Dr. Foing shared with us the history leading up to SMART-1, the mission design, and the science it conducted around and on the Moon. He talked about the need drive SMART-1 to the Moon given its ion engines, the 18 month trip to the Moon, and the records that SMART-1 established. He explained the science and the success which has come back to us from SMART-1 and more, such as the international component of the mission which allowed other national space agencies to communicate directly with the space vehicle. Toward the end of this segment, we talked about the value of lunar science programs and missions and of course the lunar humans program. You will hear Dr. Foing state very clearly and emphatically the wealth building potential from these missions. SMART-2 also known as the LISA Pathfinder Mission was explained and Dr. Foing did a superb job in comparing the complexity of the LISA mission to a lunar mission. You definitely want to hear this discussion. In the second segment, we talked about what science and other projects we should be doing on the Moon and the needed life sciences which would enable us to learn to live and work and play in space. Bernard talked about growing plants in a closed environment and one listener brought up the idea that when the public is able to go to the Moon for a lunar settlement, they would take their lifestyle with them. That opened the discussion to different ideas and comments, make sure you hear them. Another listener asked if the fact that the Moon moved further away from the Earth each year was a complicating factor in planning lunar missions. The answer was no. As we moved into the third segment, Bernard went into more detail with the global robotic lunar village and the establishment of an International Lunar Village. This prompted listener questions and comments about how we might all get along in space when we cannot do well with that here on Earth. This is a discussion with Dr. Foing that you will want to hear. He talked about preparing those that would live in space. What do you think of approaching space habitation in this way or something similar? Water ice was discussed in more detail. Dr. Foing suggests visiting the ILEWG website, http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=34125 . If you have questions or comments for Dr. Bernard Foing, you can reach him using the contact information provided at the bottom of the ILEWG website or Bernard.Foing@esa.int .
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